Six Years

It goes by in the blink of an eye.  Six years.  I can remember that first moment after you were born.  My very own Gerber baby.  I remember never wanting to let you go, and you didn't seem to want me too either. And now... you are six years old.

You light up my life every day with love and laughter. Watching you grow up is the most amazing thing I will ever get to do.

You have learned and grown so much in just one year.  You can read and do simple math.  You've learned about animals and insects, when and how to dial 9-1-1.  You have learned how to navigate your full, full day at school and that routine is down to  a science for us both.  I see that you are getting braver, making new friends every single place we go, even riding the Maid of the Mist.  You stand up for yourself and what you think is right and you do not waver.  You grow more and more independent every day but when you are scared or hurt or confused, it's mommy's arms that you run to.  You are trying on new persona's- the diva, the flirt, the brainiac, the adult.  You love to tell rambling stories that often times have no clear idea or intent, but we let you go on and on about them anyways just to hear you.  Your sense of humor is strange.  You can laugh uncontrollably if we mention anything being made of monkeys but you still have not grasped the concept of a knock knock joke.

All of these things make you my very best girl.  I think the New Kids on the Block said it best-

She's my favorite girl, oh oh oh oh, she's my favorite girl.

You went from this...

to this, so much faster than I thought possible.

I love you more than my heart ever thought was possible.  Happy Birthday Annabelle Rae!