5

today my little girl is five. 5. five. five years old. that tiny, tender baby who was born, so quietly, into the world in the middle of a snowstorm one january night. that baby - my baby, my little one, my littlest one – who came into this world without so much as a cry. she is five. and i am blown away.

(the necklace is her gift from her brother. details another day.)

i am blown away by her spirit, by her contagious joy, by her sense of adventure, by her strong caring for others (case in point: yesterday morning, she appeared at my bedside at 6:15 in tears. heaving, really. wracked with sobs. a bad dream. when prodded, she revealed the dream in which her brother’s favorite book had “blown away into the water.” this was her bad dream, the cause of her distress!).

i am astounded, too, by her sense of her self. i am in awe of her ability to recognize and name her own feelings. and most of all, i am blown away by how she teaches me every single day. she teaches me about myself, about life, about being a mother. she is my teacher. my gift. and i have no words to express my gratitude. and love.

(and a very happy birthday to j. today, too!)

Comments

[Alicia A.]

I was up making a special breakfast for him this morning and I was thinking you were probably in your kitchen doing the same...

Happy Birthday, Miss L!!!

[ani]

happy day! such a loving tribute.

[Amy]

Happy birthday kiddo. That necklace looks great with your curls.

[Karen]

I hope she is having a wonderful birthday! And what a cute and thoughtful gift from her brother :) Very pretty.

[Kimberly]

Happy Birthday, L! We have been thinking of you all day. Hope five is five times better than four, three, two, or one. We look forward to helping you celebrate!!!

[sabrina hirsch]

Amazing...what special words...

[leslie]

ohhh! happy birthday sweet girl!!!

[hrsj]

That's so great that she & "J" share a birthday!!

[cloth.paper.string]

ah, such sweet heart-melty words, emily.
happy, happy birthday to your little one!

[Pina]

Happy birthday to your little one!

[Tracy]

Happy birthday to your sweet girl, she sounds like an amazing part of your life. I am constantly amazed by the ability that children have to teach. It's astounding.

[Livia]

Oh, I know what you mean. My little one is going to be five in next March, and I am still thinking that she was born last week.
Five? Oh the speed of growing.

[Kristina]

I apologize that I am late to the party, but I just had to wish this big girl a very hap-hap-happiest birthday.

and kudos to the big brother for making his sister a treasure for her special day--you have a couple of good eggs ;)

[erin]

hope your sweet girl had a wonderful birthday!