My Girl Burger

Burger's 14th birthday is today. Where has the time gone? Burger walked early, talked early (first words: want bottle - it sounded more like wam babble, but it was very clearly something other than babbling, and then she said the exact same thing the next day), and had very little hair until she was three. For a while, she had puffy hair - it all stood straight up on top of her head. Now her hair is long and thick, with just enough wave in it. I'm utterly jealous of it.

Burger's First Birthday

This child makes me smile constantly - she's fun, smart, and beautiful (although she doesn't believe it). She's open, honest, and trustworthy. She loves animals, her cell phone, and gymnastics, and is starting to like (OMG) boys. Inevitable, I know, and I'm shocked at how little it's affecting me - I thought I'd be all freaked out, but I'm not, and it's actually kind of neat to see her growing up and the hints of womanhood appearing. But I do miss the little girl who never talked back, who believed I knew more than she did, and who loved nothing more than to have a good cuddle.

Burger's 4th Birthday

Time passes, kids grow up, and what we're left with is larger people. If we're lucky, the child inside isn't completely gone and an occasional cuddle is still acceptable. But more and more, the door to her room is shut, and she's on the phone or IMing with friends. We're hitting the time when she starts to push away. I feel very lucky because she doesn't hate us, she still talks to us, and that she's a fun kid who has great ideas and deep thoughts and shares them with us.

Burger's Fifth Birthday

We're past the stage of hay rides and petting zoos, we're past Candyland and Break the Ice, we're past footie pajamas and Barbie nightgowns. We're past losing baby teeth, going to the circus, riding ponies. We still dye easter eggs and Santa still shows up, and the jack-o-lanterns get cut every year, but how much longer will she want to put up with these things? Will we hit a point where her parents aren't fun to hang out with? Will she push too far away, where we can't reach out and touch her? I hope not, because she's so very precious to my heart, and I'm already pained that she doesn't want me to reach out and push her hair behind her ear anymore.

Happy birthday, my darling girl. Always be true to yourself.