As I was looking at you sadly today, telling you that this is the last day I get to be a Mom of a wonderful 5-year old and asking if you would still love me when you’re no longer my little 5-year old…. you looked at me very seriously and responded:

“Mama, tomorrow I will be the same person – just a different number.”

I could truly not love you more than I do.

When I dropped you off at school today, you decided to try on a crabby independent side of you – with very little warning. We pulled into the parking space… you gave me a look and got out of the car, slamming the door, flinging your hair and marching toward Cobblestone’s back door… (I sat in my driver’s seat and decided to wait and watch what you do.) After about 10 steps, you flipped back around, stomped back to the car, crawled in the back seat, grabbed your huge Tinkerbell backpack (practically the size of you), re-slammed the door for effect and stomped back up to the door. I continue to watch you totally intrigued by this very strange behavior.

You got to the door and unlocked it. I still watched wondering if I should drive away should you continue on the clearly-directed path. After you got the door open, you paused for what felt like a minute, and finally turned around and looked at me, waving enthusiastically for me to join you inside. I melted. Back to my 5-year old… Whew… that was kind of scary 😉

It’s so very fun watching you grow!! Develop. Become.

You say things like “this is excellent” describing food; “I would prefer that Daniel come her” when you want to let us know your desires, “that was hysterical” when you encounter something that tickles your funny bone and you still call me “Mama”… which I so love.

I’m trying to remember the highlights of being 5:
You learned to whistle after many, many weeks (maybe even months) of practice – you were so proud.’
You are and self-identify as an ARTIST! You spent much of this year coloring, and sometime near Christmas, you asked that we switch to full-fledged crafts where we construct something. It’s been a ball learning right next to you. At school, you are also doing amazing art investigations and art work!!
You took OFF skiing.. staring the season doing the bunny hill and ending the season confidently doing blues and trick hills/moguls. Crazy.
You are still TOTALLY a nature girl who loves being outside, picking flowers and climbing trees.
You are quite the singer / actor – so much drama and you can sing quite well… now let’s see if you choose to get past the “shyness” to share these gifts with someone besides Mama.
We still snuggle every night until you fall aslepp.
We spent most of this year measuring time in “Peeps” – the 15 minute cartoon you used to love.
You are trying out new vocabulary all the time – both in service of day-to-day communication “You are hysterical Mama” or in service of being “cool” and having attitude – which is CRAZY for me to watch/hear: “uhhhh… yeah!! (with eye roll and saunter in the opposite direction.” You tell me you learn these things from Daniel. Hmmm… the benefits and challenges of having older siblings 😉

I love being your Mama, and I could be more proud of the wonderful girl you are becoming. Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!