Side note for Katelyn:
Dear Katelyn,
My dark-chocolate brown-eyed girl... You light up this Mommy's life.
Our family became complete on this day when you were born 5 years ago. Since that day, you have been busy! You are enthusiastic, energetic and an extrovert. You always seem to have such a joy for life and for doing things.
Right now you really love books. You are not able to read but are starting to learn how to do so. You are a great pretender though. You will sit with an open book and act like you are reading the story. You will do this for your friends and I will stand there and watch in amusement as they sit and listen to you attentively while you "read" the story.
Your intelligence is amazing. You are always thinking of ways to get things done. I purposely hide the sharp pointed scissors in a cabinet above the refrigerator. I walked in one day to find you with a bar stool pulled up in front of the fridge, opening the cabinet and getting the scissors out. Your teachers have reported your are starting to learn to read and your math is coming along really well. Your Daddy and I can see you are always thinking about a situation and what you want to do -- sometimes good and sometimes bad :)
You are our bug catcher. You love bugs! You are constantly holding a Roley poly or you are seeking out a butterfly or a lady bug. However if there is a bug in our house -- watch out bugs. Your sister will run from a room screaming your name to go get some bug she has found. You will calmly walk to the bathroom to retrieve a tissue and then you will "catch" the bug. You always have a smile on your face like you are so amused at your sister and her handling of the situation.
You are so athletic. You picked up gymnastics right away and are constantly doing cartwheels now or trying to stand on your head. You are amazing at doing the hula hoop. You were frustrated at first but after much practice, you are now a hula hoop pro. You will stand with your sister in our living room for quite awhile both hula hooping together. Soccer!! You are an amazing soccer player. You love it. As Daddy says, if the ball is in a pile of girls we know who will emerge with the ball. You are an aggressive, super fast player. You have scored at least one goal (sometimes nine goals) every game you have ever played. You continue to take dance as well. However you like to sneak out of your class or sometimes pretend you can't find it and go join your sister's class. Your sister's class is made up of her classmates who you also count as your friends so you do not see why you can't be in the class as well. I have heard sometimes the teacher allows you to stay and other times she escorts you back to your class!
You are so funny. You make me laugh so often. I have realized this year that sometimes I laugh at inappropriate situations and you have taken this as a sign that it is OK and you will do the same thing around your teachers or other adults. Because of not being able to recognize when it is appropriate or not, I have had to smother a laugh a time or two to not encourage this behavior when I am not around. Gosh you do make me grin though!
You are so loving. You are my cuddle bug. You love to lay next to me and for me to hold you while watching TV or just laying around. You always tell your family you love them. I can barely get through most meals without you wanting to sit on my lap -- sometimes I make you sit in the chair like you should and other times I relent because I just want to hold you and I cherish to be able to do so. I am soaking up my time right now with all of these cuddles.
You love animals and babies. You have an affinity for them. If there is an animal or baby around, you will be "petting" on them. You haul your cat all over the house and I will find you many times laying on the bed holding him next to your side. When you sleep at night, I will sometimes find him in your room sleeping next to you -- you are very hot and he loves it.
You adore your sister. When your sister asks you to go someplace with her, you always do so. You seem to glow when she includes you. You will copy her movements and repeat things Jordan says. Jordan tells me that when she sees you at school at an assembly or some other activity, she will always wink and wave at you. It is nice to be with your sister at school this year. I hear you often telling Jordan you love her. I remind you both that this is your best friend for life -- friends may come and go but you always have your sister as a friend. Take care of each other and love each other!!
You are the most generous person we have in our family. You are the first to share anything. If there is one candy left and your sister wants it, you always give it to her. You remind me often that you and I are good sharers and sissy and Daddy are not! Daddy didn't grow up with three sisters like Mommy did so he isn't use to all the sharing!
The above just touches some of your attributes but you have so many. In the end, just know how much your Mommy and Daddy love you along with your sister. You really do light up our lives and add sparkle to it with your zest and love.
Happy 5th Birthday My Sweet Baby Girl!!
I love you from here to infinity and beyond,
Your Mommy
