Happy 6th Birthday Reha!!!
I really am in total shock that you are SIX YEARS OLD today!! Where oh where has the time gone . . . sniff sniff.
One of our biggest birthday traditions is to have balloons all over the house for when you wake up . . . here you are with your PINK balloons . . . your favorite.
You, my sweet and funny girl, are such an amazing member of our family. I can't imagine how different our lives would be without your funny, sweet, and giving attitude to add such an incredible amount of love into our family. There is so much about you that makes my heart melt on such a regular basis . . . I LOVE YOU!!! Here are some of my favorite pictures of you throughout your six years!! {Minus your sweet baby pictures pre-digital camera era . . . I really need to get them scanned in! When I do, I will share them here!}
This was taken when you were about 2. We used to say to you, "Where's our monkey?" and you would make the cutest little monkey lips ever. This picture definitely didn't capture the cuteness of it. So so so cute!! You LOVED monkey's and were completely fascinated by them. I would take you to the zoo and just wheel you up in your stroller to the window where the monkey's live and you could stare at them for as long as I would let you. I'm thinkin' you might wish you were one? Maybe?
This was actually the day you learned to walk. You were SO excited!! This is right after you fell down . . . you would fall and giggle, then stand right back up again. What a great memory I have from this day. I remember thinking how great it was that you didn't get discouraged. You have proven that you live your life this way. I love you for that!!
This would have gone better in the beginning with your monkey face. Hannah used to love to play all over this area of the zoo . . . you? You would hold onto this guy and stay on until your little muscles would shake. Then you would fall, climb back on and hold on tight. You really are a monkey . . . I'm certain.
Just love this picture. This was right after you woke up one morning . . . my little Pippy Longstockings.
I love this picture because it shows just how curly your hair used to be. So cute, but it's so much easier on both of us now that it's straightened out a bit. Brushing it out isn't quite so painful anymore! Gotta love that.
You have always been SUCH a daddy's girl. Wherever he is, you are. I love that about you . . . stay close to him. He will forever be your biggest fan!!
You are SUCH a great big sister!! You have been in LOVE with your baby sister since you found out she was going to be in our family. You instantly loved the idea of being a big sister and you have proven over and over again that you are the kind of big sister that any girl could ever want. I love to watch how helpful you are any time that she is needing some help with something. And you are always the first to jump up when she wants someone to play with, or when she gets hurt. You are a compassionate and loving girl . . .
. . . and you DEFINITELY know what it means to have a good time just being silly. You have been making us all laugh since the day you figured out how to be funny . . . which was REALLY early on. I remember people being shocked how young you were when you very clearly were doing something JUST to make people laugh. Charly has definitely followed in your footsteps. We are SO in for it when you two get a little older. You two are a couple of clowns.
. . . and you are SO talented. haha
. . . a little sassy . . . okay, maybe a lot . . . !
Going back to falling and getting right back up . . . you are such a HARD worker. When there is something you want to accomplish, you set out and DO it. You practice over and over and you never get discouraged, rather you keep telling yourself that you CAN do it. I love these next few pictures. It definitely shows how your hard work has paid off in gymnastics.
This first one is from when you first started. You were infatuated by the older girls and LOVED that they could all do their splits. You came home and practiced . . . for hours sometimes. And you have clearly showed us that one of your many talents lies in this sport. Those older girls better watch OUT!
And the thing I love MOST about you . . . you are extremely giving!! Probably the best example about this is when you donated your hair. You told me for years that you wanted "Barbie hair." You had this beautiful long hair that people complimented you on ALL the time. When Brynlee {your 2 year old cousin} was diagnosed with cancer and you learned that she lost all of her hair you were so sad for her! I remember telling you one time that some kids who lose their hair get to wear wigs made out of other people's hair that they donate. You instantly wanted to cut your hair to help someone get a wig. I decided not to go through with it right away so you could think about it for a little while, but every day that went by you got more and more passionate about it.
So . . . I took you to Cool Cuts and we had them chop it all off. You just smiled through the whole thing, and, while video taping you, I asked you why you cut your hair you said, "To help people like Brynlee." And while you're trying to grow your hair back now, you have never once said you wish you didn't do that.
I LOVE YOU SOOOO much!! Thank you for the love you bring into my heart! You are so loving . . . and while you're in the midst of a heartbreaking battle trying to cope with the loss of one of your MOST favorite people, Aunt Charish, I know she is SO proud of you for all of the choices you make. She knows that you're struggling and I know, without ONE single doubt, that she is constantly with you . . . I know because when I dreamed about her last she told me. I have a feeling she comes to you too sometimes because there are some mornings when you're extra sad . . . but I KNOW that in our dreams is where she will visit us the most because we're not too stubborn or too busy to listen. She loves you . . . and has always been your biggest fan.
xoxo my sweet girl!!
