Many people would look at my little Sugarplum and point out all the things she’s “missed out on” in life. She turns 5 today and has never been to school. She has never been on a play date without me or her big sister. She has never been camping or to the circus. She’s not attended a live sporting event or
But there is no doubt that she has experienced more life in her 5 years than most kids her age. Her adventures started when she was just a few weeks old: Her first airplane ride at 5 1/2 weeks, her first ferry ride at 7 weeks, her first beach vacation at 12 weeks. And it didn’t stop there: 27 countries before her 2nd birthday, across the ocean 12 times in these 5 short years. She has seen and experienced more than most adults I know.
And even though our traveling has slowed down drastically in her recent years, she has remained my adventurer. She is my fearless one that loves to try new things and isn’t afraid of anything (before she tries it!) She does and tries things that her big sister would never dream of.
She recently hit the 40″ milestone and we decided to head back to Disney after a few years off. She took on Splash Mountain like a champ, laughing with delight as she exited even though she admits the drop was a little bit scary (Honeybun likes to do the ride but still comes out looking like she saw a ghost every time!) And she looks forward with delight to trying all the other roller coasters she is now big enough for.
Which is so fitting because life with her has certainly been one heck of a ride! From the moment she shot out of my body at 11:37 pm, after 21 hours of labor and convincing me there was NO way she was going to be a July 29 baby as we had hoped all day (I went from 9 cm to baby in arms in about 20 minutes!) and our first night at home with her, screaming her head off, she has kept us on our toes.
She is a fireball of energy and emotion, both laughter spewing out uncontrollably and the anger and frustration of 1,000 toddlers, there has never been a dull moment. Her physical flexibility far outweighs her personality’s and she has screamed and giggled and contorted her way through the past 5 years.
But during those 5 years, she has fully captured my heart. She is my little one, my peanut, my girl. I have patience and love for her like no other because we have been through so much, just the two of us.
And as she grows and she learns new things and becomes more mature and independent, I am constantly in awe of her and all she is capable of. Our little baby who spent so many months in agony, screaming, is now a bright, sprightly 5-year-old who can read and do addition in her head and perform cartwheels and backwards rolls like a pro.
She has come so far in such a short time and I can’t wait to see what other adventures she brings us in life!
