I swear she was just born yesterday. But I see her face and listen to her speak her big words and realize that I am mistaken, she really is seven today.
I can remember staring at her when she was sleeping as a baby. She would be lying in her crib and I would stand over her, just staring, I loved her profile, her nose, lips and chin, something about the way they all went together were so stunning to me, captivating.
And now, seven years later, I do the same thing, I look at those same features, except now she’s in her big girl bed in her big girl room with her big girl pajamas. I kiss her on her soft, soft cheek, every night, I whisper to her that I love her so much, I wish her sweet dreams.
I look at her nose, lips and chin and I always remember her as a baby.
Like her brother, I feel like she’s an old soul in a little body, she understands so much, nothing gets by her. She’s been known for that since she was a toddler. You could never try to trick her because she always knew what was going on.
She is our daredevil. The girl who will run into Lake Michigan in her clothes, if you let her, the one who would live outside in the snow, the girl who wants to run and jump at every opportunity, the one who doesn’t hesitate when she sees a roller coaster or a merry-go-round.
This year, she learned to read like I can not believe, she rides a bike beautifully, her sense of style has emerged. Most days her outfits and accessories are unbelievably trendy, other days, a little frightening. Either way, I love her interest in what she wears.
Her love for this baby that will be joining our family is immeasurable, she talks about him so often, she loves that he’s a boy, she KNOWS he’s going to be so cute and she can’t wait to snuggle and hold him.
I know she was (is) profoundly affected by the loss of James and Jake, I know she fears the same thing happening to this baby but I’m so grateful that she is trusting enough to LOVE him without boundaries and she does. She tells him so every single day.
She is love and light and so beautiful and smart, her skin, her hair, her fingers, her toes, her everything spark something in me that remind me everyday how lucky I am not just to be a Mom but to be HER Mom.
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And her annual Birthday interview, of course. (the interviews are done the night prior to the actual birthday.)
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Hi Anna.
Hi.
Do you know anyone who is going to be seven tomorrow? Anna.
Are you excited? yes, so excited.
Why? Cause I’m turning 7 and I get to go to Chuck E. Cheese with our cousins.
What did you choose for your birthday dinner? Pizza
What’s your favorite fruit? Apples, of course.
What’s your favorite vegetable? Peas, of course. Why did you ask that silly question?
Do you like broccoli? Yes, a lot. They look like trees, when I eat all of the leaves off of them it looks like a tree in winter.
If you could drink anything all day long, what would it be? Apple juice and a Capri Sun, lots of them, of course.
What’s your favorite song? Starstruck and Love Story and You Belong With Me and Hallalujah from the Hope for Haiti show.
What’s your favorite thing to do? Work at my (new) desk.
Where did you get that desk? Daddy made it, of course, in the basement. For a surprise. It has a bulletin board on top of it.
So, do you know that Daddy put the desk together and Mommy picked it out with him and he actually didn’t “build it” right? I didn’t know that.
Are you still impressed with your Daddy’s work? Yes. So.
What are your favorite things in life? Friends, games, cute babies, good books.
What’s your favorite book to read? Books by Geronimo Stilton.
What’s your favorite season and why? Spring because you can play outside and you can wear short sleeves and things and you can go to the beach, sometimes and you can play outside a lot and go to your friends house and lots of things that I can’t even say.
How many pairs of shoes do you have? A bunch.
Like four pairs? 18. I think.
Do you think you have a shoe problem? Yes.
Do you love flip flops? OF COURSE! WHY NOT?!
What do you want for your birthday? A DSi game and more arts and crafts for my NEW DESK. More books. More shoes and things. Hair things, of course, because I’m running out. THE END.
What’s your favorite color? Pink, purple, white, green and hot pink, indigo and blue, of course, baby blue.
What’s happening on March 29th? My Mom is going to have a baby? and I’m SO EXCITED.
How is the baby going to come out? They’re going to cut her open, they have to pull him out.
How do you feel about the doctor’s cutting your Mom open? I don’t know.
Are you going to kiss and snuggle this baby? OF COURSE, WHY NOT?! I bet he’s going to be so cute.
And who do you love? Mommy, baby, everyone!
Happy Birthday, Anna!! She is remarkable.
Steph
Happy Birthday Anna! Congratulations Mommy on raising such a wonderful girl!
What a sweetheart! Wishing her a very Happy Birthday! And much love and luck adding to your already adorable family.
She is gorgeous and so funny! I especially love all the “of course” answers.
Happy Birthday, Anna, OF COURSE!
So adorable!
Another great post, of course!
She’s a beautiful girl. I hope she has a great birthday.
Oh.. these pictures of baby Anna and Noah are just WAY TOO much..
Happy Birthday Anna!
LOVE IT!!! Of Course!!
What a cutie!!
