Happy Birthday Baby

Tada! Today is your birthday. You were two years old in these pictures. They are my favorite of all the pictures I have of you.

You graduated from preschool this year in May. You have grown so big and tall and beautiful. I cannot believe you are six years old today. My baby. It is hard to write this without tears welling up.

I was reading your baby letters today. I remember so many milestones and funny stories from you. When you learned to talk, you only spoke a broken gibberish that sounded much like Japanese. And boy were you pissy when we didn't know what you were talking about. Luckily, you only talked that way until you were a little over two. Once you learned a few words, you never quit talking.

The first time you said 8's name, you were almost one and she was three. She smiled so big, and hugged you so hard. Then 8 looked at me and said "I love her Mom. I don't want to trade her back!" That is quite surprising considering she complained daily that you were in her stuff, following her around, taking her stuff, asking me why you wouldn't play with your toys and only wanted hers. Oh the joy never ends. I hear the same complaints today.

When you were two, if you or 8 wanted something I would always say "yes ma'am." Apparently you thought that was your name. When daddy asked you "what is your name" you said "me ma'am" and it stuck. You are turning six today and we still call you ma'am.

Then you went through the phase where you would say "I don't very like you" every time you got in trouble. You were about 1 1/2 years old at the time. This phase lasted a couple weeks. Right up to the night that I was tucking you into bed and you grabbed my hand and said "Mom, I don't hate you. You're not an asshole." Yeah. That was a proud mommy moment.

Oh, and then there was the time 8 tried to kill you on the roller coaster. You see, 8 loves a roller coaster. However, they scare the crap out of her. We were in Las Vegas and she wanted to ride the little train with you. I thought to myself, okay. One small hill, should be no problem. So I buckled you both in, put 8's arm around your back and told her to help you keep your balance. I told you to hang on very, very tight! You both had the biggest grins a mommy has ever seen. The ride started and you were both smiling and then as you came around the first turn into the little dip, 8 reached over with her right hand, hugged you and hid her head behind your back. The problem was that she was choking you with her elbow. I tried to yell at the kid running the ride but he couldn't hear me so I jumped the gate and ran up there like a mad woman screaming STOP THE RIDE! STOP THE RIDE! Just then I saw your face and your lips were turning blue. I yelled again STOP THE DAMNED RIDE! and the kid said "why" and I said "my daughter is killing her sister!" And he looked as you came around the turn for the third time and your whole face was read and your lips were even darker blue. And he slammed the stop button and I ran over to you just as 8 sat up with the biggest grin in the entire universe and said "that was fun! Can we do it again?"

Now here we are, three months into Kindergarten and you can already read. I bought you the Little Critter book for your birthday and you can read it all by yourself. There is one story in there called I was so mad! You told me that story was like you and me.

While growing up so far, you've been my kid who messes in everything and pushes every one of my buttons. You started climbing on counters and using chairs to reach things before you were 3. You have killed countless number of rolls of toilet paper just to see them spin away when you flush an end down. However, you've also greeted me every day with the biggest smile and shining eyes that said I was the coolest, bestest mommy in the world. You make me laugh everyday with the things you say and do. Like that time when your sister told you to stop picking your nose and you said "Why? I'm not eating it."

And, you are the best potato washer and kitchen helper in the whole wide world. Or whole tired world as you used to say. You bring something to my heart that your sisters cannot. I cherish my private time with you and I love it when you do my hair. My favorite time is when you take my hand and say "come on Mom, lets relax in a hot bath in your bathroom."

Life with you has been both challenging and rewarding. You are stubborn just like your mother and even though you are only six, we still have occasional screaming matches. Mostly because I am mature like that. However, like any good wine, you only get better with age. You are working on using your inside voice and I am working on new ways to remind you. School has helped you to learn patience and reason. I have learned that beating you would only bring jail time. I threaten to beat you with a stick, and you see right through me.

When I asked you what I was going to do when you were all grown up and big you looked at me with those big eyes, threw your arms around my neck and said "keep giving me lots of hugs and kisses." You have a deal young lady! I love you ma'am. Happy Birthday.