Six

Taylor Michelle,

You woke me up early today, as you do most mornings, eager to start the day. I could hardly resist seeing you in your pajama pants and tank top (just like mommy) with curlers in your hair. Daddy and I hung streamers from your bedroom door and filled the hallway with balloons, and you were so excited at the special attention. We came downstairs and opened birthday presents. Your favorite gift from us was your first pair of cowgirl boots. We snuggled up on the couch and watched videos from the day you were born followed by your first and second birthdays. Oh my, how time feels like it is slipping through my fingers. I watched the video of you swaddled in my arms, just moments after you were born, and then looked at you cuddled next to me on the couch. You are long and lean and much too big for me to hold anymore. Six years later, I still cannot grasp the idea that you came from me and have grown into such a lively little girl. I am so lucky!

At six years old, your favorite color is orange. Your favorite food is grilled cheese and tomato soup. Your favorite activity is playing soccer. When you grow up, you want to be a mommy and a doctor. Your best friends are Aubrey and Lexi, and your favorite shows are My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Lego Friends, and pretty much any animated movie you can find on Netflix.

Speaking of screen time, you are very into our family movie nights. I started having "movie night" every so often as a way to introduce you to some of my favorite childhood movies. So far, I am batting 100. You've loved every movie I've showed you, including ET, The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Parent Trap. Brayden will not sit through movies yet, so he is usually running all over the place. Matty will sit through them, but he does not understand them as well as you do. I love sharing these movies from my childhood with you, and I cannot wait to show you more favorites in the coming year.

You are still my most spirited child (and this says a lot because Brayden is quite the handful!). You are very strong-willed, you are an amazing negotiator, and you love to be in charge. Oh, and you have the highest-pitched whine/squeal that grates on my last nerve. However, a shy side comes out when you are around people you do not know very well. Despite our concerns about your feisty personality, your daddy and I have never heard a complaint from a teacher or other authority figure. We are so very pleased by this. I suppose you take out your aggressions on us, but at least you are respectful to others. I'll take it!

You and Matty fight more than any other siblings I know. Last week, I found the two of you beating the crap out of each other (you had "claw" marks on your face), so you were not allowed to have treats (sugar) for a week. It was a long week, but I think the two of you are starting to learn I am serious about the fighting. You do have moments of harmony. I LOVE these moments but usually brace myself for the argument that will soon follow.

On the other hand, you and Brayden adore each other. I suppose it is the four year age difference. You love to mother Brady and he completely looks up to you. Just the other day, I needed to give Brayden a bath. You asked if you could do it, and I said yes. You immediately took B's hand, walked him into the bathroom, got him undressed, ran the warm water, put him in the bath, washed him (hair and all), got him out, dried him off, put his diaper on, and got him dressed. I was amazed! I tried to step in and help out, but you were insistent that you could do it (I wonder where you get this from?). You beg for me to have another baby (which has led to some awkward conversations about how babies get into my belly!). You want a baby sister to care for so very much. I keep reminding you that I understand how you feel because I have two brothers as well. I never got the baby sister I wanted either.

You love to play with your dolls, particularly your American Girl dolls. You take great care of them at night, getting them all dressed in their pajamas and tucking them into their little beds/baskets/shoe boxes. You would take them everywhere with you if I'd let you. Many times I look in my rear-view mirror while driving and see a doll or two buckled in to the back seat of our van. You will be such a good mommy someday!

You are constantly asking me if you can have friends over for a playdate. Sadly, you are usually asking this question on weekday afternoons, when you are home from school and the rest of your friends are still there. When you do have friends over, you usually destroy your bedroom and play room. You and your friends will pack up your toys, dolls, clothes, artwork, jewelry, etc into every bag you can find, and then you drag these bags around the house (typically, you say you are going on a trip). Then, the playdate ends, or you move on to another activity, and these bags are left all over the house. It makes me crazy! However, I marvel at your creativity and your energy. Your little mind moves a million miles a minute. I cannot keep up!

Speaking of kindergarten, you are still in a half-day class. You are #2 on the waiting list for full-day kindergarten, and we talk regularly about what could happen if you are offered a spot. By this point in the school year, I thought I would be opposed to plucking you out of a class and putting you in a new one, but I think you would thrive in a full-day class. You love riding the bus, laughing with your friends (which I see a lot when I volunteer in your room), reading your library books, telling Matty about all the things you are learning, and having routine. So, if we get a call in the next month or so offering you a spot in a full-day class, I am pretty confident that you'll take it. It will be your decision. You have made many friends in your Daisy (Girl Scout) troop, so you know a few girls in all of the full-day classes.

You have not yet lost a tooth. Several of your friends have already lost teeth, and I know you are so anxious to reach this milestone. Your daddy and I, however, are not. We love your sweet little smile with all 20 baby teeth. As of now, your top left and bottom right six-year molars are in. The other two are about to break through. You still have a cross bite and your dentist has already mentioned early orthodontic work.

At your six-year check up, you weighted a whopping 36.75 pounds and are 44 inches tall. You are still growing your hair as long as possible, but it is so fine and thin that I am not sure it will ever get much longer. Your interest in makeup is growing. You do not wear skirts as much as you used to but you are still very girly.

Taylor, I love watching you grow and I cannot wait to see what God has planned for your life. Daddy and I are so proud of the little girl you are becoming. We love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Mommy