It surely can't be!

Pin It I'm trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this little bundle of joy of ours is nine years old.  Without being too cliche, it's a hard one for her Daddy and I to accept.  You see, about 9 3/4 years ago, she was our big surprise.  Finding out we were going to have another baby so soon after having a baby was the shock of our life and it left us speechless and scared.  Kempton was only seven months old when it dawned on me that my symptoms weren't just because I was sick and tired.  It took us a while to wrap our minds around the fact that Kempton would be so tiny while I was out of commission and he would barely be walking and talking when he would become a big brother.  But...Heavenly Father knew what he was doing.  He sent us the sweetest, most delightful, red-headed adorable little package.  She was to become our true middle child, a little piece of heaven to bring her little twinkle into all of our chaos.  This big shock has become a big blessing.  I had never been so stretched as a mother before, having three children in three years was the biggest sacrifice of my life. It was the hardest work of my life.  One that taught me about perseverance, patience, love, and true joy.  It made me a better mother and a better person.  And this is why her growing up is hard to swallow, it's proof that we got through it, even thrived, and are now on the other side.

Here are nine little things I love about our surprise:

1)  Her face.  That tiny little fairy-child face of hers is the cutest thing I've ever seen.  She's literally been called a fairy-child countless of times, from all different people.  Something about it...the dimples, the round rosy cheeks, big smile, tiny solid body, speckled little freckles, and sparkle in her eye makes you think she's literally going to sprout wings and fly around, and use all kinds of fairy dust.  

2)  Her laugh is contagious.  No joke, she laughs all the time.  Wide open mouth with head held back and from the belly.  She isn't afraid to shine her light.  To us as her family, to cousins, to friends, to teachers, to complete strangers.  She just smiles and brightens up the day.  

3)  She's a little mama.  She still loves make believing she's a mommy.  She creates permanent homes for all of her babies, and is devastated if I try to clean up her baby houses.  Whenever I ask her what she wants to be when she grows up she says "A Mom."  It melts my heart to see her nurturing spirit, caring and loving all whom she can "mother."  

4)  She's got "skills"  and is very coordinated.  Anything she puts her mind to, she has the drive and the coordination.  Soccer, basketball, dance,  etc.  She has a competitive spirit and wants to do her best.  With a bunch of spunk thrown in there too.  And all the while with a huge smile on her face, even when the game isn't going her way.  

5)  Brenna is a friend to all.  She has a lot of friends who adore her.  All the years she's been going to school, her teachers have said how much everyone loves Brenna.  She tries really hard to include everyone and even when a friend hurts her feelings, she gives them the benefit of the doubt.  She thinks the best in those she loves.  This year at her parent-teacher conference, her teacher told us that "she want to put little Brenna in her pocket and carry her around with her."  In other words, she is so very likable.  See what I mean about the "fairy-child" effect? haha

 6)  She has a way of turning around any negative situation and making everyone feel happy again.  She's funny, goofy, silly, and makes us giggle all the time.  As parents we find ourselves looking at each other from across the room and laughing together and the adorable and funny things she says and does.

7) I love that she tries to do what's right.  We are always surprised when she gets in trouble, it is really painful for us to discipline her.  It does happen, but it's a rare occasion.  She has a strong conscious that helps guide her along in life.  This is very apparent when she feels remorse for a mistake she's made.  When she was little, we couldn't even look at her wrong or she would run away to her room and cry.  

8)  I love that she loves school and loves to learn.  She is a diligent student and tried her best.    

9)  She is a great receiver.  I know this sounds funny, but if you've ever given her a gift then you have witnessed her over-the-top reaction.  She truly loves everything.  You should have seen her open her party gifts yesterday.  

It is a pleasure to be her Mama.  She makes everything right in the world.  Happy birthday to our Rosy!