8 years of Sunshine

I cannot say enough how much I do not deserve this sweet, precious child. She is good. She is kind. She is smart. She is funny. She is loving. She is the. Type of child that others look at you and ask about our parenting styles, only to be disappointed when my answer is, I have no idea how she has turned out so well.

That's not to say we don't have our moments. She can't function in the mornings, and getting her out the door for school is absolutely the most stressful time of the day for the two of us. I hate this because I feel like I send her to school feeling like I am upset with her. She is also forgetful. She forgets thins like bringing home homework or her jacket or water bottle. For weeks, the water bottle. I know she came by this trait honestly. She loses one of every shoe. She honestly walks around with one shoe on her foot sometimes in the house, and I'm like, are you serious? But, these things are obviously minute and just her quirks. We like quirks.
She cares so much for everyone that sometimes I worry she won't fight for herself. She doesn't say mean things about people, and this is one of her best traits. She doesn't care if she looks silly. She doesn't mind being last. She will give her brother the last drink of her special sonic treat from carpool just to make him feel special. She will let Emmy destroy her room, she will let me braid her hair. She will let her daddy play her turn on the wii. She just wants everyone to be happy. She is imaginative. She loves American Girl. She loves her puppy, Coconut. She loves Just Dance on the wii. She loves movies about princesses and mermaids. She loves her Ooh Ooh Monkey. She loves ballet. She loves her friends. She loves her church. She loves a lot. She does not love beans. She does not love new foods. She does not love homework. She does not love bedtime. She does not love math facts. She does not love things that seem unfair to her. She does not love car rides. She does not love picking up after herself. She does not love waking up before she's ready. She does not love fireworks. She does not love storms.

Hope Louise, I love you more than you can ever know. You make me proud every day. You make me smile ever day. You make me better every day. I am so so lucky to be your mommy. Happy 8th Birthday, my Sunshine Girl.