How can this be....

tonight she will go to sleep as a 4 year old, and wake up as a 5 year old. I kissed her goodnight, and told her that.... I had to choke back some tears, because she looked up at me with a huge smile. "I can't wait" she said.


What a wonderful day it was 5 years ago that she was born. We could hardly wait to hold her and see her, knowing that she would be our last baby. {little did we know, huh!} I remember having family prayer the night before she was born and looking around at all of our little kids, and feeling a sense of sadness...I was sad knowing that their lives would never be the same. Not that it wouldn't be better, just that I knew that it would be different. I also felt an over whelming sense of joy, that really there would be no adjusting. That in no time it would be like she was always part of us, and she was.
She was a beautiful baby. SO soft and sweet. Very good natured and calm. She has brought our family so much joy and happiness.

Ella is ready to be a BIG 5 year old. I however, can not believe that she is really that old. The last time I looked at her, I swear she was only 2. She is still silly, and crazy and wild and girly and tom-boyish as ever. I think of her as a rough and tumble princess. :) Did you notice that she got her ears pierced!? She had been asking for it for quite a while now, and we finally got it done a few weeks ago. She is so tough, she didn't even cry.

Happy birthday my baby girl. I love you so much. I love you a hundred million-bazillion Dalmatians. {that's Ella's thing. 101 Dalmatians is the biggest number she could think of, and we've just gotten bigger from there. Tonight, after I kissed her she told me she loved me a hundred and one mazillion dalmatians and to infinity and beyond.}

Man, I love that girl. Happy birthday Ella.