Five Years Old

Happy 5th birthday Kayla!

How did you get to be 5 years old already?! 5 years ago you made me a mom - one of the hardest jobs there is out there, but the most rewarding!

There are so many adjectives to describe your infectious personality - energetic, strong-willed, independent, sassy, smart, playful, sweet, caring, sympathetic, loving, care-free, spirited - and those are just the ones off the top of my head!

Your 4th year had a couple of big events. Your daddy deployed and you missed him terribly. It was the first time he was gone for a long length of time; and you were old enough to realize he wasn't here. You looked for him everywhere we went on base, and anyone we passed in uniform was potentially your daddy. The reunion at the airport was so sweet and precious. You wouldn't let go of him!

You also became a big sister and you've embraced that role whole-heartedly! You loved your brother from the moment you first saw him in the hospital. You wanted him to go play in your room the second we arrived home from the hospital. You have shown moments of jealously, and sometimes can be not so nice with him, but you're fiercely protective of him too. We were boarding a plane yesterday and a flight attendant was holding Lucas. As we were walking up you said "Lucas!" and then the pilot came out to hold him, and you got upset. If I could have recorded the tone of your voice calling "No! Lucas!" and stomping your foot when I made you walk the opposite direction to our seats while the pilot still held "your Lucas!"

You're proud of him too - showing him off wherever we go by pointing to his carseat and saying "Lucas" to whomever walks by. But don't let someone peek in the stroller without your consent first! You'll say something like "no! Lucas!" and shut the canopy because you don't want them to bother him.

You went to your first amusement park and rode your first roller coaster and water ride.

You've developed quite a sassy attitude lately and love to tell us "no" all the time; I guess that's because you hear it quite often from us!

You've been known to say, "Naughty spot Mommy! Sit! Now!" and it's so hard not to laugh at you, because you look and sound so cute when you're saying it.

You visited 2 more states this past year - Arizona and Massachusetts.

We attended the first of what will be many national Down syndrome conventions- we'll meet new friends, reconnect with old friends, and celebrate you and your extra chromosome.

Some days you frustrate me to no end with your listening skills (or lack thereof!) and wandering off, and wanting to do your own thing when you want to do it. But you make up for it with your unbridled enthusiasm over the littlest things. I love hearing you get excited and saying "mommy look!!!" or jumping up and down saying "I did it!"

You'll be headed off to Kindergarten in August and I can't wait to watch you succeed in this new adventure.

Happy birthday big girl - know that you are much loved!