Happy Birthday, Lily-Girl!

You're 5 years old already!

I know 5 seemed a long time in coming. You thought you were 4-and-a-half forever. Time crawls when you're "almost 5"...but not so much when you're the mama of someone who is "almost 5".

You've really learned a lot in the past year. And just in the last few months you've really started liking school-age things. You like to sit and color - and often request that daddy or I color with you. You stay in the lines just as well as we do! You also have started adding things together, learned almost all the letters and their sounds, and writing things down. It makes me excited for you to start school...I think you're going to like it :).

You love your siblings very, very much. Nora has been an exciting addition for you and you love to take care of her. You will hold her when mama needs to use both arms for a minute, we have to remind you to keep Nora's clothes on (so desiring to change her clothes, you are) but let you choose her outfits daily, and you've even changed her diaper a couple times! You coo and talk to her and get SO excited about each new thing. When Nora was just a week old, you were bragging to the home visit nurse that she could "open her eyes and blink." You're a proud big sister!

Mason is still your good buddy, though it's become a little less enjoyable for you now that he has a mind of his own :). You are learning good lessons of patience from him, since he loves to get into your things. But you do love to play together, and you even talk him into dressing up with you sometimes. You're also very good about building and playing trucks with him when he asks. That's what friends are for, and I'm so glad you've found one in your brother.

You still prefer to dress yourself and still make us giggle with the outcome all the time. The other night you wore your pants inside out to Seedlings. Today you wore a crown headband, pigtails, striped shirt, polka-dot skirt, leggings, and boots to preschool. Love it.

We love you so much, Lily Faith! Each year we get to spend with you, learning, growing, and changing, is a gift from God. We're thankful to Him for giving us you. Happy Birthday!