Dear Sadie, Today You're 8.

 To my Sadie June Bug - 

We celebrated you all weekend long, which is easy to do, because you're YOU.  We had your grandparents over for lunch today and all went around the table sharing what we love about you....

And the first thing that came to my mind was how you've always been a BRIGHT LIGHT in our lives, since the moment you were born 8 short years ago.

You've always had the biggest eyes & biggest heart. 

This year, you were the first Xenos girl to win Super Citizen at your school & the award you one was all about being a great friend.  You go out of your way to make sure everyone knows they are loved by you.  

You never leave anyone out, including your little sister who drives you crazy some days.

You always put others first...and sometimes, I worry that you forget about your needs. 

Over the past 6 months, you've been more expressive than ever before and it's not always been the happy stuff we're used to with our Sadie girl.

But I know this is just you finally finding your voice after all these years.  

Growing up with a big sister AND a little sister, I'm sure you sometimes feel lost in the middle (literally).

But I hope you always know that Dad and I always SEE and ADORE YOU.

On your good days and your more challenging days.

You get hot quickly, but you calm down just as quickly.  You always say you're sorry when you say things that are unkind without me prompting you.

That's what shows me that my mommy heart doesn't need to worry about you & your big feelings you've been navigating lately.

I know you'll work thru this phase because you've always been wise beyond your years.

I love your sweet smile with your missing front tooth.

I love your sense of style including always having your lipstick on point! 

I love how you play with your little sister because you know it means the world to her.

I love how you fiercely defend Lara, even when it's to the (much) bigger bullies on the bus.  You have no fear and I hope you never lose that!  

I am so, so proud to be your mom and I'm thankful every single day that he gave me YOU.

I love you, little chicken nugget.  Always and forever!

I was so excited to have a December baby, so as a sweet gift, your dad gave me a snowglobe with a picture of me kissing your tiny, newborn nose.  On it's engraved, " If kisses were snowflakes, I'd give you a blizzard."  

Sweet girl, I'll give you blizzards of kisses as long as you'll let me. 

Love you, baby!!

Love, Mom

Dear Lara, Today You're 9.

I keep thinking these years will slow down, but here we are....your last year in single digits. This evening, as we kept our tradition alive of doing a mini birthday photoshoot, I kept looking at you thinking how beautiful you are.  Your little freckles....your blue eyes, your smirky little grin you make when I embarrass you. You're a little stunner and you're dads terrified. 

But I'm not.  

You're beautiful, but you're so much more than that.  What I'm most proud of is how confident you are, even when it nearly breaks me. 

Literally. 

I know YOU know how incredible God made you and that to me is the thing I'm most proud of as your mom. 

Your strong will is something I wasn't expecting.  You're our first child, so as your parents, we're learning each new phase of parenting right alongside you. 

And at times, you give us a run for our money. But we wouldn't have it any other way.

Most people still see you as the shy one...the quieter, more subdued one of the three Xenos girls. Which always makes your dad and I laugh. In actuality, you are full of passion about the things you care about. 

God. Your sisters. Sports. Acro.  

Lately we've noticed how you seem to think you can outsmart us. Sometimes I let you think it, but most of the time I have to remind you that I am and always will have years of wisdom on you. I know someday you'll grow to respect that, just as I learned with my own Mom. 

You're starting to get embarrassed by Dad & I's crazy antics....wait, you've always been like that. Which makes us want to do it even more. You're welcome. 

My wish for you as you enter your THIRD GRADE year is that you learn to embrace your emotions and not be embarrassed by them.  You're learning to navigate friendships & the beauty AND challenges that come with them.  

I hope you continue to run after God and learn more about what is means to have an awesome Father in heaven that adores you, even when you mess up.  Baby, we're all messed up.  And he loves us anyway. 

I hope you continue to love your little sisters with that big heart of yours.  Lately, you've shared with me how hard it is to be the oldest.....

With great responsibility comes great reward.  Your little sisters have the BEST big sister in the whole world and while they may not be able to express that right now, they show it by wanting to be JUST LIKE YOU. 

And I don't blame them.  You're one cool kid and there's not a day that goes by that Dad and I aren't so darn grateful that we get to be your parents. 

We love you, our beautiful, intelligent daughter. SO, SO much.

XO, 

Mom & Dad

Dear Sadie, Today You're 6.

 Oh my sweet Sadie June.  I'm not sure who's having a harder time with you turning 6....

Me or you. 

Over the past month, you've realized you're no longer a "baby," and you seem quite surprised by that. Your little sister is 2, and I'm not sure if it's just now setting in that SHE'S the baby in the house and to be honest, I know that's been hard on you lately...

About the time you turned 3, we realized you had an affinity for chicken nuggets.  In fact, you still do.  I started calling you my little chicken nugget and the name just stuck.  Earlier this week, you asked me if you could always be my "little chicken nugget."  I wonder if you'll ask me that same question when you turn 16...? ;) 

You found an old photo book from our very first trip to Branson at Christmastime.  I believe it was when you were around 4.  You brought the book upstairs and asked if we could talk privately.  That's what you girls say when you're needing some mommy time.  You showed me a picture of you and I snuggling, riding on a horse drawn carriage.  You pointed to the picture and with big, puppy dog eyes, you said to me, "I'm not a baby anymore.  I'm not your little chicken nugget."  

I have to admit, while it pulled at my heart strings, I also chuckled to myself because I secretly love that you want to be mommy's little girl for a little while longer. 

And listen, I'm 100% ok with that.  You got a deal, kid. 

You have always been the sweetest soul, the calm to the chaos, the jokester.  You love to laugh and I just ADORE that about you!  You think burping and farting are the most hilarious things in the world and for some reason, you refuse to flush the toilet, much to our dismay.  We've told you a million times - SADIE!! Flush the toilet!! And you just won't do it.  

I can't figure out if it's because you don't like the sound, or your laziness.  Probably the latter.  ;) 

While you aren't the cleanest of kids (you leave a path of destruction and clothes just about everywhere you walk), your wit and spirit ALL but makes up for it. 

But you know what I love most about you, my Sadie girl?  Your generous spirit!! It's amazing to me how a a 6 year old can be so tremendously giving - heck, you'd give the shirt off your back to your sister, to us, to your friend.  

While your allowance is a few quarters here and there, you save those quarters up just waiting for the chance to share them with someone in need.  The other day, you wanted doughnuts before school.  Heck, everyday you want doughnuts!  I told you we couldn't get doughnuts two days in a row, but that if you wanted to spend your own money, I'd take you.  

You ran to find your wallet and immediately began counting your quarters.  You wanted to make extra sure you had enough to buy Lara a doughnut, too. 

You find so much more joy in GIVING to others and that, my sweet little girl, is a GIFT.  YOU ARE A GIFT. 

While you've been sassier than normal lately, I have a sense that because things have been calmer around the house, you finally feel the space you need to release some of your new, big emotions you're feeling since starting kindergarten...  

Speaking of kindergarten - your teacher told us at parent teacher conferences a few weeks ago, what a mother hen you are around class.  You CARE so much about others and always make sure everyones getting along. That's usually the role you play around the house, so no surprise there! ;) 

While I could go on and on and on about how adored you are, Sadie girl, I'll close with this: whether you're turning 6 or 60, you'll always be my little chicken nugget. 

XO, 

Mom & Dad