Life After I "Dew"

F.I.V.E.

This one stings a little bit.

Five.  What is it about that number?  It's such a milestone. It means kindergarten.  It means no longer preschool age but SCHOOL age.  And, most importantly, it's a whole hand of age.

Five years ago we were blessed with our first born, our most perfect baby girl.  She was round and pink and so so sweet.  I can still picture her sweet little face, she looked like a little cupcake.   She was the first born grandchild on both sides so everyone was excited to see her.  My hospital room was rarely empty.

Everyone said what an easy baby she was but I didn't get it.  She was our only so we had nothing to compare her to.  Looking back, they were right.  She was a breeze.  She never gave us much trouble, slept and ate pretty well and was generally a happy baby.  I remember thinking we had it rough when
she hit two {terrible twos anyone?} in hindsight it wasn't really bad at all.  I'll take her terrible twos again over her brothers current any day.  But that's a different post for a different day.

You know what's funny?  My 'label' for her on this  blog is still 'baby Kendall'.  I guess I should probably make a more updated one but I probably won't.  I tell her all the time that she will always be my baby, even when she's 32 {which she thinks is SO old}.  She cringes when I tell her that and even more when I pick her up in my arms and hold her like a newborn.  But it's true, she'll always be my baby.

Kendall is the sweetest, smartest, most fun-loving girl I know.  I think the best word to describe her is 'spunky'.  She's always up for having a good time and she's generally pretty silly.  She has the kind of personality where everyone who meets her falls in love with her.  I love that about her and I hope she never loses that quality.  Everyone loves to be around her and she can make anyone smile.

She says the wittiest things sometimes.  The other day James was calling 'Popsicles' 'motorcycles' and I said, "no buddy that's a Popsicle" and Kendall, without skipping a beat, said, "tomato,tomahtoe".  Like, for real?  How does she even know that phrase?  I laughed my butt off at that one.  But that's just one example of the many funny things that come out of her mouth.

She's mostly quiet in new settings or around new people.  She warms up quickly but it's almost as if she has to test the waters first.  She's so easy to get along with that her shyness goes away pretty quickly because someone will break her out of her shell.  She's a little bit nervous about starting Kindergarten for this very reason.  She even said to me, "but mom I'm shy when I meet new people, what if everyone makes fun of me?".  Baby girl I will throat punch someone if they make fun of you so you don't have to worry about that.

Speaking of Kindergarten, five is going to be a big year for our big girl.  Kindergarten is legit, man.  It means she's starting a new chapter in her little book.  It means more independence, making her own friends, and navigating life on her own a little at a time.  I can't lie, I'm nervous as heck for her, but I'm really trying to put on a brave face for her.  I know she will do great but I'm her mom and I worry.  We did find out she's in class with her good friend, Lucy, and they got the BEST kindergarten teacher in our district!  High five!

Not only will she be starting Kindergarten in just a couple weeks but she will also be playing her first team sport, soccer.  She had wanted to play soccer this past spring but our school only has fall ball for the kindergartners.  She's really looking forward to it and wants to be goalie so bad.  But don't worry, no mini vans here.

This past year I have watched Kendall mature so much.  Four was a really fun age and things started to get a lot easier but man, five is going to rock my socks.  I love having a built in BFF, my mini me, to talk to and hang out with.  She's really starting to become this really cool little person and I love watching her personality blossom.  She made me a mom and she will always hold the most special place in my heart.

Happy birthday, Kendall Paige.  We love you to the universe, more than coffee and 20 pony shows long.