Happy Birthday Princess

Dear Princess:

Today you are eight years old and as we celebrate your birthday (and my mommiversary), I want to first tell you how much I love you. It’s been a big year, hasn’t it? A year where you have become even more of your own person, and you’ve blossomed into this amazing person – I see glimpses of what kind of person you are, who you will be. I catch these glimpses and I am excited. And I am so proud.

One of the things I love the most is how much you love to read. It’s funny how you look so much like dad, and yet share so many of my interests. When we go to the library and you collect a stack of thirteen books you’d like to check out and we come home and you’ve managed to polish off three before your head hits the pillow at night – those moments are the best. I love that you love books, that you love words – that you find joy in something that brings me so much joy.

Lately, when  you walk around with a camera pressed to your face and I see you angling the camera just so, or tipping your head this way or that composing a shot in your mind – I wonder if you are mimicking me, or if there is something ingrained in me that got passed on to you — that maybe somehow we are just wired this way, that I am so you are?

When you tell people, “I may look like my dad, but I am my mom’s mini me” – that makes me smile — partly because you’re not so old yet that sharing interests with your mom brings you embarrassment. I hope it never does – but I’m a realistic sort – you’ll hit ten or eleven or twelve, and you’ll think I’m the most ridiculous person to ever walk the planet, and the sound of my breathing will make you want to stomp off in a ‘tween rage and I’m sure I’ll never wear the right thing and you’ll need to walk ten steps behind me at the store.

Since those days aren’t here yet, I’m gonna just embrace the now.

You’re a smart cookie, Miss Thing. I know you don’t need me to tell you that, but you are. Not only are you wicked smart, you have a very tender heart. I worry about you sometimes – you with your heart on your sleeve. Worry about the ways that you might be hurt or disappointed – and I know that those times will come and I won’t be able to do anything about them, but I fear them just the same. You wear your emotions on your face – your smiles are contagious but man, when your eyes cloud over…

Miss Eight Year Old, you have your mother’s temper. I’m sorry about that. Sometimes you stomp off and I get mad, I want to ground you, and then I think – “But that’s me!” You are my reminder to take deep breaths and count to ten. You are my reminder to give mySELF timeouts sometime.

One of the things you are looking forward to most about this birthday is no longer having to use a booster seat in the car. You did a dance last night, the “no more car seat” dance. I made you do it twice, it was so funny. I love to see you cut loose and be silly.

This is going to be a great year for you, I know it. I know it because I love you and when you were born, my life changed. I held you in my arms and looked at your little conehead and I fell in love with you. You are my first born. You have taught me so much about so many things. You are such an amazing piece of my world, Princess.

Happy birthday. I love you with my whole heart, and I am so very lucky to be your mom.

Love,

Mom