A is 7!!!!

I cannot believe it but last Monday - October 2o, 2008 my oldest child turned SEVEN.

I look at her and I wonder where the time has gone. How is it that she is already seven years old and in the first grade? I even asked her this on Saturday before her party.

I said, " How did it happen that you are seven? When did that happen?"

She laughed (as if to show how silly I am) and said, "Last Monday!".

But it just seems like yesterday that I was carrying her around in my arms. Now she is this big girl who got a new bicycle for her birthday. A girl who is determined to learn to ride it without training wheels!

A is such a conscientious child. She took cupcakes in for her class on her birthday and she insisted on getting princess cupcakes for the girls and football cupcakes for the boys since the boys wouldn't like the princesses!

We celebrated her birthday with cake and ice cream on Saturday. The day started out with A's last soccer game of the season.

After soccer, we picked up a friend of A's and we met Grandpap and Nana at a great pizza place in town. After pizza, we came home to find Grammy and Granddaddy had joined us for cake and ice cream. What a wonderful surprise!

The cake was an Enchanted cake. Complete with Giselle and her forest. A loved it!

Then we opened a few more gifts before it was time for everyone to go home.

In honor of her 7th birthday, here are 7 of the millions of things I love about A!

1.Even though it can be incredibly frustrating at times, I love how fiercely she fights for what she believes in.

2. I love what a loyal friend she is. She is an incredible friend. I strive to be more like her in this.

3. I love how she loves her siblings. Every afternoon when I pick her and M up from school, I love watching her take M by the hand and lead her to their appointed place in the car line to wait for me to pull up.

4. I love that she is so proud that she can read and that she loves to read.

5. I love that she still wants to have one on one time with me. I hope that she always does.

6. I love it that she is always so excited to see me when we've been away from each other for a few days.

7. I love it when I go in to check on her at night and she wakes up just a little and gives me another hug and a kiss in her sleepy stupor.

I cannot believe she is 7 years old. Last week, I was searching for age appropriate chores and I was completely disturbed by the fact that on most sites, she is now considered a preteen. Really?

How did we get here?

I love you, A!

I hope your 7th birthday was one to remember!