The Fish Pond: Five, Whether You Like it or Not

You turned 5 on Sunday, Sunny. Yes, I know your party isn't until next month, but I'd like to remind you that was your choice, you wanted to have your party at the craft store, and they stopped doing parties for a while. I wanted to pick something else, but you wanted to have a family day on your birthday, with a party next month for your friends. So next month we'll go decorate totebags with 15 of your closest little friends, then mainline some cake and juiceboxes and call it a day. But you're still five, no matter how much you try to deny it. Grandpa says you're afraid you won't get to have your party if you admit you're five. But you will - how could we not celebrate that our baby girl is five?

You talk incessantly. Seriously. You talk in your sleep. You talk all day, you talk all night. Your Nana wanted to get you a doll that talked all the time in hopes that it would teach you what it was like to be around someone who talks all the time, thinking it would annoy you like we sometimes get annoyed with you. But I asked Nana why she would do that to me, because I know you, my dear. You'd find it delightful. I already need to get a babysitter just so I can sit in the car and read a book and be able to hear myself think. But you ask good questions. You have a bright intellect. You are funny and inquisitive and love to show us how much you know. Your little brain is like the proverbial sponge, sucking up any and everything around you.

Your Nana and Poppy took you out shopping for your birthday, to lunch at the diner and then Gymboree and JCPenney to let you pick out some clothes. Nana said you went in to Gymboree and you remembered everyone who works there, even though you haven't been there in more than a year, and you talked to them as if you just saw them last week. I told her that you talk to everyone like that, even if you haven't yet been formally introduced. Everyone is your oldest and bestest friend. I hope you never lose that. Anyway, your Nana said you picked out the dresses at Penneys, the non-girly girly dresses with swirly skirts that aren't pink, which is funny because pink is your favorite color. Then you picked a jeans skirt and top and ladybug hair clips and a yellow dress with ladybugs on it, and they are quintessentially you. Nana said you looked at her and said "Let's go home. You've spent enough of your money now, you don't want to spend too much." Amazing perspective from a 5 year old. And also funny.

Your smile makes it hard to stay mad at you, even when you're being pesky and tormenting your brother. That lovely, amazing smile that is so much like your grandmother that it physically hurts to look at you sometimes. You seem to be in a weird sort of competition with your brother to see who can be more of a middle child, and you fight all the time, but then in the same hour we'll be at the grocery store and you will insist that you have to get something for Little Man, just because. Your baby brother is your constant companion who wants nothing more than to do whatever you want to do because he wants to be big like you, even though he's just about bigger than you already. He is delighted to let you order him around and to do your bidding the whole day through. He pops up in the morning and after saying good morning and hugging your dad and me he wanders off to find you and see what the day's adventures hold.

You were the best surprise I've ever received, my Sunny girl. My little teeny big girl with the infectious laughter and the sweet smile. Happy birthday, baby.

Love,

Mommy