Hads.
My girl. My most favorite girl. My most favorite person.
In the entire world.
You are five today.
A full handful. One, two, three, four, five.
A FIVE YEAR OLD!
Wow.
You're starting to figure this little world out. You are in constant wonder of what is going on around you. They say the average preschooler asks about 100 questions a day. You blow this stat out of the water. You easily ask 156,789 questions by lunch. I know the answers to about 6 of your questions. The rest I make up. Just so you know. But you love facts, and answers, and learning. You remember everything about everything. The other day we were at the grocery store and you picked up a head of broccoli and said 'Mama, this is what a brontosaurus eats. You know, those guys with the long necks. They are plant eaters. The sharp toothed ones eat meat, and people, but not kids.'
I didn't even know you knew what a dinosaur was.
Not only are you inquisitive. You are confident. You are bursting at the seams with confidence. I love watching you in gymnastics. You are always last in any kind of race, you're the only one that can't really do a somersault (it's pretty wonky and sideways and I panic every time that you are surely going to have a C1-C2 fracture), and your crab walk is...slow. However, at the end of each class, you are absolutely beaming. Your smile is from ear to ear. Last week you said to me 'Mama, did you see me? 'Nastics is getting pretty easy for me. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. I am going to have to start helping the littler kids pretty soon.' And that makes me smile ear to ear. The fact that you are terrible, and don't even notice...or care. Well, I couldn't be prouder.
Speaking of 'Mama did you see me?'...you probably say this 1,000 times of day. Or 'Mama watch this', or 'MAMA LOOK!'. No joke. No matter what you are doing, you want me to watch. You are pretty impressed with yourself. Whether you're jumping off the couch, or hopping on one foot, or trying to braid your own hair, you love an audience. And I'll tell you what, I am your biggest fan...even when I exasperatedly sigh and loudly say "WHAT?!". I mean it in the most loving way possible, I promise.
And I couldn't talk about you without mentioning your brother. And I couldn't mention your brother without mentioning what a fabulous big sister you are. You were born for this role. You've got it down pat...like you've been doing it for years. Watching you with Carson sets my heart on fire. Seriously. It's like I can actually feel it trying to claw its way out of my chest. You are so wonderful with him. So gentle, so watchful (except when you were at Auntie Val's and he ended up in the street), so helpful (at times a little too helpful), so eager and willing, so sweet, and so quick to blame him for anything. Yesterday you didn't flush the toilet, I reminded you that you needed to remember to flush. You came around the corner, looked inquisitively in the toilet, and said 'Oh, my brother did that.' And promptly walked out. I guess what's the point of having a little brother if you can't blame everything on him. Well played my dear.
You still say elegator (for elevator), ballet parking (for valet parking), parmagon cheese (for Parmesan cheese), you love to use the words 'actually' and 'also' in every sentence.
You're starting to figure this little world out. You are in constant wonder of what is going on around you. They say the average preschooler asks about 100 questions a day. You blow this stat out of the water. You easily ask 156,789 questions by lunch. I know the answers to about 6 of your questions. The rest I make up. Just so you know. But you love facts, and answers, and learning. You remember everything about everything. The other day we were at the grocery store and you picked up a head of broccoli and said 'Mama, this is what a brontosaurus eats. You know, those guys with the long necks. They are plant eaters. The sharp toothed ones eat meat, and people, but not kids.'
I didn't even know you knew what a dinosaur was.
Not only are you inquisitive. You are confident. You are bursting at the seams with confidence. I love watching you in gymnastics. You are always last in any kind of race, you're the only one that can't really do a somersault (it's pretty wonky and sideways and I panic every time that you are surely going to have a C1-C2 fracture), and your crab walk is...slow. However, at the end of each class, you are absolutely beaming. Your smile is from ear to ear. Last week you said to me 'Mama, did you see me? 'Nastics is getting pretty easy for me. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. I am going to have to start helping the littler kids pretty soon.' And that makes me smile ear to ear. The fact that you are terrible, and don't even notice...or care. Well, I couldn't be prouder.
Speaking of 'Mama did you see me?'...you probably say this 1,000 times of day. Or 'Mama watch this', or 'MAMA LOOK!'. No joke. No matter what you are doing, you want me to watch. You are pretty impressed with yourself. Whether you're jumping off the couch, or hopping on one foot, or trying to braid your own hair, you love an audience. And I'll tell you what, I am your biggest fan...even when I exasperatedly sigh and loudly say "WHAT?!". I mean it in the most loving way possible, I promise.
And I couldn't talk about you without mentioning your brother. And I couldn't mention your brother without mentioning what a fabulous big sister you are. You were born for this role. You've got it down pat...like you've been doing it for years. Watching you with Carson sets my heart on fire. Seriously. It's like I can actually feel it trying to claw its way out of my chest. You are so wonderful with him. So gentle, so watchful (except when you were at Auntie Val's and he ended up in the street), so helpful (at times a little too helpful), so eager and willing, so sweet, and so quick to blame him for anything. Yesterday you didn't flush the toilet, I reminded you that you needed to remember to flush. You came around the corner, looked inquisitively in the toilet, and said 'Oh, my brother did that.' And promptly walked out. I guess what's the point of having a little brother if you can't blame everything on him. Well played my dear.
You still say elegator (for elevator), ballet parking (for valet parking), parmagon cheese (for Parmesan cheese), you love to use the words 'actually' and 'also' in every sentence.
