Happy Fifth Birthday Seren!

Dear Seren,
You turn five today. Five! Five. I can't even begin to wrap my brain around all that this year has brought us and just how fast time flies. I can clearly remember being handed an infant, OUR daugther and thinking, 'what am I doing?' And I still feel like that. I also remember, right after you were born, talking with parents who had five year olds and thinking that those parents were LIGHT years ahead of me. That it would take 'forever' until this tiny, little, 5.8 lb baby could do things like sing, dance, talk, hug, and tell jokes and complex stories.

But those years?

They went fast.

Seren you continue to talk a blue streak. We love it. Most of the time. You tell us about your day. Your adventures. Your dolls' adventures. You tell us memories you have. Dreams you had the night before. You share it all with us and we love it.

You have such enthusiasm. You always want to do new things! And take adventures! Most of life is one giant adventure! I love this about you! You embrace the small things in life and I love seeing the many blessings of this world through your eyes.

You continue to be super bright. Your reading makes me so proud. You just breathe in books and words and stories. It is an amazing thing to see you read aloud. I just sit there next to you and my mind is just filled with joy. How did you do that? How did you figure it all out?

Four has brought you another year of part time preschool. A chance to learn to befriend friends and negotiate social situations. I worried when you were two. You were so shy. So withdrawn. You just observed children. Carefully. Very carefully. And didn't want to really engage them. You still prefer adults to children. But you have fallen in love with your friends at school. And seeing your confidence in social situations grow is very exciting! You also are less fearful of new expereinces. Unless the new experiences invovle a dog. That? You are still scared to death of! Any dog. Any size. Even ones that wear tutus.

But I digress.

This year you have learned to read, made good friends, and been a good sister. You also have pushed our limits to see just how far you can go. You also tried soccer twice. You are loving riding your bike (with training wheels), playing with your dolls, creating stories, practicing your letters and being your wild and wonderful self. You FEEL everything. You are very sensitive. To many many things. This strong reaction to things can be difficult to deal with as you just want things to be one specific way. The world, sometimes is frustrating and hard. But you are learning that and working through it. And my gosh, you seem to have grown inches! Our tall girl.

Today when you woke up, right at 6, you called through the monitor. "It is my birthday! Please come up singing! And please bring the muffin!" Ah yes, you love this tradition. With bleary eyes, Daddy and I shuffled into your room where you excitedly waited. The candles lit, five of them shoved into a blueberry muffin, we sang Happy Birthday to you. And you were pleased as punch.

And so were we.

You then announced that your new pajamas which are way too long for you, "fit better" now that you are a "big five". I don't know about that kiddo, but we sure do love you.

May you always know how much you are loved. Always. By your friends. By your family. Always. Happy fifth birthday, our big girl. Continue to be the enthusiastic, bright, thinking, person you are now. Dream big dreams, love bug. We'll be here cheering for you.

We love you so much

Mom and Dad