Birthday Girl

Tomorrow is a special someone's birthday. This birthday girl will always hold a special place in my heart for so many reasons but one of them is she made me an aunt for the first time! Being an aunt is the coolest thing in the world. I love everything about my neices and nephews especially how they look at the world which helps me to not see it so negatively (which i do...more often than i should).

Tonight was her party and she did two things that made me tear up. She took her time opening each present and each card and paid close attention to the cards. I went in with other members in the family and got her a new bike but I also gave her a card with 8 dollars in it for turning 8. She opened my card about halfway through opening all her gifts. She opened it, read every word, saw her eight dollars and came over to where I was sitting and gave me a hug and told me thank you. It was the sweetest thing to me. I seriously got choked up.

She is growing up so fast and I love spending time with her. She is going to be 18 so soon! And as she pointed out to me when she is 18 I will be almost 40!!!! YIKES!!! I don't appreciate her math skills :o)

The second thing was when one of her friends bought her something she already had (i know she has it because we bought it last week when we were shopping). She smiled and said thank you so much to the person who got it for her. Then another girl said, "you already have that" and Natalie quickly(but also politely) told her friend to not say that because she did not want to hurt the other persons feelings. I was so impressed.

I love how much Natalie cares about other people (and animals too~ )!!! She has such a big heart and she is so smart and funny. I am so amazed at the young woman she is becoming.

How is it that it seems like yesterday I was at the hospital holding 6 pound new born Natalie and now she is 8!!? What's bad is that as she ages so do I.....that's not fun to think about.

Happy 8th Birthday Natalie. I love you :o)

here is last years post for her 7th birthday!

SEVEN