To Avery on Your 5th Birthday

Sweet Avery,

Five years ago today you entered the world and made me a Mommy. What an amazing journey it has been! Although I loved you immensely from the very beginning and knew what a precious gift you were, I couldn't have fathomed how much joy and pride you would bring me. Daddy and I are so blessed to have a daughter like you. You are intelligent, kind, tender-hearted, polite, funny, and a true people-person. You play alone sometimes, but you had much rather hang out with your family or with friends, and you are starting to really enjoy making new friends as well. In your 5th year of life you have definitely become more confident and independent, which has been such a joy to watch. In the past year, you have learned to do quite a few new things including: ride a bike with training wheels, swim, do a back roll and a cartwheel(and other gymnastics skills), buckle and unbuckle your booster seat, say the books of the old and new testaments and the 12 apostles, write all uppercase and lowercase letters, write numbers, tell time on a digital clock, read short books with sight words and 1 sentence per page, simple addition, and right now you are learning to play soccer! You love drawing, coloring, crafts, playing pretend with Kendall, playing computer games, watching your favorite shows and movies, playing dress up, playing rough with Daddy, and going to gymnastics, Bible class, and soccer. You have become such a good big sister to Kendall and I cannot wait to see how you interact with Judson once he is born. With a little brother on the way and Kindergarten starting in the fall, you have a huge year ahead of you and it will be so neat to witness the ways you grow and change! As Daddy reminds you in his "life lessons" every night at bedtime, we are confident that God truly has a special purpose for you in our family and in your own life and walk with Him. We love you so much Avery! Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mommy