5 Years Old

My Dearest Ella,

Five years old. Five seems like such an old age. It is for you. Just yesterday it seems I was watching you roll around inside my belly. Now I'm watching you run all over a park. Just yesterday, I was making decisions for you. Now, you are largely making your own decisions. You have opinions and preferences. You know what you like and what you don't. And you express those. Sometimes you're such a little grown up. Yet you're still my baby girl. It's been a big year for you. I've watched you completely leave the toddler/preschooler stage and turn into a beautiful, both inside and out, little girl. Five will also be a big year. This year you will start kindergarten. Unbelievable. 

I pray for you daily. I pray for your safety and protection. I pray that God would grow you physically, mentally, and spiritually into the young woman He has called you to be. I pray that your little life would be one that glorifies Christ in every single aspect. I pray that the spunk, smile, and sweet spirit you so often share with the world would never leave. And selfishly, I pray that your innocence and carefree attitude would stay around for a long, long time. It's quite refreshing.

You love dearly and you are loved dearly. And I wish you the best birthday ever. And an amazing 5th year.

I love you,

Mama  

• This five year picks to play at a park (in the heat of July) and go to Five Guys (because of the drink machine) on her special day. She knows what she wants. And there's no changing her mind.

• At 5, this girl loves princesses. I do mean loves. Anything that sparkles, glitters, shines, or dazzles. She loves it. She likes shopping, shoes, jewelry, makeup, hair, and just about anything that screams girl. She still loves t-ball, wrestling around with Daddy (or Em...yikes!), and scaring anyone that will act scared. 

• She enjoys reading books, playing games, watching TV, playing on the LeapPad, iPad, iPhone, or any screen.

• Her favorite foods are any fruit and any bread. Literally. She likes to eat macaroni and cheese, chicken, hamburgers, green beans, carrots, corn on the cob, and soups (I think it's funny how much she likes soup). She's a good eater. We have our fair share of sugar struggles, but she drinks mostly water (one sugary drink a day), and does pretty well with controlling junk food.

• She's a great big sister. She has her moments of being too rough, or moving Em around on her own, but overall, Ella is the one that can make Emily laugh the hardest and smile the biggest. And Ella just loves Emily to pieces. 

• She's systematic. Everything must be organized a certain way in her mind. There is a process, a place, or a correct order for everything. And she wants it just how she envisions it to be.

• She's adventurous. Once her initial apprehension is gone (typically this takes some coercion from someone other than me), she's all in. Her ideas are big. "Mom, we have got to go to Paris. I mean, like, soon." Her dreams are more than most can fathom.  "Mom, I'm going to be at the 'Olympias' one day when I do my gymnastics." And her plans? There's no stopping her. 

• She's responsible. The child makes her bed, brushes her teeth (with some follow up), gets dressed, and asks to unload the silverware from dishwasher and do laundry (gathers dirty clothes and puts them in the wash and folds towels).

• She loves music. She sings constantly. She memorizes the words to songs. She makes up her own songs. She learns through music.

• She's just fun. She is social, she ready to go at a moment's notice, and she willing to help out always. She keeps our home on a happy note and often times in working order. She's a blessing to us and so many others!

Happy birthday, Ella!