Today is actually Fiona’s fifth birthday. I cannot believe this little preemie
turned into this little girl
Fiona’s class is learning the term “bittersweet” and this birthday has been bittersweet for me. There was a time I could not imagine getting this far. Fiona has grown and changed so much from the baby she was, or even the kid she was when she started preschool in August. She is so much more social now, but is still thoughtful and observant. She enjoys playing with other children, but still likes to play by herself too. It is sweet because watching her learn and grow is a pleasure, and the conversations we have, I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Her stories and her imagination are wonders to me. But it is also bitter because she is getting to a phase in life where she is not longer this cute little toddler. She’s really and truly not a baby any more and I can’t pretend or turn back the clock to when she used to sleep on my chest or fall asleep when I cuddle her. She is her own person, and to me, a very interesting one at that. I am so proud of who she is becoming and how hard she is working to overcome fears and hesitations. Her real friends are replacing the imaginary ones. She tells me she is ready and excited for kindergarten, that she can’t wait to go. Oh, I sigh. I really could go on and on.
I made cupcakes with blue frosting and put Frozen thingies in them, per Fiona’s request, for her class:
I made a surprise visit (together with Victoria and my mom) to class, to sing Happy Birthday to her and to watch her eat snack with her friends. It was a very cute experience.
Fiona chewed this cracker into the shape of a star:
I was trying to nurse Victoria and take a little nap. Fiona was busy doing something. Here she is modeling what she was doing:
I’m not sure where she got these papers. I guess they were templates for a necklace and bracelets. She cut them out and taped them all by herself, then cut out a teeny tiny tiara that only fit on one of her dolls.
So Happy Happy Birthday to my little 31 weeker, who has five days left of preschool, who will go to kindergarten next year (the NICU was right, she left long before this day arrived), whose vocabulary matches that of any three adults I know, who is teaching herself to read and write, who loves the monkey bars and playing with Legos and dolls and singing songs from Frozen (we caved, what can I say?). Fiona, you are my love. You warm my heart and make me laugh and bring so much joy to my life. Words cannot describe how much I love you or how important you are to me. You fill my bucket daily and I cannot, and do not want to, imagine life without you. To quote your favorite poem:
I love you forever
I love you for always
As long as I’m living
My baby you will be and your mommy I will be
(I am aware that it is not exactly how it’s written in the book, but it’s the way we say it.)
And even though this post is about Fiona, I leave off with two videos of Victoria giggling. The first with John, the second with Fiona:
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