FIVE

I cannot believe my baby is five. I feel like a legit parent now. I mean sure....babies are hard and have their own challenges and after you have a baby you can be all "I'm a parent now"...but a five year old? I mean, that's a KID. I'm a parent of an actual KID.

Is anyone else blown away by this? Just me? Ok.

Mark was out of town for work on Lucy's actual birthday, and we hadn't moved into our new house yet so her birthday was spent at my mom's house. I feel bad because it was such a transitional time for us and her birthday just happened to fall right in the middle. Being the happy, energetic five year old she is though, she didn't notice anything was amiss and enjoyed the day like any five year old girl would.

I started off the day with our tradition of balloons upon wakening, and a special birthday breakfast.

She opened her presents from Mark and I, and just spent the day playing with her new things and the balloons. It's amazing to me that parents spend so much time and money on crazy birthday parties that end up stressing out the kid and the parent anyway, when really, the kids just want a day devoted to them. I made sure Lucy knew the day was ALL about her, and though it was simple, she loved it and so did I.

She chose Partner's Pizza for her birthday dinner, complete with grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles, a tiara, and of course a cookie cake. Where would my life be without cookie cakes?

This year has been a big one for Lucy. She became a big sister again. I have watched her blossom into a beautiful, bright little girl. We've moved houses, we've made new friends, and in a few weeks she will be starting kindergarten.

I know all parents say this about their oldest girl, but Lucy really is an amazing big sister.

While she does tend to play the little mother at times, she has a very nurturing spirit and is a natural with babies. I can already see what a wonderful mother she will become one day. She is calm and patient with her sisters, much more patient than she is with me :)

After we moved into the new house, I invited some of Lucy's friends over for some cupcakes. Nothing big, just a playdate with bonus cupcakes. It was nice to have her spend some "birthday"time with her friends. (notice Noelle curled up in Lucy's lap)

Lucy is very smart, and very literal. All her friends kept telling her "happy birthday Lucy!" and she would say, "well, it's not my birthday anymore. But thank you". 

At five years old, she loves princesses, horses and playing dress up. She loves arts and crafts and as soon as the babies go down for their nap she asks me if she can paint. (I make her wait until they nap because as you can imagine, Annie and paint DO NOT MIX)

She goes through about 6 outfits a day. She loves dance and drama. She sings all. the. time.

She challenges me and humbles me daily. She is a little me....and yet so different and very much her own person. I've said before that she cannot be explained in words. Atleast not in my words.

Lucy is spunky, feminine, opinionated, energetic, dramatic, compassionate, and a natural leader. She is our referee. And she has my heart.