Sweet Kayla,

Today you turn 5. I’m not quite sure how that has happened, but here it is. Six years ago at this time, I was thinking I might have to come to terms with never having a child and now here you are, my spunky 5 year old.

You continue to light up my days and make me laugh. I look at you now and see a big kid, gone is my baby girl. You continue to make me so proud in so many ways.
At times, it breaks my heart when I see you let down or left out of things because of your allergy, yet it makes me swell with pride when I watch how well you take it. Most of the time you take it better than me. You just accept that you can’t eat from the ice cream truck, yet it is still your “favorite truck”. You are accepting that your Sister can eat dairy and do not get upset when we can include her in an ice cream outing or some yummy looking treats at a party. You give your dolls and stuffed animals allergies. I know this is a way for you to process and cope, but you do it in a way that shows you accept this as it is. You hardly ever show sadness or anger, you just accept and move on. You are so grown up in ways I never would have imagined and it makes me one super proud Mommy.

You’ve had a lot of changes this year. You made your first best friend and watched her, [heartbreakingly] move away to California. You have adjusted, but talk about her often and miss her every day. You are no longer a preschooler, but now a Kindergartener and I love to watch your excitement grow each day. You’ve turned into a night owl staying up, some nights, later than me as you read in your room. Many nights as I’m getting into bed you come in to tuck me in. You’re beginning to read and have become quite the helper always telling me, “I can do it Mommy.”. You make your Daddy and me proud every day.

Today we will be in Storybook Land at the birthday girl’s request. I’m excited to have a fun day just me and the girls, although Daddy will be missed.

I love you Kayla and can’t wait to see what this next year brings!