My baby girl turned six over the weekend. Six! The youngest of our crew is now officially a really big girl 9 (she says as much, so we know it's true). Sixth birthdays are so fun, I think. So fully aware she was of the big day that the counting down started months ago, the plotting and planning of who to invite and what they'd do. And the theme. Not that I'm big on birthday party themes, but she, along with her influencing sister, conspired to make this a "cat birthday." Which was sneaky, really, because the squeaky wheel gets the ....kitten? She's been reminding us for a very long time now that her big sister got a kitten for her FIFTH birthday (the injustice!), and also two ducks, and that her sixth birthday included two goats. Annabel did have a point there, and she is the fifth child, and as such knows very well that if she pesters long enough or asks just the right person (of all the many people in the house to ask), at just the right time....she'll likely get the answer she wants. (Oh that birth order thing! Both frustrating and fascinating it the truth of it all!)
So, meet Lily! A sweet pea of a little thing who is being well loved and cared for, I can assure you, by everyone. But especially by Annabel. This has given her not only whole new fodder for her non-stop storytelling ("Oh my gosh, Mom....you should see what Lily just did! It was SOOO CUUTE!") as well as someone else to tell her stories to (Lily apparently needs a bedtime story from Annabel for each and every little cat nap she takes). It's all very dear, and animated, and full of love...just like my girl.