5

Cecelia

Sweet Girl

5 years! How has this happened and how did it go by so fast? Every parents most frequently asked question. You and I have been at it for 5 years and I can't even list all the things that you have taught me about myself, about being a mother, about being YOUR mother.

You are intriguing and so much fun to watch; you have attitude and sensitivity and you wear your heart on your sleeve. You have a hard time keeping anything to yourself, your Dad and I constantly say that you will always tattle on yourself before someone else does.

You love openly and without reservation and it's so refreshing to see, I hope you continue to do so as you grow up. I worry about that now that you are in school that you will become a little jaded and start to not believe that people have good inside them. You get this from your Dad, who always seems to see the best in people even when they have shown him their worst.

Your attitude seems to get you into more trouble than necessary and I catch myself constantly telling you to rein it in or "Cecelia stop slinging attitude!" I'm talking hand on your hip-eye rolling-head weaving attitude. Dad and I laugh so hard after you are scolded and have gone about your way because for such a tiny person you pack a punch.

In 5 years you have grown into such a beautiful little girl, and I'm not just speaking about your outside beauty. Your ability to love those around you is astounding and it always shocks me how deeply you feel for those you care about. You feel all the feels sweet girl. You are genuinely interested in those you care about, who they are and what they are doing. Even the men your Dad works with are no match for you. You always ask him how they are doing and what they are up to for the night. You care about people and they feel that from you and in return care about you as well. Your Dad's co-workers will always be willing to speak with you on the phone or face time with you; they know it makes you happy. When you leave your best friend you always ask for hugs and cry if he does not give into your demand. I cherish this trait about you, for all the attitude in the world could not out weight the love you carry with you. So I'll take the attitude as long as you keep giving the love.

You have enjoyed school so much these past few weeks and I love to hear about what you did during the day and who you ate lunch with and what special classes you had. So far you enjoy Art and Library the most and this is not a surprise to us, you surround yourself at home with books and art supplies.

We are still working on the issue of what you would prefer to wear to school and what we think is acceptable to wear. It never fails we fight every morning regarding footwear but even when I'm at the end of my rope with you I know so many around the world don't get to do this and for that I know I'm blessed. Flip flops, clogs, sandals or tennis shoes, I don't really care, because you're here with that tiny hand on your little hip explaining to me the benefits of wearing clogs in 90 degree weather, this is my life with you, and it's such a good one.

As you have gotten older you have wanted more things, you speak about wanting us to move or you told Grandma you wanted an ipad for Christmas (heads up that is not happening) and I worry that you aren't seeing what is truly important in life. I know you are at an age of wanting and it's our job to make sure we guide you to know what is important in life and what is not. We work with you on what you should truly want and what are things that you can go without. I know this can get worse as you get older and are more influenced by those around you but don't worry Dad and I will gladly bring you back to the real world and most likely laugh when you request something ridiculous.

When we remind you of those that have less than you; we can tell we hit a soft spot. You look at us and ask questions about why they have so little and others have lots and it's hard to explain at your age the difference in the world. We are still navigating this with you in the best way we know how.

Today you turn 5, on this day you gave your Dad and me the greatest jobs and even though we have crawled into bed many times exhausted from just being in your presence we have also had so many laughs and memories because you are a part of our lives. You asked me one time if I "asked for you" when I got down to what you were meaning by that you wanted to know if I asked to have you first, if I asked to have you specifically as my child. To that I answered with everything in me "Yes." You were what we wanted, what we prayed for, what we longed for and God did not disappoint. You may have taken longer to get here then we liked but once you were here, you erased all that pain of wanting and trying. You gave us the ability to be a family and no matter what or who came after you; you were it. You did it for us.

The other day you and I were getting ready in the bathroom, you brushing your teeth, me putting on make-up and you pointed out that your hair is turning brown. I nodded in agreement and you continued brushing your teeth and then simply said "I'm so glad it's starting to look like yours." I have never had my heart melt to the floor so quickly. Ever since you were born it's always been how much you look like your Daddy and granted if you are standing next to him there is no denying who you belong to, but the fact that you are excited to share something as simple as my hair color with you is beyond sweet in my mind.

You are complete Daddy's girl, always have been and my guess always will be. This is because a) you have a fantastic father and b) you two have been taken with each other since the minute you were put in his arms. He makes time for you even if it means waking you up at 9 o'clock at night to have chicken and chat. He will come home late and always wake you to make sure he gets to say good night. If he comes home and I tell him you had a bad day with some other kids he wants, no he needs to make sure you are okay, which results in him waking you up and sharing yet another meal at 10:00pm so that you can tell him again about your day. He is fiercely protective of you and at the same time gives you the space you need to fall.

You also have the greatest gift of making our normally sullen Arloboy into a laughing giggling mess. You were the first person to get him to laugh and you are the only one to get him to break his temper. I have written about how you are the ice to his fire and it still holds true now. He gives you something to take your mind off yourself, which you seem to be wrapped around a lot and focus on helping him with his needs. You are not asked to do this you just have gone about making him a priority to you. This makes my heart full beyond reason. You help him take his shoes off when we get home, when he is in a mood you always bring him out of it, you help him down stairs and help him bring his dishes to the kitchen after meals. You unconsciously are teaching him every day and it's something you don't even realize you are good at. Even when he is at his worst you demand he gives your hugs and kisses, you pester him to the point he has tried to swing at you a few times and yet you laugh at him in the process. You drive him crazy and make him elated all in the same heartbeat. You will most likely give him the insight on how to live with a woman when he gets older and also how to respect one at the same time.

You always tell us, Daddy is the best Daddy, Mommy is the best Mommy and Arlo is the best Arlo (I think you mean brother but he is the best Arlo in our minds as well so we go with it), but in our eyes Sis, you have always been the best to us as well. You are crazy and intelligent. You are full of heart and passion. You are stubborn and negotiate everything. You are 5 but act 20. You make this family continually happy and always on our toes. You are our first and there will always be something special about that.

So on your 5th birthday, your golden birthday no less, I want you to know you are loved, everyday, all day, even in our dreams, you are loved beyond reason and we will love you beyond our lifetime. You have made us a family and our lives have forever been changed because you entered it and we are so thankful.

We love you C.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl.