I have never met someone who knows her own mind so well at such a young age. Today you are one, and what a year it has been. Up until the day you were born, I think, we didn't know we needed you. You complete our family in the most perfect of ways. You have a wonderful laugh. You love animals, and rocks, and splashing your feet in water of all sorts. You are always ready to jump right in with the roughhousing going on and the family dance parties. You love all foods savory. You know millions of words and signs (that's hyperbole but only sorta): cracker, bird, apple, rock, cool, #MILK, #RABBIT, #DUCK, #ROCK... You give kisses to the animals you see and love in books, and know all the animal sounds (except, gosh, what does a giraffe say?!). You run and are trying to jump. You climb and climb and fall off and tumble and climb some more. You are a force. You make BC and Papa melt with your hugs. You make AL giggle with your demands and straightforward expression of glee. You make me shine with your love light reflected back at me in those eyes of yours where I see myself.
I see you as your own person more clearly than I was able to see your siblings in their first years of life. I think most of that has to do with the fact that I am more experienced at this parenting thing (older and wiser and all of that) than I was 8 and 4 years ago. But also, I know, some of it has to do with the fact that you do you. You absolutely know who you are and do not hesitate to let others know as well. That, my sweet one, is what I hope will never go away. If you hold onto that I won't ever worry about you. I'll only sit back and watch you take on the world.
Happy Birthday, CJ.
Love,
~Mama
