Turning seven

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!