My big girl

Have you ever had a week that was so long it seemed to blur together feeling like a month, yet seeming like just a few days?  You know...the kind of week when you look at the upcoming activities on your calendar and think how will I ever accomplish all of that?  Well...that was my week.  Let me first say that the month of May in our family is completely out of control.  There are 6 birthdays (now 7 after the birth of our nephew) in this family...which usually means at least 3-4 parties and a few birthday dinners...2 anniversaries...and a Buddy Walk...whew...I'm tired just thinking about it.  And while our social calendar is more than full during the month of May, I wouldn't want it any other way.  It is full of family and fun and always leaves me wanting more...ok except for maybe a day or two of a break to relax with my toes in the sand over Memorial Day weekend.


Let's rewind to over a week ago to my baby's 5th birthday....
She woke up knowing she was officially a "big girl".  In fact, to make me cry even more about it, Gerber sent me an email titled "your big girl this week".  Those emails used to read "your newborn this week" then "your baby this week" and then "your toddler this week", followed by "your preschooler this week"...and now "your big girl"...well, Gerber...I can't take it.  I think I might officially unsubscribe.  Perhaps by doing so the sands will slip through the hourglass a bit slower therefore slowing the growing up process a bit...a girl can dream, can't I?  She woke up, all smiles, excited, proclaiming "I am five years old".  To think how much she has grown over the past year just makes me tear up and smile all at the same time.  Her confidence, understanding of the world and social skills  have exploded this year.  Knowing the day was all about her, Kayla was very excited to go to school to celebrate her day with her friends and...bonus...she was calendar girl...which to the four and five year olds in Ms. Nancy's class is a really big deal!

She was asked to read the morning sentence, count from 1-13, figure out what color paper came next in the calendar pattern, write the number 13 and start the morning song...and she did it all beautifully...with the biggest, cheesiest, cutest smile on her face!


For snack, Kayla decided on soft pretzels shaped like the #5.  Very popular choice amongst the kids.

During snack time each of her friends shared a birthday wish {some shared several wishes}.  Have you ever heard a birthday wish out of the mouth of child in pre-k?  Let me tell you, it's some pretty hilarious stuff...
Like "I wish for you a barbie princess bride and a husband and a carriage to take them to a wedding with horses"..."I hope you have the best birthday ever"...and "I hope you get a roller coaster that will fly"...super cute stuff out of the mouth of babes...

After our school celebration we were off to speech therapy, then ballet and then a fun birthday celebration at the Cheesecake Factory with our favorite waitress, Heather!  She is amazing and wonderful and kind...and she loves Kayla.  In fact, she changed her major to early childhood education in part because of Kayla.  That's some pretty amazing stuff...

Knowing it was Kayla's birthday, she spoiled her with gifts...and Kayla got to eat fries...her favorite!

Surrounded by family, we celebrated her birthday in style...with cheesecake.  What a lucky girl.


To keep the festivities going, we were onto the Buddy Walk!  Oh...the Buddy Walk...perhaps the one day a year I look forward to more than any other.  A day where thousands of people come together to support the acceptance and inclusion of Kayla and all of her friends with Down syndrome.  Friends from high school, friends from Kayla's school, Kayla's teachers, Miss Delaware contestants, family from near and far, old friends, new friends and even people we had never met came together to form Princess Kayla's Court...her court...her team.  People that love her, care for her, support her...it's overwhelming.

Somehow each year this event gets better...hearing the chants of "Kayla, Kayla, Kayla" as we make our way around the track overwhelms me.  Seeing people taking pictures with Kayla...and watching Kayla soak it up with smiles and squeals of joy...moments that are priceless and will remain with me forever.

And yes...there are little hiccups along the way...the float...while I envisioned her riding it and waiving, blowing kisses to the spirit judges...she did ride the float...just on Rick's lap {and then my lap}...whatever makes the princess happy...


For weeks, Kayla talked about the Buddy Walk...asking everyone she knew if they were coming to the walk...and for days now she has been walking around our house with the signs chanting "Kayla, Kayla, Kayla"...oh that girl, that day...just amazing...

We've raised nearly $9,000 so far this year...and it's not too late to donate!  If you'd like to donate or find out more about the event, you can click here.

A little shout out to Heather for taking most of our Buddy Walk pictures...you are amazing!


Just two days after the Buddy Walk, PaPa and MeMe were on their way home to South Carolina....but we were able to slip in a little bit of fun with PaPa on a field trip before they left!  Onto the Delaware Children's Museum.  I'm not sure who had more fun...Kayla or PaPa...you be the judge...

Our week wound down a bit and we were onto enjoy a little stress-free fun...Kayla's Blue-Gold buddy, Amanda, invited us to see her off to prom.  On our way to Amanda's house, I explained that we were going to see Amanda dressed up pretty because she was going to go to prom.  Asking what prom was, I quickly replied that it was a dance...for big kids.  I knew if I didn't throw that part in, she'd want to go to prom with Amanda.  She looked out the window as we were driving and said "Mommy, they do hokey pokey at prom?".  Oh I just love her!  And I love Amanda...as beautiful as Amanda is on the outside, she is double that beauty on the inside...

This week just kept getting better...what is better than a brand new baby?  New baby smell...I think I have baby fever...that will make Rick happy!  This is our new nephew, Dean.  He was born this week...and he is just the cutest...did I mention he has that new baby smell????

To end the week we were off to Cassidy's cowgirl party...Wanted for being too dang cute...

And cowgirl Kayla...she was pretty stinkin' cute, too {if I do say so myself}...She really got into it...complete with a "YEEE-HAW"
And while I would love to tell you that my life is filled with nothing but unicorns and rainbows...I have to be honest and share with you the depressing part of the week...only 1 day left of pre-k.  I am gonna miss this...

Spying from the booth, able to watch and be a part of her day...this was far better than "reality tv".  This allowed me to form friendships with other Mommies, watching my girl grow and form her own friendships, taking part in a classroom that she was successful in and thrived in...This booth allowed me to have conversations with Kayla about school that were deeper than the back and forth of "how was school"..."good".


Someone might need to pick me up off of the ground tomorrow at 11:45 am...when she finishes pre-k and officially becomes a "big girl"...headed to big girl school.  And I know it sounds cheezy, but that song You're Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins keeps playing through my mind...


My big girl.  She is getting bigger, smarter, sweeter and cuter by the day.  Each moment, each day, each week is better than the one before.  I look forward to each and every moment with my big girl in the future and hold in my heart beautiful memories of each moment that has passed...