To The One Who Periodically Makes Me Wear Nail Polish
My daughter turns 5 today. Every year I tell myself I’ll do one of those great letters or photo montages or videos that so many bloggers do so well for their kids. And every year the birthday rolls around and I’ve done nothing but eat all of their cake poppers when they weren’t looking.
I’ll just say this: I can not believe my daughter is 5. WHAT IN THE HELL? I mean, I keep this blog going because I like documenting our life for our family, but the reason I started it many moons ago? Or, I guess I should say, the reason I started it and stuck with it? (Because I started dozens of blogs before and none of them lasted.) Was because I started discussing my struggles trying to have Nikki. TTC. Trying To Conceive. That and my nasty habit of miscarrying. Discussing those disappointments and fears and then the anxiety when I finally successfully seemed to be carrying her full-term? All of those things kept me writing every day. Then, once she got here? I couldn’t stop writing.
In other words – this blog was the first time something I was doing for her, actually benefited me. And isn’t that what parenting is all about right there? The surprise gifts we get from our kids? And she has given me so many. She’s taught me so much about being a girl because it’s something she just savors and relishes in. Whereas I remember fighting with my friend Ashley when we were…maybe 8? About who was the biggest tomboy. (I think she won because I had a sticker collection and that’s girly). She is so different from me in so many ways but that has taught me much more about myself than if she had popped out with curly hair and a love of maps.
Happy Birthday, NikkiZ. You keep me smiling. And sometimes you encourage me to wear skirts. These two things make every day better.
Love the post and it’s every bit as beautiful as those other bloggers’ birthday wishes to their kids.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Nikki!!!
Also, love the hat!!
Aw. I don’t think there’s any better tribute than to say knowing someone has made you a better person. Beats every long, flowery post I’ve read anywhere else.
Happy birthday, NikkiZ.
Happy Birthday, NikkiZ!!!!
Happy Birthday Nikki! This means it’s been 5 years that I have been reading your blog because I found it the day she was born. Another blog had a link to yours and was telling you congrats on the birth of your baby.
Oh my goodness…Happy birthday NikkiZ!!! I didn’t realize she and the lowercase were so close in age — his 5th is Sunday.
I love this post more than all the “perfect” letters and videos. Many of those are so perfect as to seem unreal. This? This is what motherhood really feels like to me.
Happy Birthday, Nikki!
Happy Birthday, Nikki!
How did she get to be 5 so fast?
Thanks for sharing your adorable daughter with us.
happy birthday, little mama. have a great day
from Wacky Mommy and the Wacky Kids
Love it! Happy Birthday, NikkiZ!!
I started reading your blog when you were pregnant with NikkiZ. I have taken sometime off from reading but lately I have been drawn back. I love looking at your pictures. It makes me want to take better pictures of my one year old. Thanks for sticking with your blog!
Happy birthday, Nikki!
Your nail polish is my creepy crawly – I love that my kid has introduced me to new things that I would have never given a chance previously. Tarantulas, who woulda thunk I’d ever embraced that as a hobby? Because of Arun, I have.
There is something about our babies turning 5 that has had me choked up. I can only imagine what the next 5 will entail!
Nicely put and Happy Birthday, NikkiZ.
Oh, Lawd, how, beautiful is this post (and so are you!) To think, soon she’ll be moving over to the other hand (SOB! I know!) Happy Birthday NikkiZ!!!
Happy, happy, happy birthday to the both of you. You both look so lovely in that photo, and it makes me jealous! I have so few pictures of me with my kids. Here’s hoping you have a great day, filled with skirts and nail polish!
Aw happy birthday, Nyk! Man I can’t believe she’s 5 already. I feel old
Happy birthday NikkiZ! I just realized who she looks like! Strawberry Shortcake!
awww HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI!!
:)