Cordelia's Sixth Birthday Review

Yesterday Cordelia turned six. I guess it just doesn't get any easier, each year just seems to remind us how quickly this is all happening. The memory of her birth is still so fresh, it doesn't seem like it was six years ago, but the calendar tells me that it really was that long ago.

We had a fairly mellow birthday because she is having a party on Saturday. We still managed to pack a lot in and make her feel celebrated and special. The big gift was that we finally, after years of begging, let her pierce her ears. After dropping Elise off at preschool she and I headed to the mall for ear piercing. Eric met us there.

She kept telling people she is now allowed to wear long dresses because she is six. Not sure where/why she got that in her head, but OK. Here we are waiting for the ear piercing place to open.

Cordelia eagerly hopped into the ear piercing chair and held the stuffed bear that was handed to her. This is something she has been asking for since she was about four. I didn't really care one way or the other, since it is so very common---seemed kind of inevitable. Eric, my heavily tattooed husband, was worried about her perfect little ears and has been very reluctant to let her pierce them. He decided that he was ready-ish to let her do this as part of her birthday gift.

Although his body language tells me that he wasn't entirely comfortable as he watched her go through the piercing.

She let out a little gasp as the ear was pierced, but it was basically no big deal.

She was mighty proud when it was all over.

She chose tiny sapphire earrings and the store also gave her a stuffed tiger (at a discounted price) which she named Sapphire, her birthstone.

She later requested a trip to a museum for her birthday. I was so happy not to go to Jump Craze and proud that she chose a museum!

She and Elise ran to the museum so eager to check it out. I will file this under parenting win and choose to ignore that she requested Taco Bell (they have some vegan options) for lunch.

Sisters on a covered wagon.

Later my parents joined us for dinner.

Opening presents.

Elise climbing on my father.

My mother and Cordelia.

Sisters wearing new jackets from their grandparents. Elise received a few gifts too. We would have gotten her a little something either way, but Cordelia specifically asked, on her birthday wish list, that Elise also receive a present.

Cordelia and my dad.

Her green cupcakes.

Happy birthday Cordelia!

Graduation Day for Cordelia

Thursday evening was Cordelia's graduation from preschool. We arrived a bit early so she could put on her cap and gown. Then we took our places to watch her graduate. Now let me take a moment here to apologize for those times, before children, when I made comments about how silly "graduation" was for pre-school and kindergarten and whatever. I realize now that they are important milestones and they deserve a moment of celebration.

I had been feeling surprisingly emotional about Cordelia's growth all week. I had a moment Monday when I held her hand and flashed back to the first time her tiny perfect fingers grasped mine. How it has only been a few years, but so much has happened. Anyway, that coincided with graduation and it was an emotional day for a proud mother.

We watched her enter and walk to her place. She searched around for our family and when she spotted us she smiled and waved. I LOVE when little kids smile and wave from presentations. She also blew kisses to each of us.

The ceremony lasted about 30 minutes. Her teacher Kylie from last year sang a song called Let them Be Little that had me sobbing (I feel my feelings and I will probably feel your feelings too).



Then they were given diplomas.


Here she is hugging her first teacher, Teacher Gwen. These two have a very special friendship and I am sure it was hard for Gwen to say"Goodbye." I know it was difficult for Cordelia. Although we see Gwen regularly and it wasn't really a goodbye.


Then the class sang the goodbye song that they sing every day at school (and I cried some more). And then preschool was over. Kindergarten now.
Also, crying again as I write this.

Five and a Half

Yesterday Cordelia turned five and a half. Family tradition now requires us to not only remember this date, but to celebrate with a half of a birthday cake. We spent the day normally, well normal in that we had to make an "emergency" (not an emergency) vet visit to deal with the sudden onset of a raging UTI for Miss Bumblebee who gets one each spring like clockwork.

Once Bumblebee was made comfortable with antibiotics and anti inflammatory meds we proceeded as normal. Our afternoon was spent lounging around the house---well, I did some laundry and cleaning. Mostly though we were just relaxed and casual. Cordelia did tell everyone we encountered yesterday that it was her half birthday, even though I reminded her that most people don't celebrate half birthdays.

Later we had pizza with my parents and my brother Sam. We took a walk along the river and of course we had half a birthday cake. The day was beautiful. Obligations were few. It was lovely.

A few notes about Cordelia at five and a half:

-She is searching for greater independence and Eric and I are scrambling to grow with her.

