My Dearest Sunshine~

It’s pretty incredible to me that you are now five. I was hoping that you could stay four forever and you’d stay this sweet little girl that loves nothing more than to be cuddled. But as you turned five, I realized that you may be the one child your daddy and I have that will always want to be snuggled in front of  friends. You will hopefully always run up to us with the same amount of excitement and admiration that you did today. Please don’t lose that!

Your brown eyes are full of life. Your blonde hair with its own swept-to-the-side look is yours. You still bite your fingernails even when I tell you that they will poke holes in your stomach (my Gramma Alice told me this, so it has to be true). You love the color green just like me. When you saw that I was painting our new kitchen a vibrant shade, you ran and gave me the biggest hug and a squeal of delight. You will try any food I ask of you, which has made you a lover of mushrooms, artichokes and asparagus. You would prefer an adult’s meal over a kiddie meal any day. I love this about you.

You’d rather sit next to the adults during conversations and help sip my coffee, than play with the kids. You remind me of myself at your age and from what I hear, your daddy was the same way.

You’ve started a new pre-school and you love it! Your teacher Ms. Angela loves you! When she tested you to see where you rated alongside your peers, you blew them out of the water. You surprised her with your knowledge of letters, sounds, etc. You even told her how to spell “cat” and how your big sister taught you. I guess those hours and hours of playing “school” has definitely paid off! I have no doubt that you will excel in kindergarten in a few months.

It won’t be long and you’ll be riding your new bike without training wheels. You sure can zip up and down the sidewalk pretty well with the extra wheels! As it gets warmer out, you’ll be a pro in no time.

Next year you will be going to school with your sister and you couldn’t be more excited! You talk about riding the school bus almost every day and love to wait by the front door when your sister gets on and off the bus, just so the bus driver can wave to you. If you miss a wave or he is busy, ya know – doing his job – it about breaks your heart.

There are times where I wonder what type of person you would be if you weren’t a “middle child”, but I love that you are. I think it takes a special, self-confident person to have that role…or maybe it makes you that way. Either way, you are developing into a fascinating girl who is full of life.

I wish I could stop time, but I know I can’t. Next year you’ll be taller, smarter, even more special than you are today. Hard to believe, but it’s true. I love you sweet girl and I am so proud to have you in my life.

Love,

Momma

*I like that the picture shows the other side of Sunshine that needs a bit more attention and love. She definitely has two sides to her, each one just as important as the other.