Mini Me Hits 7!

This week it's a fun one to write.  My middle baby is getting ready to turn seven on Sunday.  I can hardly believe seven years have passed.  This has truly been a fun year for her and as a Mom, a fun one to watch.  My parents and I both have made the comment, "boy this is Alex's year."  That truly does sum it up. Let me see if I can describe it adequately.

She started the school year as a first grader. So we were no longer the new kid on the block which automatically increased her confidence level.  Our school, in my mind, does it right. They combine the K/1 and 2/3 grades so the 1st and 3rd graders really get a chance to know their teachers and stand out as leaders in class.  Well that is exactly what Alex has done this year.  She is no longer waiting to be called on, she is asking questions, helping out without being asked, being a leader, a great friend, you name it.  And that's just what her teachers are saying.  I won't even go into how great she is going reading wise and just generally in school. I mean anyone that can pick up one of Rick's dry economics books and read a few chapters impresses the socks off of me.  Truly what she can read and retain is amazing for her age.  I would like to say it's all the time I spent working with her.  But I just think it's that big ole brain doing it's work.  Thank goodness she took after Rick, also an early reader and general brainiac.

My girl also kicked off the year by loosing a bunch of teeth. For little kids, this is one of the biggest thrills in life. They are just dying to get their name on the tooth chart at school and to have that tooth fairy pay a visit.  Heck Alex kept a tooth dangling by a string until she got to school.  Her teacher told me that Alex's hand popped up at almost exactly 8:10 one morning to announce her tooth was out.  She was saving that one.  So for most of the beginning of the year she has looked like our personal jack-o-lattern. Too darn cute.  She has loved that.

Anyone remember my shy little Alex?  I barely do.  She has definitely come out of that shell and stomped on the pieces.  I can still remember my Dad's concern over how shy she was.  Or when I would take her out in the stroller only to have her scream every time someone would dare smile at her because she was so darn cute.  Now she is outgoing, charming, LOUD, and just generally a great person to be around.  Can you tell I'm crazy about this kid. 

So I've told you about the wonderful things you see on a daily basis but what I hold true to my heart is what not everyone gets to see...like when she gets up really early in the morning before everyone else and comes to sit up on the counter to tell me a story about the day she forgot about.  Or when she can tell that I have had enough and she will clean up Jess' room better than I would myself just to put a smile on my face.  How about Gabby's first year in kinder which was absolutely nightmarishly crazy and Alex would run into the girls bathroom to grab me some toilet paper to wipes my eyes and then look up at me with those great big blues and say, "Mom you look like you could use a mocha from the favorite coffee shop."

I'm extra sensitive with my little Alex.  She is the dreaded middle child, the one that gets forgotten.  Well, not on my watch.  She is my little blue eyed sunshine.  I get such a smile on my face when I hear those little footsteps coming down the hall in the morning.  So for my angel I wish that this year be the beginning of how all her years will go.  I hope she will continue to blossom and find her voice.  To know how crazy proud we are of her and how much we love her. 

Happy birthday my sweet Alexandra Rose.