It's Kiyomi's Birthday!

Happy 7th birthday my sweet girl!

If I could, I would write this whole post IN CAPITAL LETTERS!! AND WITH LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!! BECAUSE THAT IS SO HOW YOU LIVE LIFE!! OUT LOUD AND EXCITED!!!!

But I won't, because it's not very easy on the eyes, and it would wear me out. Which is what you do sometimes, but in a good way. Sometimes I can't keep up with you, with your enthusiasm and your utter and complete elation with everything around you. I wish that I could bottle up your energy and save it for those days when I'm so sleepy and don't want to get out of bed (which, according to you, happens alot.)

I'm sure that you've heard me and daddy say how you are so 'full of life,' and what that means is that you have a very, very special spirit inside of you, and it makes you live every minute to the fullest. As you would say, "Gooood times! Gooood times!"

It's hard to believe that it was seven years ago today that you were born and rocked our little world. You would think that we would be experts at it, this BABY thing, since we had been through it before, but we were just as nervous and excited as when we had your big sister. This time was maybe a little easier, though, because we had learned some things from the first time. Like, babies don't really care that their crib is made of imported wood, or that you don't have to wash every single piece of clothing, twice, months before your first contraction. And no, daddy didn't spend three days painting the nursery this time, not only because it was already painted, but because we knew that you would be sleeping in our room for AT LEAST a few months. This time he just made sure the couch was real comfortable, and we stocked up on videos beforehand.

Daddy and I were so excited when we found out we were going to have a little sister for Kira. You would complete our little family, and we knew that you would be a very, very special person. I remember we told everyone about you on Thanksgiving day, 1997. We called and told Grandma Cath and Auntie Aldeb that morning, and they couldn't believe it. They said it was the best Thanksgiving surprise ever, and I'm not sure, but I think that Auntie Aldeb said it was even better than the mashed potatoes she was going to have that day (and you just ask her HOW MUCH THAT IS.) Then we went over to Grandma Margaret's, and during the time when we all say what we are thankful for, me and daddy surprised everyone by saying that we were thankful for the new life we would soon be bringing into this world - you!

Although my pregnancy with you was not an easy one (someday you can read about it here. I know you claim to have THE MIND OF A FOURTH GRADER but some things are better understood by the mind of a seventh grader) I never doubted for a minute that everything would be okay after I was holding you in my arms.

And it was. Kiyomi, we were so excited when you came into this world! You were our second baby, but just as special and amazing as if we were parents for the first time. I guess we were a little more relaxed, though - we didn't think we were going to break you the first time we put your baby shirt on, and I didn't check on you every five seconds to make sure you were still breathing. Not to say that mommy's obsessive behavior stopped completely - but trust me someday you'll thank me for making sure that all six food groups are represented AT EVERY MEAL.

We are so proud of you, sweetie. You are such a smart, funny, talented girl. I love the way you notice everything around you - even though it takes us twice as long to walk from the car to the front door, I am in awe of how you can notice and appreciate every rock, leaf and bug on the way. I always think to myself, "We should all think more like Kiyomi!"

And sometimes you make us laugh so hard we can only ask, "Who ARE you?" Like when you do one of your ear-splitting burps. Or when you dance when daddy plays the guitar. Or even when I'm dying of embarrassment, like when you told the nice lady at the Lancome counter, "Ma'am, I think you're wearing a little too much makeup there."



Kiyomi, I can't tell you in words how much you mean to me, how much brighter the world seems when I see it through your eyes. You make every single day a better one, and my heart grows bigger and bigger every day that I am blessed to watch you grow up. I love to watch you and Kira together, and seeing how close the two of you are makes me so grateful for our wonderful family .

And I will end this as you would, IN ALL CAPS! AND WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIYOMI!! IT IS A GREAT DAY!!! YOU ROCK!!!

And, remember:
I love love you.
Don't let the bedbugs bite.
Sweet dreams.

Love,
Mommy

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