Monkeying around...

Happy Birthday P

Just some of my favorite photos of P. I know that there are alot, but I just love them all. To me they give a small glimpse into who she is.

P has a birthday coming in a few days. I still can't believe she is going into double digits. 10 years old! Can it really be possible? I remember the tiny 4#5oz baby girl that I held in my arms what seems like yesterday. She was such a tiny little cherub! She is still pretty small or at least she sure seems that way in comparison to her older siblings who are 5-6 and 5-10 already!

I am excited for her because this is a really big birthday! Turning 10 is a really big deal to my kids because at 10 years old they get their military ID cards. They can shop in the commissary and exchange alone. You have to have an ID card to make purchases! So that is huge in my house not to mention the double digit status!

So I am very happy for her, but on the other hand I am sad for me as usual. My childrens' birthdays are always bittersweet occasions for me. I have a very hard time being thrilled at the fact that every birthday means one less year before they are grown. I am sure that I am not the only mother that feels this way!

P is such a good child. She has the sweetest face and she is always smiling at me or giving me hugs. Well that is when I see her. She has a habit of disappearing all day sometimes(around the house), then she will show up and smile and give me a hug and a kiss and say "Mama, I haven't seen you all day!"

It's funny to me that my older children can get so wrapped up in what they are doing that you won't see them for hours. Quite a contrast to the days when they needed my help with everything. I am proud of their autonomy, but sometimes secretly wish that they really needed me like before.

She is such an incredible child! She has so many wonderful personality traits and is growing into a fine young lady. When I was uploading the photos above, I looked at each one and smiled. Such fun memories these pictures bring up for me. I know I am biased, but my gosh is she beautiful inside and out! I am so blessed to have her in my life so and so very lucky to be part of hers.

I wonder what the future holds for her? I wonder what she will be when she grows up? I pray that we will be close and that she feels she can always come to me. I hope that I never, never take a single day forgranted and to cherish each one, because my sweet little ten year old is growing up and I want to remember everything about her journey!

So Happy Birthday P! I love you and hope that your day is as wonderful as you are!