Suddenly Six

How did this happen? Marissa turns six this week. I just can't believe it; it seems as if I just brought her home from the hospital yesterday. I remember her wearing this tiny little pink outfit with little pink mittens on her tiny hands to keep her from scratching her face.

We brought her inside the house in her infant carrier and set it on the kitchen table and then looked at each other and said, "now what do we do?" Both Marty and I were just lost. She rarely cried, she slept a lot and I nursed round the clock. I remember setting the pack-n-play up in the living room and just sitting there staring at her. I was paralyzed by this overwhelming love unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Over the years we've reached many milestones; first tooth, first steps, first words... We moved from crib to big girl bed, Goodnight Moon to Junie B. Jones, diaper bags to tye-dye messenger bags filled with lip gloss, sunglasses and iPods (carried by her not by me) Gone are the days of organized play dates where the toddlers toddle around while the moms gossip and catch up on the latest baby trends; our social calendar now consists of movie playdates, drop off parties and giggling girls hiding in the bedroom talking about the latest and greatest as they prepare for first grade.

So she's suddenly six and I'm suddenly feeling the world spinning wildly as I chase any evidence that she's still a baby girl. I'm not too worried though, she still enjoys a good snuggle with me as we read together, we share our own giggles over pedicures and with each day that she grows more and more into a young lady, I feel her grow closer and closer to me in a special way that only a mother and daugther can understand.

Happy 6th Birthday, Princess. I love you more than chocolate cake...