31 Favorite Things about Leelee - Day 31

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! ITS TODAY!

You are six today.

Here is how your day went...

Trick or treating and movies til midnight. 

Welcome to six, my sweet girl. 

<3

31 Favorite Things about Leelee - Day 30

My princess.

Your last day as a five-year old is today, my dear. And its tough to say goodbye to another year. Easy for you, but its getting tougher for me to see the chubby baby cheeks. Your fingers are no longer pudgy and stinky. You're becoming a young lady and growing up. I don't know what to expect of you at age six. No one really talks about how cute six-year-olds are, I haven't heard of any "sassy sixes" attitudes that I have to prepare for, so its all a big question mark. But, that's kind of the fun of the adventure. You're a wild card, kiddo.

In my public speaking class in college this year I had to write a special occasion speech. I chose to use you as inspiration, and I want to share the speech with you here:

Hello, I’m Jen and today

I’d like to say farewell, if I may

To someone very close to me

to the baby version 

of my daughter, Leelee

Nearly six years ago

You came home

And since that day

You've grown and grown

Through onesies and bibs

Through newborn and toddler

I knew it was coming

You grew farther and farther

Into your own

This brave little soldier

I tried to stop it

But love, you grew older

You grew some teeth

And attitude

You learned your manners

And ate solid food

Today you walk, run

And make up dances

You speak your mind

And you take chances

You've grown so much

As children do

But it caught mommy off guard

I mean, who knew

Time would fly and

In just a few days

You’ll be starting school

And learning more ways

To grow even further 

Out of my arms

But love I’m so proud

Of all of your charms

So go get ‘em kiddo,

Mommy’s ready to go

So excited to see 

You flourish and grow

So goodbye sippy cups

Blues Clues and Steve

Goodbye boogers

Along my sleeve

Goodbye wipes

Goodbye diapers

Goodbye Dora

Goodbye Swiper

Goodbye baby Leelee

I won’t keep you from

The amazing person

I know you’ll become

<3

31 Favorite Things about Leelee - Day 29

Today I showed you this blog a little and you decided you wanted to put your stamp on it. So I asked what you'd like to tell yourself a year from now, or even ten years from now.

The results:

1. Don't do anything wrong

2. If you do anything wrong, you'll get to be in big trouble.

3. When you get lost, you should ask for directions.

4. I would do writing on the computer for a job.

5. Life is that you don't die, so you can be with your family.

6. Always wash your hand after you go to the bathroom.

7. Never ever push or hit or even kick.

8. If you have a cat you get to treat them nicely and pet them and don't throw them in the air or at the wall.

9. Be sweet.

10. Don't forget to turn off the light after you wash your hands.


Good advice, kiddo. Here are some things I'd like you to remember from me:




<3

31 Favorite Things about Leelee - Day 28

So, Mommy regained access to a little ancient website called MySpace today. Consult your nearest history book to learn what that was when I was a young mommy.

I stopped using it right after you were born, but not before I posted pictures of you in your first year of life. Today, I rolled around in the past and lost moments remembered (and I have the tissue to prove it).

Here is what you looked like inside my tummy. Check out that skull!

And a view from the outside. 

You were so so tiny.

But such a happy baby.

And curious.

This was your first day at a babysitter, 3 months after you were born. 

I was a wreck, but it worked out fine.

And we still were able to go on lots of adventures

Here is you and Grandpa Dave!

On a picnic in Applegate with Grandma Matthews.

To the beach with your dad!

You've always been rather stylish.

Here you are with your very first bite of rice cereal.

About a year later, you very nearly mastered it...

Sort of.

Being cute is hard work, isn't it kiddo?

God, what I wouldn't do to compare pics of you and ME at this age! A ton of our pictures got lost when I was a kid, but I still don't think I could have out-cuted you, my love.

This little walk down memory lane today has made me appreciate just have far we've come. I had no idea you would change my life like this. I had no idea I could love something so much. For all the worry and frustration and self-doubt and sliminess and loudness and messiness, I couldn't imagine the world without you. Thank you for being such an amazing creature and making my life complete.


<3