I see so much of myself in you. Not just because you look almost exactly like my childhood photos. But so many things you do – even in things I don’t remember teaching you. The way you love pink and all things girly. The way you sort your M&Ms at eat only one color at a time. The way you love jewelry and try to convince me to let you wear mine. The way you hate to wear shoes. The way you hate having anything done to your hair. The way you love to help me cook and bake. The way you adore your daddy. Even the way you love the beach.
I love how sweet you are. How you thank me for vacuuming your bedroom or washing your clothes. The way you come up to me and give me a hug around the leg and a kiss. They way you try to cheer me up by being silly when you see I’m upset about something. The way you play with my hair while telling me I’m pretty. The way you love to crawl into bed and snuggle up to my side. Then you pat my face and whisper “I love you.” I love taking you out for coffee and listening to you tell me about what’s on your mind. I love listening to you sing. I love listening to you pray.
You are such a sweet big sister to Gracie. And I love how excited you are for your baby brother to arrive. The way you talk about all the things you want to teach him and places you want to take him. The way you say, “I just can’t wait to hold him and give him a big kiss.” You are going to be so wonderful to him and I cannot wait to watch you see him for the first time.
As much as I am happy for you to be five and as much as I love watching you grow up, it makes me a little sad. Because the chubby-cheeked baby is gone and this remarkably tall little girl has replaced her. Because this year will mark your starting school, getting on that big school bus all by yourself as I stand on the sidewalk watching it carry you to a world I can only be a small part of. Because I know the struggles of growing up that you must face, that I can’t protect you from.
We’ve come a long way from this:
I’m so thankful to be your mama. And I can’t even begin to imagine what this next year will bring. I’m excited to see all the new thing you learn this year, excited to see you grow. I’m excited to keep seeing you grow into your own little person. And I can’t wait to see you react to all this next year is going to bring.
About Melissa
Happy fifth birthday to your big girl. What a lovely post Mommy! I’m glad I stopped by before work. It gave me a smile and made me think of how much I love the little girls in the next room making waffles (in the toaster).
what a great retrospective…thanks for sharing…happy b-day ellie!
okay, i’m sobbing now. happy birthday ellie. i remember you when your mom and dad thought it would be fun to start “trying” – since they didn’t know how long it might take to get pregnant (*ahem*) and since then, you have continued to be God’s great gift to us all!
I hope she has an awesome birthday!
this completely made me tear up! what a beautiful tribute to your growing girl!! I hope her birthday has been/was/is truly amazing and memorable.
What a beautiful tribute! I hope you all had a great weekend celebrating! Your 5 year old and my 5 year would get along VERY well. While going to the beach wearing pink!
If Ellie could see our faces, she’d probably wonder why all mommy’s friends are crying when it’s supposed to be her “happy” birthday! That was so beautiful Mel… fitting because Ellie has so many beautiful qualities that make us so thankful to know her and so excited to see how God is going to use her in this life. Happy Birthday Ellie! (Nora misses you terribly!)
oh that was beautiful…..:)
Love this! Missed it somehow.
This is so beautiful. You have precious girls!!!!
Very late but happy happy birthday to her