You love school. You love the colors pink and purple. Your favorite food is french fries. You love playing with your dolls like nobodies business. You love dessert. You still love to cuddle. You love to read. You love dad's iPhone. You love to spell. You still love sucking your thumb. You love going out to dinner. You love your cousins. You love sticker charts. You love riding your bike. You love sleepovers. You love your brother. You love gymnastics. You love dresses and skirts. You still love warm milk. You love to laugh. You love playing jokes on people. You love hugs. You still love your nigh night. You love your teacher. You love having 'jobs'. You love Sprouts and Nick Jr. You love swimming. You still love your mom and dad the best. And I think dad my be the front runner right now.
I love your little nose. I love your string bean body. I love how perfectly you fit into me when we snuggle. I love that I nap with you 4 out of 7 days a week. I love that you still nap. I love that you love being read to. I love your giggle. I love your wit. I love your sense of humor. I love your cute little voice. I love your hand gestures. I love how excited you get about things. I love how much you love talking on the phone. I love your 'style'. I love your swoopy bangs. I love when you walk in a room and yell "Hi mom!". I love that you want to be a nurse when you grow up. I love watching you think. I love watching you figure things out. I love watching you fail and attempt to give up. I love watching you try just one more time. I love when you get it right. I love watching your confidence build and grow. I love that I think you are destined for greatness. And I love more than anything that I am the lucky one that gets to guide you along your journey.
I love your little nose. I love your string bean body. I love how perfectly you fit into me when we snuggle. I love that I nap with you 4 out of 7 days a week. I love that you still nap. I love that you love being read to. I love your giggle. I love your wit. I love your sense of humor. I love your cute little voice. I love your hand gestures. I love how excited you get about things. I love how much you love talking on the phone. I love your 'style'. I love your swoopy bangs. I love when you walk in a room and yell "Hi mom!". I love that you want to be a nurse when you grow up. I love watching you think. I love watching you figure things out. I love watching you fail and attempt to give up. I love watching you try just one more time. I love when you get it right. I love watching your confidence build and grow. I love that I think you are destined for greatness. And I love more than anything that I am the lucky one that gets to guide you along your journey.
Knowing, of course, whatever you choose to do or be, will most likely change the world a little.
Yep, I have big plans for you.
But something tells me, you have even bigger plans for yourself.
I am in awe of you. I am in love with you.
And there will never be a day that I am not proud of you.
You are my greatest joy.
And you make me smile all over my face.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANIE!!!
xoxo
Your, five year old havin', Mama.
And there will never be a day that I am not proud of you.
You are my greatest joy.
And you make me smile all over my face.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANIE!!!
Your, five year old havin', Mama.
17 comments:
Wonderful. Full of wonder. Good stuff.
How did she get to be FIVE so FAST!? Oh lordy she is a fabulous child. One of my all-time favorites. I Love that I get to hear all about her doings via your blog. I do NOT love that I don't live close enough to get to see her more often.
And my all time favorite thing? Little kids saying "actually". Slays me. Every time.
Happy birthday Miss Thing. Wear your Biebs shirt in good health, with love from your Auntie Lowdie.
Happy Birthday Hadley! This post is so sweet. She is one lucky girl to have you, Ryan and Carson who all love her so much.
i don't know who is the luckier... you or her? to have the other. my favorite thing that she use to do (which is no longer cuz she's such a grown-up) is yell to you from her room after her nap 'mama!'. now she just comes down with her thumb in her mouth, blankey in hand and plops down on the couch awaiting her warm milk. she is one smart cookie. far more advanced in her language and questions that most kids her age. she's a thinker. a ponderer. but i think she asks 'why?' way too damn much:)your baby is not a baby anymore meg. i can't believe it. i love watching you both grow, so much. i'm proud of you. i'm proud of her. and i love, absolutley LOVE how much you are loving this age. happy birthday hadley jane.
love love love this kid. SO much. so happy you get to have her in your life.
she really is one of a kind, perfect blend of her parents...although she tends to remind me of YOU all the time. She's the best, such a funny kid...oh, and she doesn't get confidence from nowhere, nice work mom/dad - that's an amazing gift. We LOVE you hadley jane. XOXO
I like this kid. I don't know her too well, but what I do know about her, I like. A five year old who knows what valet parking even is? Now that's a five year old I wanna hang out with. Happy 5th HJP!
How in god's name is she 5? I feel so old when I think, I remember holding her the day she was born! Meg, you have a kindergartner come fall?! Ridic. She is darling, you are doing such a great job. Confidence is KEY and learned from you and Ryan. Happy Birthday Hadley Jane. 5 is blowing my mind.
being along for the ride with this little one is the greatest gift ever. She is so much of her mama it is both wonderful and a little frightening (maybe we can weed out the uhumm parts.)
Happy birthday Hadley Jane! I'm a pretty big fan of yours too. Like Laurie, I just wish we lived closer!
FIVE?! That means you've been blogging for FIVE years!!! You are one of the first mommy bloggers, a true pioneer and I'm so, so happy to have started stalking you 5 years ago. Your five yr old that looks 8 yrs old is not only an Internet sensation but a gorgeous, brilliant, funny, inquisitive, kind little girl. Happy birthday Hadley Jane and congrats mom and dad for raising a remarkable young little lady.
Happy belated Bday Hads, you really are one of kind! Like Heather said, confidence is the best traits you could have inherited, don't ever lose it!
again...one of the best letter writers EVER! and your kids are SO lucky to have you for a mom. you are top notch meg. they are sooo lucky. she is so perfect. miss you as always and am hoping for a girls date pronto! xoxoxo one of your biggest fans.
Hadley Jane---
I love you.. Happy 5th Birthday... Throw my iphone again and you'll pay for it..
xoxox
Katie
happy birthday miss Hadley Jane! So glad we got to celebrate all week long with you! xoxo
Ummm Megan? If you don't blog something pretty damn soon, she will be SIX
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