If Only She Would Use Her Magic Powers to Slow Time Down
Dear Alexis,
FOUR! Can you believe it? Of course you can. You've been anxiously awaiting this day essentially since your last birthday. I'm not real happy that you went out and found that flux capicitator and magic juju that allowed you to fast forward time through the past year, but I'll forgive it because you have enjoyed this day more than Meg enjoys sleep.
Speaking of sleep, this is the year that I finally came to terms with something--you don't need sleep. I keep saying it because I find it so incredibly hard to believe. I mean, what's not to love about sleep? It's really my most favorite thing in the world. Besides you, that is.
You are, in every way, my little buddy. You had to be forcibly evicted four years ago as you had absolutely no interest in doing anything but drop-kicking my lungs and punching my bladder for the rest of your life. Now you've spent the past four years trying to find a way back in. I could say you are like a gangrenous growth that is constantly attached around my body, but I prefer to think of you as "cuddly." Very, very cuddly. (Secretly, I love every second of it. If I told you that now, though, you'd probably hire a plastic surgeon to just finish off the permanent attachment. We'll stick with me telling you to "find a hobby" instead.)
When you aren't busy trying to find your way back into my womb, you're running around belting out the songs in your heart. If you hear a song once, you own it. You will sing it, you will dance to it, you will be it. It's absolutely fantastic when the Song of the Day is something from High School Musical, but not so much when it's Opeth. My current favorite is when you start yelling, "BOOM BOOM POW" because there's nothing quite as funny as a short person declaring, "You're jackin' my style."
Simply put, nobody could ever jack your style.
You have an amazing style that is all your own, from the way you dress to the way you carry yourself day-to-day. With your heart in your pocket, you seek to make the world a better place, and you're doing it on your own terms. You enjoyed helping me select toys for some kids in need so much at Christmas that every shopping trip is now filled with requests like, "Can we buy this for the kids who don't have a lot of toys like me?" That giving heart is going to take you great places some day.
I can't wait to go those great places with you.
I love you, kid, and don't you ever forget it.
Happy birthday, Alexis. I hope Four is your greatest year ever.
Love,
Your Sleep-Deprived but Completely in Love with You Momma
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Reader Comments (36)
That was a beautiful post for a beautiful girl. Happy Birthday Alexis!!!
Like a love note to your daughter...
Happy birthday, little one.
Absolutely phenomenal. The post, the picture, the girl, and the momma. Happy Birthday, Alexis!
Happy Birthday Alexis! Four is awesome!
I have a picture form my step-son's birthday party pretty much just like that one. It's my favorite!
STUNNING.
Oh, and yeah, happy birthday and all. ;)
Happy birthday, sweet girl.
Happy Birthday to my favorite female four year old. It's true. :)
(And Happy Birth Day to her amazing Mama.)
Happy birthday A! I'll see you on SATURDAY with some special presents for ya!
Lots of hugs,
The girls with the ponytail :-)
Alexis is FOUR?! Can't possibly be true. For sure you remember every minute of the day. Love to you both.
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday Alexis!!!
This is one of the best parts of the whole blogging community thing - we all get to share and watch everyone's kids grow up. I remember when she turned TWO!
@jayna--I was looking at photos from Two and they involved mucho crying because she was scared of the candles and didn't like the singing. Oh, how times have changed . . .
Happy Birthday to your beautiful, amazing, smart, funny, perfect baby girl! She gets all that from you, you know.
I am such a mom....and that post made me a little weepy.
Happy Birthday Alexis!!!
P.S. Everyone in my family says DON'T TOSH in honor of you...you should be proud. :)
Beautiful words, gorgeous picture. Happy Birthday Alexis!
it is amazing that you are doing this for your daughter. My mom and i weren't very close when i was younger, and i would have loved to know the things she thought about me when i was little. Fabulous!
I "met" a lady over the phone through my scrapbooking business, who also had a four year old, and she was telling me how she was always right next to her doing things and i thought of your stories.
Happy Birthday Alexis!
I see so much of her wonderful parents in her, both in looks and personality. Happy birthday, Alexis!
Also? The framed floating face is awesome.
Happy Birthday! May this year be the year you sleep in your own bed ALL night! ;)
Happy Birthday! That's an awesome photo of a sweet, happy girl!
And my first-born needs very, very little sleep. VERY little. {SIGH}
That picture is Awesome!!! Glad she had such a great birthday.
Gorgeous picture heralding in 4. Happy Birthday sweet Alexis.
I felt the love you have for her in each and every word. (Hugs)Indigo
Reading this made me cry. I'm such a mom!! Beautiful picture of a beautiful little girl!
Such a sweet post. Happy belated birthday, Alexis!
Happy Birthday, Alexis! You are such a beautiful and sweet girl, and you have a mommy who loves you so very much. :-)
Happy Birthday, Alexis!!!
way to make my uterus ache! alexis is truly a gift to be celebrated.
happy, happy birthday!
That post is as stunning, sweet, and perfect as the newly-minted 4-year-old it's celebrating!
Happy Birthday, sassy sweet Alexis! You are going to ROCK the 4-years-old club, I know it! :)
You did done good burghbaby, time to add another to your family.
Sometimes things aren't as simple as they seem, @Anonymous.
My Alexis turns 6 tomorrow and you put into words on a screen what I have in my head! You could be talking about my daughter..she comes home from school everyday with something new that her daddy and I look at each other with the WTF look, where did you learn that?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR ALEXIS!
Sweetest picture ever. Happy birthday, Alexis!
Awwww...Happy Birthday Alexis!
Happy (belated) Birthday, Alexis :)
It's belated but sending wonderful wishes for Alexis' fourth year. Happy Birthday to her!!!
Happy belated birthday Alexis!