Violet, you're FIVE! Let's talk about that for a minute. I remember holding you in the hospital, five so-short years ago, ...

To Violet, on her 5th birthday:

Saturday, February 20, 2016 , , , , ,

Violet, you're FIVE!

Violet's 5th Birthday

Let's talk about that for a minute.
I remember holding you in the hospital, five so-short years ago, and you would lift your head up and look around. At the time, I thought, "What the heck is with this baby? Should newborns do that?"
But now, I look back and think, "Yep. That's our Violet."
{And you were in there 2 weeks & 2 days longer than most babies.}
{No, I've forgiven you, but I'm never letting that go.}
{34 hours of labor too.}

Violet's 5th BirthdayViolet's 5th Birthday

You carried on as such. You slept through the night from birth. When you were 6 months old, I wrote this post about you and your shoplifting and steak-eating habits. You crawled at 7 months and walked {without holding onto anything} at 8.5 months.

Violet's 5th Birthday

When you were a toddler, I worried you would be a bully and a bruiser.
To be fair, you did once take a Sharpie to my sofa and you pulled chunk of your sister's hair out.
You had a reputation, girl.
You were never really, truly a baby.
And you've never taken crap from anyone either.
From boys on the playground, to the man at the grocery store who teased you.
You were never one to quietly endure.

Violet's 5th BirthdayViolet's 5th Birthday
Violet's 5th BirthdayViolet's 5th Birthday
Violet's 5th Birthday Violet's 5th Birthday

From 0 to about 5 months old, you screamed bloody murder every single time we put you in the car seat. Your father and I had no choice but to:
a) not leave the house, or
b) one of us drive while the other sat in the back with you and held your hand

Violet's 5th Birthday

It wasn't because you were scared or hurt.
It was because you hated not being able to move and get into things.
Like my makeup, which you have always envied.

Violet's 5th Birthday

The fact is, you are not the bruiser I thought you'd be.
You are a princess-loving fairy tale girl.
You love pink.
You love ballet.
You love having your makeup done.

Violet's 5th Birthday

You are a romantic, like your mother.

Violet's 5th Birthday

I really haven't identified a part of you that is like your father yet.
But someday, as you continue to grow up, it will come out of the woodwork and I will admire you for it.
{Don't worry, I can already tell you don't have your father's nose.}

Violet's 5th Birthday

You are not my favorite child.
I don't have a favorite child.

Violet's 5th Birthday

But you and I do connect in a certain way.
We always have.

Violet's 5th BirthdayViolet's 5th Birthday

I hate that you are so hard on yourself.
I hate that you are so easily discouraged.
I hate the self-pity you are prone to when things don't go your way.
{You've got to learn to cope with that, dear. Life is full of it.}
I hate that you compare yourself to your sister
and are let down when you can't do the things she can do.
Especially because, despite being 2 1/2 years behind her, you have always been ahead of your age.
And you're the only one who cannot see that.

Violet's 5th Birthday

But I love that strawberry blonde hair of yours.
Most people do.

Violet's 5th Birthday

I love that you notice your friends, and how they're feeling.
Always willing to offer a hug and a smile, my Violet.

Violet's 5th Birthday

When it is time to make dinner, clean up, or fold laundry, you're always the first and only
of my children to offer to help, and happily too.

Violet's 5th Birthday

You are silly at heart, and you have the groundwork for a brilliant sense of humor.

Violet's 5th Birthday

You compliment people as often as you can,
because you care about how others feel about themselves and you.

Violet's 5th Birthday

You come up with the most creative excuses ever,
for when you're in trouble and need to change the subject. {Even though we're on to you.}

Violet's 5th Birthday

You are sweet.

Violet's 5th Birthday Violet's 5th Birthday

You are loved.

Violet's 5th Birthday

We're excited to see what you do with your life.
I hope you keep up the hard work at ballet class,
and that you go easier on yourself when you fail at something.
But don't give up, keep trying.
That's when you really start to shine.

Violet's 5th Birthday

There are a lot of people in your life,
like Grandma Jan,
like Papa,
like Auntie Brittany,
like Aya & Indy,
like Grandma & Grandpa Sander,
like Aunt Rachel & Aunt Katie,
like Eisley,
like Mommy & Daddy,
and like God,

who love you.
Just the way you are.

Violet's 5th Birthday

We were here for you for the last half-decade.

Violet's 5th Birthday

...and we will be here for the next half-decade...

Violet's 5th Birthday

cheering you on, Little Red!

Violet's 5th Birthday

So Happy 5th Birthday, Princess!

Violet's 5th Birthday


Love you always,
Mom

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