Seven is Heaven!

Our dear sweet Poodle -

Happy 7th Birthday precious one!  You are still the sweet, vivacious, people-loving, drama-princess daughter of the King that you have always been.  While it's weird to say "Seven" when talking about your age, it's fitting.

It's fitting because this past year has brought with it a lot of growing up and changes.  We see you becoming more aware of yourself.  The childlike freedom from self-consciousness is beginning to wane.  We get glimpses of the Tween girl that you but a year or two from becoming.

But, I'm so glad to say that you still love to act out your narrations during school.  That you still want to play with your dolls and your brother and your sister.  That you still think going to Build-A-Bear with MooMoo is the greatest thing since someone pre-cut all that sandwich bread.  That you still want to snuggle in our laps.  That you still want someone to read to you at night and put "good dreams dust" on your pillow.

But, on the other side of that coin, you are DIE-ing to get your ears pierced.  You want to wear "heel shoes".  You still love-love girly-girl clothes and skirts and dresses, but the clothes you are drawn to are more often than not outside of the Little Girl section.  And I've noticed sometimes when you roll your eyes, you're doing it because you are self-conscious about what you've just said.  You're not sure if you've been funny or not.  It's sweet and sad, all in the same moment.

So, here's "who you are" at 7:
You can make pancake batter, from scratch, with zero help.  You get everything out, mix it all up, break all the eggs, clean it all up.  I barely know you've done it until you say "can I have pancakes for breakfast?"
You are in second grade in school.
You are taking ballet, but still only once a week.  And it's still a combo ballet/jazz class.
You still have some problems with "bumpy speech", a.k.a. stuttering.  Mostly because you talk ninety-to-nothing with abandon.  And your mother isn't exactly a Slow Talker herself.  ;-)
You are such a huge help with your baby sister.  You love her and you dote on her.
You and Tooter are still best playmates at home.  And y'all can also argue like no one's business as well!
Your BFF is still Spencer!  Still love her to pieces.
You are very much a girly-girl in all you do.  But you can still line drive your Daddy's pitches in the backyard.  I won't pitch to you.  It scares me.  Seriously.
You really found your groove in the pool this summer.
You still walk on tiptoe most of the time at the house.
You love-love-love to draw and paint and color and do "arts and crafts".
You love to sing, but you and the "proper tune" aren't always the best of friends.  (but i love you!)
You love your family so much.
You aren't big on putting your clothes away without being told to do so.  ;-)

You have a tender heart, but it's strong.  You are incredibly forgiving, which is a good thing for your mother's sake!  You are thoughtful and caring.  You are mostly fearless in social situations, which is so neat to me.  You try so hard to please people.  You want so much for people to be happy with you and around you.  Your sense of humor is so-so-so awesome!  Your real laugh makes the sun shine brighter.  You're a smart, dear, wonderful girl!

There are times that your Daddy and I feel like we "missed" your baby years.  We felt as though we were so not-very-good with the parenting thing.  And we (I) were so caught up in trying to do things that were not very important.  Praise GOD that He gave us YOU as our first child.  That He gave us someone so forgiving and loving to be the child who had to trudge through most of the mistakes that new parents make.

Oh, my dear Poodle, I praise God for you and for your life.  I praise Him for your heart and your loving spirit.  I pray that you will seek Him as you grow and that you will remain close to your family.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will come into your heart and reside there always.  You like to say that when you get older, you are going to get married and move into the house next door to us so that you and I can always live near each other.  :-)  Babygirl, the idea of that is just plain awesome.

We love you so much honey - Happy Birthday dearest!