-She is very thoughtful. When she is given something independently from her sister she always asks for one for her sister.

-Girl feels emotions fully. I know she gets that from me. On the positive end she is so very loving and giving. On the other end she is easily frustrated. Mostly though she is just a deep feeler. I do believe that this will end up being one of her greatest gifts and one of her greatest burdens.

-She is very smart. Loves math and science. Astronomy has been a constant fascination. She is able to add and subtract easily in her head and she can add and subtract large numbers on paper. 

-I am going to call it, she is a lefty! We have long suspected that she was left handed, but only in the past few months has it become apparent.

-She is funny! Always happy to crack a weird joke. She revels in being the source of laughter.

-She is such a gift to our family.

Impressions

Before we even dive in I just want to warn you that unless there is a preexisting condition I don't know about you are probably not: drunk, suffering from vertigo, just off of a tilt-a-whirl, suffering from some sort of vision condition. Instead you are looking at the blurry and grainy photos of a four year old (taken before she was five). Long ago we gave Cordelia a camera made for young kids. The photo quality was very poor and we have since upgraded her to a better quality cheap camera, but I wanted to share a few of the hundreds of photos she took. Many of the photos are pretty hard to decipher or at very best unclear. I think the takeaway from this is just the focus...her life and her perspective. I am also omitting all of the photos she took of my art, she went through the whole house and took pics of any paintings she found by me.


Our stove


Light above the couch in the living room


Eric at the window


School art from last year


Eric kissing Elise


Elise


Me


One of us took a photo of Cordelia


Toys tucked in for a nap.


Me putting on a record while Bumblebee sleeps.


Sparkling lights on a walk caught her eye.


Street view, such a low perspective...it is easy to forget how small children are.


Me x 2


Elise's feet


View from our front window.

Cordelia Turns Five

Here it is. Today she turns five. Seems like a big milestone, she is shrugging off the last bit of babyhood and taking that first bold step into full blown childhood. How did we get here? Oh my how time has flown by with this amazing little girl. And, she is so much more than a little girl. Cordelia is so very bright. She is reading and writing and making art. She is full of unbridled passion which is mostly a fantastic trait; she is learning how to make that passion work for her and trying her hardest to harness those big feelings she has.



Cordelia is so very loving. I seriously don't know a sweeter spirit. She loves very deeply and she will let you know it. Most days she tells me no fewer than 50 times how thankful she is to be my daughter or how lucky she is to have such a great family. She does this with everyone she loves! We certainly didn't train her to be this way, it's just Cordelia.

She is so funny. So funny. Her quirky sense of humor is always making us laugh. Oh, and her laugh is just this magical sound that can bring a smile to the most somber of faces.

She loves fashion and plans outfits for each and every day.

Cordelia is an amazing big sister. She always works to include Elise, holding her hand, teaching her sister. I often sit back in wonder at these two sisters and thank the heavens for this sweet bond that is developing.

Cordelia turned us into parents and every single day that has passed since the moment she has entered this world has been a gift to us. We love her completely, all that she is.Happy birthday to our big five year old!

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We actually celebrated her birthday on Saturday with a party for friends. The first friends on her list were her three preschool teachers who were so very kind to show up on their day off! She also invited many friends that she has acquired over the five years she has been on this planet. Since we can never really gauge how big these things will be (one kid + parent(s) + siblings) we decided to keep it rather mellow. We put out all of the fun stuff we had and planned one organized activity. The result was no fuss and a nice fall afternoon.

 We watched as she played and enjoyed a crazy backyard party. She did manage two dresses for one party.


Waiting for the guests to arrive.


Eric made a sign to keep kids off of the stairs and Cordelia proudly walked each guest by the sign.


She requested a purple cake and I was happy to oblige.


Blowing out her candle


Cutting the cake


Cake


Sarah is awesome and the world should know this.


Cordelia with the pinata.


Elise taking a whack at the pinata.


My father and our good friend/super amazing human/ borrowed sister Laura.


My mother and Elise. My mom helped with Elise for the whole party, so I could hostess more easily...not that she had a choice, Elise (and Cordelia) adores my mother!


Eric


My dad with the girls. He is an amazing grandfather.


Cordelia and  Sadie


Later today the family will be over to celebrate with her favorite meal vegan pigs in a blanket. Should be a fantastic day for a wonderful girl.