A Letter to My Daughter: Happy 6th Birthday

A Letter to My Daughter… Happy 6th Birthday

April 25, 2012 at 1:26am

A letter to my Daughter… Happy 6th Birthday

Your marvelousness humbles me.

My Little Girl, it’s been 6 years since we’ve met and every day I am reminded how lucky I am. You are growing into your little self wonderfully and I still can’t figure out what I ever did to deserve to witness your fabulous journey. But I am ever so grateful for it and I thank you for brightening up my world.

Today you turned 6 and it was a stark reminder of how I need to slow down to stop and admire the dandelions. It’s been a tough year for us. Probably one of the hardest I have experienced.  Mommy’s life changed drastically. My sense of self and purpose is being put to test. We as a family have had to struggle, and still are. Even today we were not able to fulfill the traditions that we normally do. But you, you could still find music in the quietest room.  I woke up today ready to charge the world and wanting to buy you everything in every store that you would love. Financial imitations put a cruel halt to that and as I was preparing your Birthday table I couldn’t help but to sit back and shed tears because I felt like I was not doing enough. As a parent it’s never enough.. But today… it just was NOT enough.

But then I look at a picture of you on my phone and I remind myself… This is Evie… she appreciates the smallest of tokens because she knows they’re full of thoughtfulness and love. So I set my heart out to make sure you were treated like a princess and that everywhere we went people knew it was your special day. I made sure the house was decorated with whatever left over party decor I could find and that you felt like you entered your own personal castle.  I wanted you to know that you are loved, by not just me, but the world and you are someone truly special to many.

The characteristics I find in you are some of the hardest ones to find in people. You are funny, witty, and charming. You walk into a room and people can’t help but to SMILE. It’s like an extra few lightbulbs went on. You are passionate with every story you tell. You are excessively emotional with every heart break you experience. You are generous and thoughtful. You pick weeds from the yard because “the yellow flowers make our house look brighter.” You are carefree and courageous. You are beautiful! You walk outside wearing your brothers white t-shirt, star pajama pants, striped socks, and heart rain boots with a green head band and you tell me “Don’t I look fabulous” with a huge smile as you twirl around. And you DO! Cause it’s you and you are not afraid to show the world how you feel.

You are the type of child every other kid wants to be friends with. You are the type of kid every mother hopes to raise. You are the type of person I wish to become. I know you are going to be someone amazing.

Today I showed up at school with all the pink donuts I could find because it’s what you wanted. Once I was in your view you immediately embraced me and whisper ‘Thank you Mommy. My friends are going to love me’. It was music to my ears, but they already do, honey.

After school I surprised you with two dozen pink roses. ‘Those are for me? I love flowers! I feel beautiful’. And you danced around in a circle. ‘Who bought you those flowers Evie?’ People asked. “MY BEAUTIFUL MOMMY. Aren’t they awesome?!’ You replied, every time.

We visited the mall so you could build you very own bear. ‘Justin can build one too, right Mommy?’  Cause you wouldn’t think of leaving him out of the fun..

We went to your favorite birthday restaurant just so you can have free ice cream and be sung to. We fell short on the singing but the waiter made his best effort. On our way out, you say ‘That was nice of him to sing to me even if his friends didn’t want to. He was kind and had a nice happy birthday singing voice.’  You found beauty in a quiet song.

We go home and finally sing Happy Birthday and open gifts. “This is PERFECT FOR ME” you say about everything… Even the packets of flower seeds I found in the garage and added to a ‘gardening gift bag’. Embarrassed that you recognized it wasn’t a new purchase “Mommy I saw these in the garage and have been wanting these for a long time but didn’t think you would give them to me. Thank you! Now I can plant you a beautiful garden.” and immediately RELIEVED that YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER.

At the end of the night, I ask if you enjoyed your day. And what was your favorite moment and things. You talk about EVERY moment because they were all your favorite. And EVERY  gift cause they were all perfect. But you mention one tiny item that I didn’t think you even noticed… “Mommy I really really REALLY love the turtle with the glasses.”  “Really? I just found it at the thrift store for 0.69 cents.  I thought it would make a cute table decoration. Why is it your favorite?’ “Because it looks like you, when you work with your glasses. And you look so cute. Like my little mommy turtle. I already put it in my room so I can kiss you every night”

You crawl further into my arms, your head under my chin and my tears begin to flow… you are perfect for me.

As we all get older, we tend to become cynical and abrasive due to the experiences that hurt our hearts and scar our souls.  I write these letters to you and your brother in hopes that one day, when you go back and read them, you are reminded of how you saw beauty in everything. That a yard full of weeds can be as beautiful as a garden full of roses. That the smallest gestures from a singing waiter can remind you that people care. That the fanciest clothes, expensive cars, or flashiest jewelry can never replace the ‘little mommy turtle’ figurine that sits on your dresser. That no matter what happens to your world, you always found the music in the quietest room and beauty in the quietest songs.

You sing after school, you sing in the shower, you sing after training, you sing when I cook. You sing because you want the world to hear how beautiful you think it is. They hear you baby. We all do. And the world would be a horribly silent place if we didn’t have you in it.

You give my world hope and strength. You remind me that at the end of every night, no matter how hard the day was, how ugly people can be or how difficult life tests are,  YOU remind me that the most beautiful creations in this world are sleeping under the same roof as me. And it’s because of you that I can dream.

On this 6th birthday – another journey of milestones –  I want you to know, that I love  you with all that I have. I have never thought a love like this could be possible. But it is. And it’s for you. You will be someone great. And I will always be your biggest fan. I am honored to have you in my life.

My Queena, life is full of amazing things. Always take a minute to smell the flowers by your feet. Feel the Sun on your face. Let the Rain cleanse your soul. Love with all that you have. Laugh with every breath. Live with purpose. Fight for your dreams. Reach for the Stars, Moon and Sun… Believe in you… cause I do. And remember, that I will always be here… right by your side… cheering you on.

Love always & forever,

Mom

Happy Birthday was sung. Presents have been opened Showered. In bed…She has a huge smile on her face. After she falls asleep, there’s one more thing left for me to do…

Wrapping up her day at TGI-Fridays… Where upon meeting our waiter – before he could even give us his name – she proudly announced “Today is my birthday. Can I have cake?!” lol

Getting her build-a-bear on!!! Snuggliest!

Greeted (at school) with TWO DOZEN pink roses… How every little lady should be treated. She’s happy!! 🙂

😉

Does she get points for her pony tail getting air?! Lol

EV says…”The plant isn’t dead mama. It’s just taking a winter nap. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take care of him.”… “It’s okay Mr Plant. I’ll take care of you and feed you warm water in the cold” Shes a true hippie at heart…

The things she does… smh lol

Cheers! Can you guess what Mom is drinking?! 😛

Little chucks and lil chucks… 🙂

Couldn’t take her to the ocean to play, cause she doesn’t have a clear bill of health yet, so we brought a little bit of the “ocean” to her in the form of a Nemo sprinkler and a garden hose. She’s happy! 😉

Her mean face

she named it beauty

Rockstar in training

EV’s ride! 🙂 http://bit.ly/wgySGV #nycwhitepicketfence @[153324174734299:274:Chastity Cortijo Photography]

She said she’s “Preparing for Zombies”, I guess in her mind Hurricanes and Zombies are one in the same. 🙂 Kiss those guns baby! LOL