Kiddo I was never an emotional person until I had you. Now after I just kissed you for the very last time before your whole world starts changing, I am fight the urge to blink. Because if I do, the sweet memories, in tear form, will roll down my cheeks. The memories of falling in love with you when we first met, the sweet smell of your tiny precious forehead, all my worries and fears about how we were going to survive being your parents. The smiles, the tears, skinned knees, and stubbed toes. All the first time moments that I got to see, because I saw them all. I was with you for every one.
And just like that, they will end.
For tomorrow you turn five. FIVE. It won't matter how many times I say it, I can't believe it is true.
All these years we have been preparing you for your firsts. The firsts you get to do all on your own. Sure we will be with you for some of them, but THIS IS YOUR MOMENT KIDDO! This is your time to shine and show the world the smart little person we have gotten to know for so long. This is the start of the days that will shape the person you will become. You have a world to explore, languages to learn, art to be unleashed.
You will make friends. New friends. Ones that you find all on your own. You will get through half of your days now with without me around. In case you are curious, I will be with your sister wondering if you have enough lunch to eat, whether or not you put on your mittens to play out side and if you remembered to wash your hands after the bathroom. You will now have a whole life separate from mine, one that is all yours. One that I get teary eyed just waiting to hear about.
I can't wait for you to tell me all that you've learned, to watch you use your new skills in your life and for you to keep growing. Because if I think you grew a lot in these five years, I can only imagine what the next thirteen will bring.
It is impossible for me to measure how proud I am of you and all that you are. You have given me so many firsts in my life that I can only repay you by trying to make your days as bright as I can. There will never be enough hours to spend with you and even though we have taught you to share, I'm having a little trouble at the thought of sharing you with everyone else. But just like you have learned, sharing only makes people happier, and what better thing to share with the world but one of the things that makes me the happiest.
This is going to be your best year of your life so far baby girl and even though your future often flashes before my eyes, I can't wait to experience all of it!
"You've always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself."-Glinda *The Wizard of Oz*