alivia actually | let her be little
Alivia, n. (ah-LEE-vee-ah): Just like her daddy with little sprinkles of her momma. She is creative, caring, smart, funny, serious, sensitive, & sweet! She gives me a little glimpse at what she will probably be like as a teenager every single school day I try to get her out of bed. She knows what she wants and wants your answer IMMEDIATELY. She can also make a group of awkward adults gather around her for a "donut hole group hug" faster than anything I've ever seen! Basically I am in love with this little girl who can push my buttons as fast as her daddy, all the while I continue to try to teach and guide her through this thing called life....instead though, she almost always ends up teaching me.
To say that she is growing up quickly is an absolute understatement. Parenthood is the fastest, most exhausting yet rewarding adventure I have ever been on! One day you are terrified about EVERYTHING for this little 7 pound baby, then they rollover and they are F I V E (well, 5 and a half to be exact ;D). Where does it go? How do you slow it down? Why is it so darn fast?! I don't know. In fact, I have zero answers for you...other than it is fleeting and we must try to enjoy as much of it as we can! Before we know it we will be switching places with our babies just as our parents did with us. Bittersweet for sure. This adventure called parenthood is BEYOND bittersweet!
As if I needed any help in reminding me just how fast she is growing up, little Miss Alivia decided she wanted to celebrate big time for turning 5.5 this year! When we discovered one of her classmates actual birthday's was on the same date, we nixed the taking donuts to school plan, but I told her we could still celebrate that evening at home. Cinna-nim donuts for breakfast after greeting her with a "half birthday hug" (her request) was just what she needed as we headed to school. She told her daddy on our way out the door, "you better know I am ACTUALLY 5 and a half TODAY AND we have a field trip!?!" Oh how fast they grow!!!
She planned her whole "party" for that evening...pancakes for dinner, grandparents, some family & friends were all invited (though she didn't quite understand why friends couldn't come not only the same day you invite them, but also on a school night..), a fancy dress, TWO braids, and we celebrated fully! I secretly made a half birthday wish that I could just keep her little forever on her behalf. No word yet on whether or not that wish will come true, but in the meantime I thought the least I could do is soak it all in. I also thought since 5.5 is such a big deal nowadays, it would be the perfect time to ask her a few questions I came across on Pinterest! I am so glad I did, but definitely wish I had been doing this every so often as she grows, even if it isn't a special occasion. Oh well, lesson learned and I will now add this to my ever-overflowing mommy-plate!