Anna and I are BFFs for her love of flip flops. I hope she has the happiest of days.
broccoli being winter trees and flip flop, of course makes anna one of my favorite kids ever. oh, and her love without boundaries? yes, definitely that, too.
Oh my, oh my. What a precious, beautiful, sweet young lady you have! I love that she says “of course” and that she loves so much!
Happy Birthday Anna!
She is gorgeous inside and out. And so very sweet and inspiring! Happy Birthday Anna!
Happy Birthday Anna
What a sweet tradition, love the interview!
I love how she said “of course” throughout the whole interview. As if to say, “MOM! You know me already! You know all this.”
And of course you do.
But you are trying to freeze Anna at 7 for the rest of time. It’s a hard job.
Happy birthday to your sweet big girl.
Happy Birthday Anna!
and the broccoli answer? awesome.
You’ve just killed me with the cuteness! Happy birthday Anna!
What a charming young lady!
Happy Birthday to Anna!
Oh, this is so sweet it has left me in tears. Her lovely little answers and your beautiful description of your daughter have turned me into a pile of mush. Happy Birthday Anna!!
Oh Happy Birthday Anna! You are such an amazing girl!
Happy birthday beautiful girl! Wishing Anna the best of birthdays and year to come.
Happy Happy Birthday Miss Anna! You are a sweet little lady and I loved the interview and pictures.
Happy Birthday sweet Anna! Love the ponytails picture! She is adorable…and seems to have a good head on her shoulders already!!!
Happy Birthday, Anna!
Adorable! I love the interview – great tradition. Happy Birthday to Anna!
Happy Birthday Anna! So glad I got to see that face in person, she’s even more beautiful than in pictures. Kinda like her mama.
Happy Birthday to your adorable daughter!
I love the interview you do with your kids on their birthday..so sweet!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNA!! The photos and interview and your Mom’s wonderful words and thoughts and love for you are like the sweetest frosting on top of any birthday cake ever! I wish you all the happiness in the entire world… to infinity and beyond!
Happy Birthday Anna you sweet little thing!!! You’re maturing so fast and beautifully! Miss you and love you bunches!
“Do you think you have a shoe problem?” That’s hysterical! I love all your interview questions. I’m going to have to do this with my kids this year. I hope I don’t forget.
I love your interviews !!
Happy Birthday sweet Anna!! I can’t even believe what a beautiful, sweet, loving young lady you are becoming. As one of your first teachers, I just want to say I am so proud of you. Have a wonderful birthday sweetie!!
Thanks for sharing your little fashionista with us. So very touching! (And makes me want to bust open a Capri Sun!)
She’s not my child, or even related to me, but the picture for this post, the carousel picture and the picture of her in the air are so ding dang precious that I just want to frame them and keep them around me for inspiration! I don’t have to tell you to enjoy your beautiful girl — You’re such a good Mommy, and already do!
Happiest of birthdays Anna! Enjoy your Chuck E Cheese extravaganza.
Also, do you do birthday interviews every year? Because I love that idea and will probably steal it when I have kids! Just so you know.
Happy Birthday, Anna! What a sweet tribute that you wrote for her. You’re an amazing mom and I just know she’s following in your steps and she will be a wonderful big sister to the baby.
I love your kids so, so much.
I love how her answers are so detailed and precise. Happy Birthday, Anna.
Can she be any more beautiful? Gorgeous gorgeous girl. Happy birthday, sweetheart!
Happy Birthday to your beautiful, sweet girl. You are both so very blessed to have each other…
A very happy birthday to your girl! I love that picture of her flying.
What a sweet post!
She is just beautiful.
Happy 7th Birthday, Anna!
A huge and very happy birthday to your not-so-little girl!
Happy birthday, Anna!
Beth – that first photo of Anna is absolutely stunning!!! Captures her spark and inner sunshine. Gorgeous.
My 3 year old read this post with me and as we scrolled through the photos, she’d say, “That’s a silly one. That’s a silly one too.” Your daughter is adorable. I love the idea of a birthday interview. We’ll have to do a belated one with our Annabelle. She turned 3 in December.
What a sweet post. I love the idea of birthday interviews! Might steal that one for our house
Thanks for sharing!
oh so sweet and soooo grown up! Wiping the tears from my eyes and smiling. I just packed so many of the outfits in the above pictures all up!
“So. Of course.” Love it!
Happy, Happy Birthday, sweet Anna!
Happy Birthday to your very beautiful daughter
I said it before and I’ll say it again – I love that you interview your kids the night before their birthdays and I am SO going to start doing that. Thank you. How do you come up with the interview questions?
Happy Birthday to your little girl. She is beautiful (and your photos are wonderful). I particularly like that Merry-Go-Round one.
Happy birthday to both your kiddos.
My baby just turned one on the 30th and I’m still surprised by it…growing out of babyhood so fast.
Our babies grow tooooo fast!
Nell