Five

She is five. My firstborn darling daughter is five years old today. She told Mark and I this morning that she felt smarter, faster and stronger now that she is a whole year older. She has opened her gifts. She had her party. She has received numerous well-wishes from loved ones. I will write to you now what I told her this morning as she snuggled with me in my bed. 


By this time five years ago, I had you in my arms. I waited for you for my whole life. I waited two extra weeks while you comfortably resided in my tummy. You came into this earth on your own terms. I held you in my arms for the first time and my first thought was, 'Oh! She's so pretty!" I truly had never seen something so breathtaking in my twenty-two years of life. You were the answer to our prayers and at the same time more than we ever could have dared to want. You were so loved the day you were born. There was a welcome committee in the waiting room gathered to greet you even though it was 2:56am by the time you graced us with your presence. Our room in the hospital was filled with giant stuffed animals, colorful flowers, smiling faces and happy tears. You being born made so many people so very happy. So, remember that today as you are now five years old. You were born to bring such light to the world. And I love you more now than I did then.


A note to my daughter:
Lily Margaret Kidwell, you bring your daddy and I so much joy and so many memories that we can't even retell each and every little thing you've done to make us smile. We write down funny anecdotes. We take videos and pictures. You remember so many things yourself that you're like our own little memory bank. So, today on your birthday, we want you to know that you've brought us more happiness with each year of  your life that we simply rejoice in the day you were born. It was the start of our life as a little family when you came into this world. I can honestly say your existence has made mine more meaningful than anything else I have accomplished. You made me a mommy. You gave me that title and I humbly thank you for that. Happiest of birthdays, my little princess.