Happy Birthday Annelise!!

Oh, this time 6 years ago I was in a hospital room falling head over heels in love with a sweet baby girl. She was so soft and cuddly (still is when she isn't rolling her eyes at me...) She was such a good baby, too. I cannot believe how fast 6 years has gone! She is 1/3 of the way to being an adult! She woke up to balloons in her room this morning, as she has since she turned 1. She thinks they are from the birthday fairy, who leaves them for her at night. Tonight, if the ice and snow don't come early, we are going to Gattitown to celebrate since her actual party is not until the 27th. We are going to go ahead and give her her present tonight. She asked for a microscope, so she got one. I figured she is going to be so involved in her modeling party that she won't even notice what she gets there. This is the first year that she has invited friends from school. She has turned into quite the diva this past year. It is now a daily ritual for her to come home from school and immediately change into a sequin or sparkly sundress (with 20 degree weather outside) and put her tiara on and also apply some hideous light pink lipstick and enough jewelry to make Little Richard jealous. She still says she wants to be a doctor, scientist, karateo when she grows up. She has done so much this past year- started soccer, learned how to ski, lost her first tooth,and now she is playing basketball for the first time. I can't quite figure her out. One minute she is in her tiara and lipgloss and the next she is in the backyard digging for worms or baiting a hook with a cricket at the lake. But we are so thankful that God chose us for her parents. She is so loving and mothering and so funny. She is a good shopping buddy and a great pal to watch a movie with. When someone is upset, she is the first one to console them. When someone needs an opinion, she is the first one to give it. And when there is a competition, she is all about winning it. Wow, I shudder to think what the next few years hold. I pray that God gives both of us enough grace to love each other through the teen years. I hope Annelise has a wonderful day today. My sweet first born baby.