5

FIVE.

I truly do not know how we got here. Five is a full blown kid– there is no toddler left in five.

My sweet Jadey, I love you forever.

Your adorable “Buddha belly” is completely gone.
You have the cutest thinking face.
Instead of saying “mow-wuh!” like you used to, you now just say “more.”
What used to be “I ya yoo” is now “I love you.”
“Bah!” is no longer your catch all word for everything.
You speak so well.

You work so hard to achieve your goals. You used to crawl up the stairs and bounce down them on your bum, but this weekend I watched you walk up AND down the stairs using a reciprocal gait pattern. No one else would have thought anything of it, but it stopped me in my tracks because I know how hard you have worked to get here. It’s a bittersweet reality. You are growing up. I am so insanely proud of the little lady you are becoming, but I will miss your younger self.

Lucky for me (and everyone else in your life), your personality shines as bright as ever. Now you are less shy, so more people get to witness it. You continue to brighten days, change the narrative, and encourage inclusion. And the coolest thing? You do all this without even knowing you’re doing it.

You are kind, smart, funny, gentle, caring, warm, beautiful, strong, friendly, and amazing. You are all of the most positive feelings embodied.
You are pure love.
You are FIVE.

Happy birthday, my sunshine.
I love you, I love you, I love you!