Wednesday, April 24, 2019

A Letter to Darby on Her 5th Birthday!

Darby -

5 years of you! It seems impossible, but also like there wasn’t ever a time without you. You were the easiest addition to our family and its very clear completion.

You have taught us all so much in your first five years. Ewan is constantly learning how to be gentle, patient, and humble - you also clearly challenge all the things he hears about girls from the little boys at school by giving him/them a run for his/their money. Your Dad has new perspective on nurturing you and keeping you curious. And me, well you’ve taught me it’s always worth trying to do the right thing, if not for me for you and your generation.

Everyday I think about what you will bring this world and what you deserve from it... We talk a lot about the Patriarchy and Murphy’s Law (you want to know more about Murphy). When I reflect on why it comes down to two things - I want you to know that you can do absolutely anything you want while realizing that things won’t always go how you hope/expect/plan.

You are smart, empathetic, grateful, and genuine. Your favorite color rotates between purple and pink depending on the day, and you are very patient with us when we guess wrong. Your favorite thing is still Princess Ariel, I have lost track of how many you have but think you’ve exceeded 10 now... and when told we could cuddle and watch anything you wanted tonight you emphatically picked “The Little Mermaid”. When it comes to food all things cheese are still your favorite with Daddy’s “special mac and cheese” topping the list... your brother complains it’s too cheesy and you just look at him like he is crazy because there is no such thing as too cheesy in your world. This year we noticed you go through snack phases, one day it’s all about chocolate almonds and the next you hate them, but you have maintained your hangry tendencies so having the right calories on hand is vital. Your favorite book is currently “Rebel Girls” and every night you come to me and say “I want # hero girls tonight” and you are actually really pragmatic about how many - 1 on the nights when it’s past bedtime and you are fading and 4 when you know you’ve been a rockstar and I am in no rush at all for you to sleep. You are still a great sleeper but are definitely our early bird, always ready to start your day!

This year we took a big trip to Australia and New Zealand, you loved both and we hope to take you back soon. You also went to Disney World (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios), Universal Studios (for Harry Potter), and on another Disney Cruise but this time to the Caribbean (Tortola, St. Thomas, and Castaway Cay/Bahamas). Showing you the world is one of our favorite things, you are so curious and kind everywhere we go.

This year you will learn violin, you insisted it is the instrument for you and we are excited to see how you will learn something we appreciate but know nothing about. You also can’t wait to learn to read, which has you very excited to start kindergarten. You seem so little to us Darby but it is so clear you are a force. We love you and are so proud you are ours.

Love ya, Love ya,
Mama

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