9 years old

On my list of things I never thought I would do:

Spend my daughter's birthday alone.

The dad took her this year. 


I'm getting more and more used to it. I'm learning to enjoy the time I have. I'm learning that the way of celebrating and doing traditions--the way I've had in my head since I was wee--doesn't have to be fixed and doesn't have to run life. I'm learning to peel away the unnecessary stuff and figure out what is really most important. I have to stop and ask myself, What will make the most difference to her right now and in the future? What does she really need to have a good day, or at least remember it as a good experience?

By the way, I don't have the answers to any of those questions. 

She's holding Hannah here after the dance recital. I still don't know what Hannah was crying about (I almost never know). 



So excited to be swimming every day. 


Also gets very tuckered out after practice.



A random picture of some great food at my uncle's:


I still can't believe how precious this is. Leah's first real, social smile was for her Grandpa. They are so close. This was at Willow Park in Logan. I just threw that little factoid in there for all of us that miss Cache Valley sometimes. 


Right now, Leah can read anything, do all the multiplication tables, do her own laundry and wash dishes, make lots of food (hot dogs, soup from a can, toast, cereal, and other essentials), yo-yo, swim a mean butterfly stroke, play some songs on the piano, and ARGUE like you wouldn't believe. 

And to top it off, we started of the day with this question:

"Mom, I know a baby comes from a sperm and an egg, but HOW does it all happen? Where does the sperm go?" 

Sigh. 

Comments

Jennifer Walker said…
Happy Birthday to my Leah McBiddle. I appreciate your reflections--you are working out these issues in such a thoughtful way. Your children will cherish you for it! Love you!
June 22, 2013 at 12:39 PM
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