The Bee’s Day!

My baby is nine years old today!

When did that happen? One day I had an infant crawling all over me and the next I have a ‘tween asking to go clothes shopping after a game of MarioKart and or some Barbies.

With one of her best friends at school

(ignore the wonky date!)

As with all years since she has been old enough to understand what I am/was talking about, the eve of her birthday last night we talked about what she wanted nine years old to mean to her.

Per The Bee:

Nine years old means I can stay up until 9 PM, I have to wash dishes (although I would rather do laundry instead), I can read longer chapter books and I can sleep in my own bed (R’s note:I often find myself perched on the edge of my bed as The Bee will have crawled in during the night and positioned herself into one of those contortionist positions that children seem to be fond of.)

Gratuitous moments and thoughts of The Bee through the ages:

-when she was a baby I was afraid. What the heck as I going to do with a baby? I remember thinking that her mother was coming to get her soon and one day realizing that , uh, mama was me!

The Bee as a toddler. The first time I left her at daycare I cried on the phone with my aunt for forty five minutes. When I peeked through the window she was OK but I wasn’t. When I rushed to pick her up on 9/11 she was just so excited to see me, unaware of the events of the day. This was also the first time I got an unsolicited hug and kiss.

Three years old and she decided to be a Kelly sister (as in Velma, as in Chicago as in I let her watch the movie over and over; don’t judge me). She was so cute in her leopard print outfit and boots.

Pre-k. I loved her teacher and her teacher encouraged The Bee to love school and learning. This is when The Bee decided that she wanted to be a firefighter and a dentist.

Five years old when she had planned her own princess party.

The first time she read by herself.

Acting as an advocate for other people and herself.

Last week when she told me that I was a fun mommy.

This weekend when she informed me that it was OK to do things that other people are not doing and just be yourself.

Say cheese! Saving a village

The first lost tooth

In the hotel after sneaking into the casino with her grandmother

On vacation with (included are Pop and me )

With Dill

After the Cancer Walk

Sipping a Shirley Temple

She gets it honest!

Happy birthday babes!
-r