Half a Decade

Today is your fifth birthday, little N!  (Not so little anymore!)

I can't believe you're growing up so fast... but really, when I look back on our family five years ago, when it was just me and your Daddy, well... it seems like a lot more than five years have passed.  Things have changed so much!

Today, you did lots of grown up things.

Like pretty much making your own birthday cake.

And playing by yourself with the neighborhood kids while Mommy hung laundry.  (I completely trusted you to be safe, even though my back was turned.  You validated my trust by running back over several times to give me updates on what you were doing.)

You chatted with the older kids in a nonchalant, older-voice, big girl sort of way.  You fit right in with the 8-year-olds, conversationally speaking.  It made me feel a pit in my stomach about how fast you're going to grow up when we do this kindergarten thing.

You chose your own fashion accessories.

(That's a plate licked clean of seafood casserole, your chosen birthday dinner)

But you still smiled with glee after blowing out your birthday candles (like you have ever since you figured out how to blow out a candle.)

(Don't you just love L encouraging her? and cheering for her?  She's the best of sisters.)

And you played with the new Little Mermaid Duplo set that Daddy got for you the rest of the night, contentedly (for the most part) sharing with sisters.

That was your birthday this year!

It's exciting that you're growing up.  I can't wait to watch your joy as you try new things.  I just hope we'll always stay as close as we've been while you've been less than half a decade old.

I have this feeling that we will.

We celebrate with you today, our wonderful grown up little N!  What will these next five years bring?