A Verry Merry Birthday To YOU!

Dear Gillian,

Today you are SEVEN! SEVEN!!!!!! Yesterday you were learning to walk, and today you read and write and create. Do you know that I love you…really, really love you? With all of my heart and soul? You-the one who made me a parent, and changed my life in impossible ways? One day you will know how this feels...how it simultaneously makes you weep and laugh-this raising people business. I am reminded of the old book that I loved in second grade-the one about the little caterpillar who was desperate to grow up, to know what it feels like to be a butterfly and float on the quiet breeze. She asked all the butterflies floating by on gilded wings and they all whispered “someday you’ll know….someday you’ll know…”. When you tell me you want to be grown up, I hug you and tell you I want you to stop growing, right this instant. I tell you I won’t be able to hold you the same way for much longer…my gangly doe, climbing onto my lap with her currently-awkwardly long knobby limbs (that I know will transform into elegant, well formed ones one day-should you have ever fretted). But I’ll hold you as long as you want me to. I know those awful teenage years-the ones that hurt like the metamorphosis of that sweet little caterpillar-are coming. But I hope you still turn to me when you are hurting.

These days are about fun and learning and playing…carefree. You are nearly fanged, one top tooth missing, and the other on it’s way out any day. Your favorite color is green. Your favorite things are making art (you have an exceedingly long attention span), imaginary playing with your friends, and playing your instruments. You play piano (for almost 3 years) and violin (for almost 2 years). You show great promise and have a good ear, according to your teachers. You are reading very well, and writing very well, though your spelling will improve. Your teachers adore you, because you are helpful and kind and generally well-behaved. Mrs. G is your teacher-she is wonderful, young, and tattooed, which blows your mind. She runs your class like a sports team, which seems to be very effective. So, you are well adjusted, happy, and well-liked and we probably couldn't want much more for you.

For your birthday, we had a Mad Hatter Tea Party. You had the idea, having done the Alice in Wonderland play this summer at camp. It was a brilliant idea, and my creative side was happy to run with it. Even though we had to change the plan at the last minute because of weather, most people came, and it was a beautiful day. Note that the food got made because of your three fairy godmothers, and their willingness to come help get things ready a couple of nights before the party (let's also acknowledge for your ungrateful 13-year old self that mama got < 3 hours of sleep the night before, the night of we went to bed before 8 pm, and mama didn't take her robe off the following day). The day of, all of your best friends came out, and you said it was your favorite birthday EVER.

 

You even had your oldest friends there....France and Anni, who we were in a playgroup with starting at 3 months old.
 
At any rate, the love surrounding us was palpable. I kept marveling at the people who love us enough to give up Friday night to make tea sandwiches, and cut out gift tags, and make gift bags, and cut out cupcake toppers until 12:30 in the morning...(one of these ladies is no dummy and called it "sweat equity"). Every child came on your special day dressed to the nines in fancy Tea Party attire (they were all characters). It was beautiful on so many levels. Everyone tried hard and wanted to be there because they love you. Like we all do. You are really easy to love, monkey. So, on the eve of your birthday, I wish for you all the blessings in heaven and on earth, all the love you could ever want, and a wonderful year of joy. I love this journey with you. I love being your mama.

Love, Mama

 

Watermarked photos are compliments of Roxanne Engstrom of http://www.hawaimages.com/ ; others were taken by our lovely guests and shared with us.