this girl

meet my beautiful first born. my oldest by a minute with sparkling blue eyes and 1.5 adult teeth. i can barely remember when this beauty weighed a mere 5 pounds 14 ounces. in those days, having a full belly and a dry diaper was all she needed to be content. these days it takes a bit more. a brady bunch marathon. toaster strudel friday. a game of monopoly junior that she sets up and wins. she is smart, funny, challenging, and determined. she loves her sister and enjoys being the "boss". she is a dedicated worker, always wanting to help me with chores, and sticking to it until the job is finished. she has many dreams, most recently, to get a horse. she explained to me all through bedtime tonight just exactly how it would all work out. how she is going to save enough money to buy it herself (as soon as she figures out where one might buy a horse). that she will ride it, and groom it, feed it, and "take it a bath". and i would not have to help, except for when she is in "real" school next year.

my sweet kendyl. you are growing so quickly and changing before my eyes. you keep me on my toes with your favorite saying "this is the worstest day ever." i hope you always have such a determined spirit. i hope you forever question everything. i heard you wish on a star to be more brave. you don't know it yet, but you already are.

oh, how i love you.