Happy Birthday To You!

And this is where your 5th birthday picture should be.
But somehow we didn't get a picture of you blowing out your candles.
Oops! Maybe Memaw or Nona can share theirs.
And, yes, this post is very, very, very late!

On May 5, 2005 at 9:20 pm you joined our family.
You were tiny and beautiful, and I had no idea what to do with you!
I was terrified of you, yet so full of wonder and pride for you.
Somehow you and I struggled through those first few months while daddy was busy with work.
I thought it was insane that God would trust me with someone as precious as you.
It took awhile as we figured each other out.
It was you and me, me and you.
And you know what?
We survived!
And here we are 5 years later!
It's you and me, me and you...against a houseful of boys!
I wonder if they will survive?

Abbie-
You are beautiful!
Those eyes and those eyelashes, your cute little chin, the new tiny mole above your lip, your pretty skin, your fine hair, your adorable little voice. I still marvel over you, still find it impossible that your dad & I created such a perfect daughter.
You're smart! So smart!
Your memory is sharp, you constantly amaze me with the things and details that you remember. You are just as observant as your dad. I don't think you miss a thing.
And independent. Yes, that's you.
You want to be involved in everything. You love T-ball, school, Sunday School, Bible School, you would do it all.
You're sassy! Man, are you sassy!
I think the teenage years are going to be rough around here.
It blows my mind how much you sound like me. You can dish it out just like me. Yikes!
You are the best big sister!
You are definitely a mini-mommy. You take such good care of Ben. I sometimes forget that you're only 5.
You certainly already have a maternal instinct. You like to feed Ben, you know how much to give him, you watch to make sure he doesn't get into things he shouldn't, you LOVE to go get him in the morning. You're great with Will too. You help him find whatever it is that he lost this time, you take him to the bathroom when he wants someone to go with him, you watch over him at Sunday School, you have the best giggle when you are with him!
You are a daddy's girl!
My heart melts when you two are together.
You look so cute helping him garden. You in your little gardening gloves and with your basket of gardening tools.
You literally light up when he comes home at night.
You look so comfortable laying by him on the couch.
You have your daddy right where he should be....around your delicate little pinkie finger.
You are your daddy's heart!
I could go on and on forever about you. I hope you keep these qualities about you always.
You are so special!
Happy 5th birthday!
I hope you know how much we love you!
And remember...it will always be me and you, you and me.
Forever my baby girl!