Happy 5th Birthday Lucy!

Lucy has been counting down in anticipation of today for months.  Yesterday she spent the majority of the day telling me things like, "Mom, this is the last time you get to hold my hand as a four year old!" or, "Can you hardly believe this is the last time I get to eat lunch as a four year old?"  And at bedtime, "Mom, are you going to cry because this is the last time you get to tuck in your four year old?"  Needless to say, by the time I turned out the lights last night, Lucy was a bit anxious about not being a four year old anymore.  I could relate - after waiting for so long for an event to happen, when it actually does, it is a bit overwhelming.  This morning she was all smiles though as I think she realized being five feels just fine.  Here she is below for the token first of the morning birthday picture, the heading down the stairs birthday picture, and the pose in front of the presents birthday picture.

Will had to work this morning, so we had to wait until he came home at lunch time to open presents.  This is the first year he wasn't able to be there first thing in the morning so Lucy had to adjust to waiting to see what was under the wrapping paper.  She did pretty good, and we helped pass the time with her requested breakfast of waffles and bacon.

After breakfast she headed outside to give Charlie snuggles for the first time as a five year old.  Emma and I headed out shortly after to be with her but we all headed back inside not long after as it was super windy and chilly.  After we were back inside, I put my feet up and put on a DVD of Max and Ruby for the girls.  When the movie was over, we played Lucy's new game of Monopoly Junior from Grandma and Grandpa Hines.  It was the first time I'd played it since I was a kid, and let me just say, I had more fun this time than I ever did when I was younger.  It is the perfect game for Lucy and Emma as it is all about selling and buying tickets at various amusement park ticket booths.  Each time a money transaction occurred, they would hand each other or the banker (me) money by saying, "Here you go ma'am, that is four dollars."  Then the other one would hand back say, imaginary cotton candy or whatever else the ticket booth was selling.  It was a great way to pass the time while Lucy waited for Will to come home so she could open her presents, and also great that I could have my feet up!

Will was home by lunch time, and brought Lucy's lunch request from our favorite local sub shop.  While the food waited at the table, Lucy ripped through her presents.  Gift highlights included a butterfly garden so Lucy can raise her own butterflies, Calico Critters including twin bunny babies, a twin stroller, and her favorite, a car with a camper trailer.  She also received binoculars and several field guide books, a jump rope and chap stick.

After opening presents we enjoyed the lunch Will brought home and then some quiet time.  Emma and I took naps while Lucy quietly played with her new presents downstairs.  Will got some work done on the computer with multiple interruptions from Lucy as she discovered new features and details with her Calico Critter camper trailer set.  After quiet time we met with our friends at a local frozen yogurt bar and had a great time letting the kids run wild after the sugar hit them.

After we ruined our dinners, we headed to the store to let Lucy pick out her own chap stick (the flavor we bought her she didn't like) and then headed home for a hot dog dinner.  After dinner Lucy decorated personalized cupcakes for each of us.  In the below picture, Will's hand is pulling Lucy's hair back as it almost went into the flames in her excitement.

After Lucy told me that I get to tuck her in tonight for the first time as a five year old, I asked her what her favorite present was today.  She told me her new chap stick.  I like giving the girls milestones for each of their birthdays so they have something tangible to look forward to while growing up, and to also teach them the fine art of anticipation and patience.  Emma got to have her finger nails painted for the first time at the age of three, Lucy finally got to chew gum at four and now at five, she gets to use chap stick.  My darling girl was quite nervous to put the chap stick on for the first time, and as much as she really really really wanted to wear it, she didn't really care for the feel or the flavor of it.  I told her that perhaps she would get used to it, and to not wear it for now if she didn't like it.  She tucked the tubes in her jewelry box for the night so we shall see if she applies any chap stick tomorrow!

I am a little sentimental tonight, reflecting on the last five years with our first child we have been blessed to watch grow up on earth.  I was definitely not running on all cylinders today due to Violet's impending arrival and am bummed that I didn't get any pictures of Lucy playing with her new Calico Critters, as that is how she spent the majority of her day.  I am even more disappointed that we forgot to measure her height on our growth stick - a very important birthday tradition in our house.  Tomorrow we will remedy the growth chart and in the meantime, I am rubbing my belling and thanking Violet for allowing Lucy to not share her birthday with her sister.  I kept telling Violet that she will be glad of this fact in the following years as well.

Happy birthday to my sweet and sassy oldest daughter.  It has been a joy watching you grow into your personality and to view the world through your eyes - full of excitement and learning.  You have taught me way more than I could ever teach you, and I am a better person after spending the last five years with you.  Thank you for teaching me how to be a mom, and for your unconditional love!  I love you so much Lucy Anne Timmerman and am looking forward to experiencing the next year of life with my five year old!

Update: I forgot to take a picture of Lucy getting measured for the growth chart on her birthday!  Here she is below - she grew three and a half inches since her last birthday!