Happy Birthday Baby Girl – Claire is 5!

Oh you guys…this birthday is killing me!!  Five means so many things, but the dreaded thing is the big K..kindergarten.  I can’t even think that in less than 7 short months my baby girl will start school.  SO….for now, we’re going to leave well enough alone and just pretend that this momma isn’t going to come unraveled when that all happens and just talk about how fabulous this 5 year old girl is!  After growing up in a house FULL of boys ( I have 3 younger brothers), and then giving birth to a boy first, I figured girls just weren’t in my cards.  When they first told me I was having a girl when I was pregnant with her, I was still only cautiously optimistic.  I held off on any monograms  or personalization just to be sure we didn’t get a big surprise when she was born.  The truth is that we did get a big surprise, but the surprise came in the form of a crazy birth story with no meds for me *not by choice, and a doctor that happened to be in the hallway running into catch her as she was born.  We all kidded that she had a mind of her own already, and little did we know how true that would really be!  Claire definitely knows what she wants and really won’t be swayed very easily.  This girl has been known (on multiple occasions) to cry until she pukes just because things aren’t going her way.  Beyond that side of her, though, is a shy, timid little girl.  Her feelings are easily hurt, especially in public even just by simple correction.  She never talks upon first meeting someone and it takes her a bit to open up.  Lots of people are shocked when they first see her talking so much in her own element, because when she’s out of it, she’s often silent.  At home, she talks non-stop and is often dressed in princess clothes.  Lately, she is also often found sporting stick on earrings, glittery eye make-up, and lip gloss.  I always dreamed of having little girl things all over my house, and they are ALL. OVER. MY. HOUSE :)!!  I wouldn’t trade it for the world, and I’m so thankful that I get to be her mommy.  She has the best imagination, and I love eavesdropping on her while she is playing babies, restaurant, or whatever.  Her conversations crack me up, and I’ll admit make me think a little more when I hear WAY too much of myself in her words :)!!  She is so loving, and thinks of her big brother in everything.  She never wants him to feel left out and tries to always even everything up to be sure he’s getting just as much as she is.  She did ask me last week why she had so many more clothes than he did, and I promptly changed the subject :)!   I love how she is starting to display thoughtfulness and compassion for others.  She adores babies, and really wishes we were in the market for one; sometimes we all do, but not sure that would solve any problems around here :)!  I know she would be a fabulous big sister, but she’s pretty great at being a little sister already!  Today, we celebrate 5 years since we welcomed this little princess into our house.  It seems like yesterday!  You really never know why people are always saying how quickly time goes until you have children, and then you feel like it’s all just flying through your hands.  For now, I’ll try to slow down and soak it all in, and enjoy those princess heels and fake earrings as long as I can.  I know soon enough they’ll be the real deal, and I’m pretty sure neither her daddy nor I are anywhere near ready for that!!  Instead of a local birthday party, this year, we’re taking it to the road and headed to Atlanta tomorrow!  It will be her first visit to American Girl and I’m not sure who’s more excited, me or her!  We are taking a couple of friends, and my camera will definitely be along for the ride!  I cannot wait to spend the weekend with nothing to do but celebrate with her!!  Happy 5th Birthday Baby Claire!!  We love you!!!

I was going to just post a photo from every birthday, but then had to pull just a few more.  I could probably blog 70 photos of her and still feel like I’m slighting her.  So here’s one from each birthday party, with a few in between.  I, of course, had to include some from our last family photo session in October with Sara Rose.  The close up photos of her laughing are my all time favorites.  I wish I could bottle that!   The most recent ones are from Christmas with her 2 favorite gifts!