Dear Adelaide,
You woke up on the morning of Friday, May 30th, 2014 as a FIVE year old! You have been waiting to turn five since November, December and January, when all of your preschool classmates turned five.
Three months ago, you made a calendar out of some construction paper, and hung it above your bed, and you’ve been crossing off numbers every day, counting down to your birthday. Friday morning, there were no more numbers to cross off!
Your Dad and I surprised you with one gift to open that morning (a new outfit, which you’ve worn—or attempted to wear—every day for the last week) and a playdate with your girlfriends from school, at Charlotte’s house that morning. You were SO excited!
When Cadence and I dropped you off at Charlotte’s house, she met you at the door with cries of “Happy Birthday!” and a sparkly pink crown that she said you could wear all day because it was your birthday. She is such a thoughtful friend! You played dress up and went swimming, and as usual, didn’t want to leave when I arrived at noon to pick you up.
Luckily, I had another birthday surprise up my sleeve—we were heading straight to birthday lunch at a RESTAURANT with Daddy!
You love eat at restaurants and this experience was no exception. You are always so well mannered! You take pride in ordering for yourself and it always surprises me how composed and confident you are when you speak to the servers. You ordered a bean and cheese burrito (it was a Mexican restaurant) and then totally engrossed yourself in your coloring page while you waited for your food.
After lunch, Daddy went back to work, and you, Cadence I and went home for a much needed rest. You complied with your nap time without arguing (a rare occurrence!) but I think that was because I promised you wouldn’t have to take a nap the following day, the day of your birthday party.
After your nap, you helped me with some birthday party prep and we waited for Daddy to come home from work. Once he arrived, it was time for presents!! Grandma and Grandpa Lively called us on FaceTime from Aunt Stacy’s house and watched as you opened the gifts they sent.
The “big gift” this year was a big-kid bicycle, and you had no idea it was coming. Grandma and Grandpa Lively gave you a new helmet and knee and elbow pads, and while you were opening that gift (and trying everything on) Daddy wheeled in your new bike and set it behind you. We must have tried for two straight minutes to get you to turn around and notice that bike! When you finally did, your face lit up with the most pure, unfiltered joy I’ve ever seen! You were so excited!
After present opening, we enjoyed your requested birthday dinner of hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob. You got to skip your bath that night in favor of a phone call with Grandma and Grandpa Bauer—you absolutely LOVE talking on the phone to your grandparents! After prying the phone out of your hands, a full hour after your normal bedtime, you dressed yourself in your new jammies and crawled into bed. I read you one of your new birthday books and Daddy and I kissed you goodnight, for the first time ever, as a five-year-old.
It’s totally unreal to me that it’s been five whole years since you came into this world and changed our lives forever. Seems like just yesterday you were giggling and running around the house on those wobbly little legs of yours. You’ve grown into such a bright, empathetic, curious and helpful little girl. It’s been amazing watching you grow and change over these past five years.
You’re already asking about how long you have to wait until you turn six *sigh* but I have total confidence that you will find a way to enjoy every minute of being five, and I’m so excited to get to enjoy it with you.
I LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH ADELAIDE!
Love,
Mommy
Easy, fast & fun
[…] Friday was our darling Adelaide’s 5th birthday, followed on Saturday by her 5th birthday […]