One of the Best Things About Me is HER

Well it was inevitable.  It finally happened.  Kendall made it to her 6th birthday.

And so did I.

And her birthday came and went just like Eloise's 6th birthday.

You know Eloise?  "I am Eloise, and I am six."  I felt like that's all I heard all day yesterday.  Kendall actually woke me up early (around 6), and when I walked in her room, she motioned me over to her bed, pulled my ear down close and whispered, "Mommy, I'm six now," before plopping back down on the pillow and drifting back to sleep.

I love her.  So cute.

As promised, Kendall got to pick every single thing we did yesterday.  She chose cinnamon rolls for breakfast -- "But not until after you get your coffee, Mommy."  Bless her! -- and then Aunt Keri brought over some birthday gifts -- Gotta love that Aunt Keri.  She thought it was important for Kendall to get her present on her birthday, not after. -- and then we headed to the pool -- What else would my little fish choose?? -- and back home to open more presents from Nana, Mommy, Daddy, and Tanner, and then to Stevie B's for pizza and video games.

Seriously, how awesome is that birthday??

She only got a little sad one time when she was opening her present from Keri and David and I had to explain why no one else was coming right now.  I guess this is the first time she realized her actual party is not going to be on her birthday ... anyway, after I explained that today she was getting s few presents, Saturday she was having her party, and then next weekend we will have a family party when MeMaw and PePaw get back in town, she was OK.  I suppose it could be confusing to a 6-year-old as to why everyone doesn't want to celebrate with her on her special day.

As we spent the entire day celebrating Kendall, I kept finding myself remembering.  Of course, I'm sure all mommies do this on their children's birthdays.  I'm always nostalgic, and I always cry when we sing "Happy Birthday."  But as Kendall gets older, I find myself remembering more about her "babyhood."  Many things, I think, we block out -- the sleepless nights, the crying, the colic, the spit up, the  reflux -- simply because, if we don't block them out, we'll never have another child.  But even now my memories are filled with so many more wonderful things about her that the bad things are overshadowed.  And a few times yesterday Kendall would look up at me and see my eyes tearing up, which happens any time I think about how much she has grown (and how quickly), and she said, "Oh, Mommy, don't cry.  I'm only six.  I wish I was sixteen."

Like that is supposed to make me feel better?  And  not cry?  I just want it to slow down a little.  She's already not depending on me for things anymore, like getting her own breakfast, bathing and dressing, or pouring her own juice; I'm not ready to let it all go yet.  I even heard myself telling Tim last night not to dwell on how early they rise right now because, before we know it, we'll have to drag them out of bed in the mornings.  Now I look at Kendall with her independence and her strength and wonder where my baby girl went?  I know they have to grow up, I just wish things didn't have to change so suddenly!

So, as we celebrate 6 years of Kendall, I also celebrate 6 years of being a Mommy.  We've traded the crying, reflux, and sleepless nights for sassing, eye-rolling, and ... well ... sleepless nights.  But I wouldn't trade a single second I've had with this precious gift from God.

One of the best things about me is HER.