TEN

My very best Martha Kate:  

Today you are ten!  There is something magical about being able to count your exact age on both of your hands.  You’ll never be able to do this again and you’ll remember this when you older like me and it takes eight hands.  I can remember teaching you how to hold up one finger when you were one and then two and then three was kind of tricky. 

You have grown up so much this year and yet you are still so little, which is so perfect because I can pick you up just like I always have.  I ask you sometimes how old you will be before I can’t pick you up and you say that you will never be too old.  I love the way that you are the first one up and I can hear your feet hit the floor and come downstairs to sit by me in the mornings.  You tuck yourself perfectly into the little space beside me and share your blanket.  I love the way that you miss me even if your just sitting in the backseat of the car and especially if I’m not here at night.  I miss you too when you have sleepovers.  

You have done lots of new things this year and I’m so proud of you!  You chose to try running this year and it was so much fun to watch you. I loved practicing running with you on Saturday mornings and then going to get Starbucks afterward.  It sure made getting up early to run much more appealing.  I also love how you never forgot to stop and pick flowers while you ran so you could throw them off the bridge.  You teach me to stop and do the things that I enjoy even if it makes you slow down a little.  I loved watching you at those races.  You came up those hills every time with such fierce determination and most of the time you were smiling.  I promised you some new boots on your second race if you improved your time because I was pretty sure you had a little more in there, and boy, did you ever run fast on that race!  You told me you just thought about those boots the whole time and ran faster.  You and I got to travel to the state meet and to the National meet - you love hotels like me.   You won an award at State and I was so proud of you!  You didn’t love the mud at the National meet but you finished strong and that hotel pool was worth it.  

You also got to sing two solos in church this year.  You worked very hard and sang so beautifully.  I’m amazed at how brave you are to sing in a microphone but you’ve always said that is what you wanted to do.  You did it so well.  Daddy and I love to hear you sing.  You can learn song lyrics faster than anyone I know and I’m especially glad that you like Journey as much as I do.  You and I got to go the Marin Morris concert together which was super fun, even though I had to hold you up the whole time so that you could see.  

You also got to go to camp for the first time ever last summer!  You are a girl of adventure so I’m not surprised at how much you loved going to camp.  I missed you so much but when I got pictures from you and your friends I knew you were having fun.  That’s the awesome part about getting bigger - you get to do cool things and then come back and tell me about it.  

This year was kind of tough for all of us because I had to be away so much at night to take care of your brother.  I tried so very hard to give you just as much attention but I know sometimes you felt left out.  I loved when you came to the hospital to see me and sit with me even though you really didn’t like to go.  I also loved our Friday nights together when it was just us.  You made a list of all the things we would do together which was mostly eat corn dog nuggets, play outside, and watch a movie in bed.  They were perfect plans.  I loved sleepovers with you because I sure missed your face when I couldn’t see you!  

I was so worried about how Bailey being sick would affect you.  But, my girl, you have continued to shine.   You also learned to be so independent - even more than you already were.  You learned how to fix your own hair, and pack your lunch and make sure that daddy signed your folders.  You even sewed a button on your shirt all by yourself!  You also helped me take care of your brother getting his medicine and never complained when I asked you to get something for me, even if you were in the middle of playing.  You were so patient when we had to sit at appointments and even when we had to walk a little slower or take longer.  You noticed how people didn’t always get out of our way, and it’s made you more aware of how to help people.  You also decided that you wanted to help other children so you donated your hair for cancer patients and all of your lemonade stand money.  Sometimes people become angry and sad when their lives are hard but I am so proud of you for using something hard to do something good.  

Kate, you are so much fun to watch and listen to.  You come home from school with great stories about what happened that day and you love to make lists of the things you want to do.  Sometimes I’ll catch you outside on the swing in the afternoon and you are playing and singing all by yourself.  It always makes me so happy and I stop what I am doing to soak it in for a minute.  You love to sing and dance in the kitchen and I like to join you too, especially when it’s a good song.  You love your Barbies, your crafts, and your books, and you love to relax.  I usually have to dig the books out of your bed in the morning when I make it and I have never seen someone that could make such a detailed meal out of play doh, or make more thoughtful and glittery cards for my birthday.

You have always had your own sense of fashion but now you’re starting to help me with mine. Sometimes you make me change my shoes or earrings before I leave the house.  This is good because I’m sure I could use the help and I know that you’ll always make sure I'm looking my best.  This is also the year that you found that you are your best self in black leggings.  You have two pair that you like - one short and one long - and you have figured out how to dress them up and down depending on where you are going and have decided they are your perfect pants.  I can't argue because no one can pull off a pair of tiny black pants better than you and the first rule of fashion is that you should have basic and versatile clothing options that are comfortable enough to see you through the day's activities.  I do appreciate you allowing me to sneak that bow in your hair every once in a while, though.

Even though you are mostly rainbows and joy, I can always tell what you're thinking and if you don't like something.  Your nose squinches up and you make this face.  If you are sad, it makes us all very sad because we don't like to see you cry.  You used to cry every time daddy sneezed when you were a baby because it was so loud and one time you cried when you accidentally threw your Dora movie out the window on the interstate - you love for me to tell you that story.  Now you cry when other people cry because it hurts your heart.  You rarely get mad but when you do, you make sure to let me know.  You mostly get mad at your brother for picking on you, but when your older, you'll realize that it's because he loves you.  And boys are weird.  

I asked you to write down your favorite things and you made a full list with pictures with so many things - rainbows, your family, dogs, God, your friends, shopping, chocolate, unicorns.  You also told me that your favorite sounds were high heels clicking and the ocean and your favorite smell is cookies in the oven. 

You are a hard worker and you like to get things done - especially things that aren’t the most fun, so you can move on to the fun.  I wish I could learn to do that better.  As a matter of fact, I could learn a lot from you!  You teach me how to look at life with so much joy, to not worry who is watching because it’s all about having fun, and to dream big.  You are the first to notice when someone is sad or left out and you try to include them.  You are a giver and love to give things to people to make them smile.  

You are a tiny person with a huge heart and God made you so extra special.  He also made you mine and I am so very thankful.  You are my very best girl and you are TEN! 

Happy Birthday!  

I Love You, 

Mommy