Six years ago yesterday I became a mother.
I didn’t give too much thought to what kind of mother I would be, I just thought we’d figure it out together, Elliott Quinn and I. And while we’re still working out the kinks, I feel like we’re on the right path. I’m proud to be her mommy and I’m proud to tell you about her today.
My six year old loves T. Swift. She knows the words to all her songs and even sings “fella over there with the hella good hair” with abandon. Lately we’ve had discussions about words we hear in songs versus words we say in real life.
She doesn’t necessarily have a lisp, but she says words wrong no matter how many times you correct her. She has ten thingers instead of fingers. We recently watched the Super Balls instead of the Super Bowl. Elliott does not like to go by Elliott, she prefers Ellie, thank you very much. She’s a great big sister: bad at sharing, bossy, and sorta mean occasionally. She wants to be a princess and an artist when she grows up, she is a mama’s girl through and through, and she wants a kitty so bad she can’t see straight. If you come to our house, you will leave with a minimum of five masterpieces created just for you. She will write “I love you” with her big, swoopy letters and ask you how to spell your name.
Ellie is sensitive, a great sleeper, and learning to read. She’s lost three teeth and has two more loose ones. She loves to show me her loose teeth because it completely freaks me out. My favorite sound in the world is hearing her giggle at something. Not just laugh because she’s being tickled, but giggle loudly because her sense of humor is her own. The things she finds funny are amazing.
Somewhere in the last year, she has lost her baby-ness and become lean and bony. She’s taller than all her classmates, lanky and hard in places that used to be chubby and soft. I am afraid for her body in her teen years, it will be more beautiful than it should be. I am afraid for boys to notice her. I want her to be young and child-like for as long as possible and even at six I can feel it slipping away.
But six is exciting. Ellie started asking about her sixth birthday two days after turning five. It’s been a long time coming and the shortest year of my life.
Happy birthday, Ellie Q. Your mama loves you.
Beautiful post! Happy birthay Miss Elliott!
Thanks Lena!
that time sure flew by.
I can’t really believe it. 🙁
My reading of this post ended with instant tears and an audible sob. My oldest will be 6 in just over 2 months. I try very hard, every day, to not wish away our time together as little girl and mama by mentally willing her to stay small. Instead I choose to rejoice in the fact that she is learning, growing, and developing into the amazing person that God created her to be.
Your words, however, brought instant realization that this has been the SHORTEST year of my life. Right at this moment my heart is longing for her to stay small and five and in kindergarten. What a balancing act we play as mothers!
SO TRUE, Janie. It’s been almost a year since I wrote this post and that little girl will soon be seven. I’m seriously speechless when I think about it too much. I can’t believe how fast time flies and that she’ll soon be a second grader. Hold you baby tight, that’s all I know.