Happy 5th Birthday, My Beautiful Daughter

My sweet Mayale,

Happy, happy birthday my love! 5 years old!  I cannot believe it. 5 years is a milestone - a whole "hand" - a whole "chapter."  I feel like we've known each other much longer than that, and I feel like there is much more than just "5" in you.  You have a whole lot of stuff in your 5 year old "you" and it's all wonderful and precious.

If I think of how far you've come in the last year, it is overwhelming.  I picked Ethan up from school yesterday and I was talking to his teacher, Abby.  Abby was your teacher when you started at VBS too.  Abby said how different you and Ethan were -- that when you were in her class you were so quiet, and observant, and did not take the lead much.  I remember when you were like that.  So sweet, and so attached to mama... you would cry every time I left you.  Now things are so different!  The other day your TK teacher Mrs. Bell said that you are outstanding, outgoing, and confident.  She says you are a super girl!  Well, not a surprise to me because I know it.  Not only do I know it, I feel it in my bones!  Mrs. Bell is awarding you the Principal's award - the first award for your class.  Going to you.  I am so, so proud of you.  You are a wonderful, special girl.  You love to help and be involved and you are friendly to everyone.  You are excellent and mama loves you so, so much.

You love to do your homework and love to tell me all the new stuff you are learning in school.  Other moms tell me how advanced you are in class.  It's so, so good. I pray you will always be strong academically and interested in learning and achieving.

You care about your brother and your family -- well, you always have.  You love to play and you LOVE to do art.  That is your favorite thing right now.  You love lalaloopsy and you like hearing pop radio... the song you always recognize is "Royals."  You are playing softball right now and you love it too.  That is what is so special about you.  You never complain, you just go and you do.  You are up for anything.  It's a wonderful quality - a lot like your sapta!

For your 5th year I wish you continued happiness, innocence, energy, and joy.  As you learn what friendship is all about in school, I hope you learn to be with friends who are nice and care about you, and learn to stay away from those who might not.  I hope you find and nurture your passions, whatever they may be.  I hope you continue to love as strongly as you do, and I hope you never lose your precious energy for life.

God blessed me when he brought you to me honey. I truly feel that.  I love you, my beautiful 5 year old, to the moon and back.

Love,
Mommy

Happy 3rd Birthday to my Beautiful Ethan

My sweet, sweet boy. Happy birthday to you! I just went through and read the history of this blog... Your other birthdays, the moments when you were so young and things were so crazy... Man, it's amazing how some things change so much and some things really stay the same.

You know what has stayed the same? The beautiful loving spirit that is you. Ever since you we're orn you loved "love", and you were loving and affectionate... And you still are. Today when I got home from work I gave you a big kiss and then Sapta gave you a big kiss and you held both of our faces, one on each cheek, and smiled and laughed.

Turning 3 is exciting! Tonight as I put you to bed we talked about it being your birthday tomorrow and you were jumping around, so excited. You said you were going to be bigger, and taller, and you would "touch the sky!" -- go for it baby!

You are a funny, sweet kid. You like school, but right now you'd much rather stay home and hang out or go to the park. You are TV and iPad obsessed - and this is something we are constantly battling! At school this past year all your teaxhers loved you andall the other teachers at school said they hope they will have you in theyears to come. You learned so many Jewish songs and prayers, and you are so mature and well-spoken. You love your friend Jake and play so nicely with him. You love to play with Maya in your little make-believe world. You still love cars, but you also love transformers, and sports! We just started you in a sports class at Balboa park and you are super into it.

You are a good, sweet boy Ethan, and I love and cherish you everyday. You fill me with joy, peace, and contentment, and I thank you for that. I am so grateful for you. Happy, happy birthday my love.