Party time for small girls

Well, today she turned six. Looking back over the past six years it all seems a bit of a blur really. So much happened. We were surprised with our little girl at 13h50 on a Tuesday afternoon six years ago, and in the blur of anaesthetics and adrenalin, life with Jessica started. So many firsts. First cuddles, first feed, first nappy change, first panic as she was placed in an incubator, first drive home in the car (slowly). Then it was finding out how to care for her: first bath (we missed the hospital lesson), first sleepless night. And so it progressed. Loved the first smile. Then gurgle, then tooth (ow!), word, followed by rolling, pushups, food, and finally crawling, standing and walking.

Ja, ja, you say. But it was all OUR first time. First soft blonde curl was great too :) as we waited a long time for hair!

And now we have a small girl who lost her first tooth (and is growing her first big tooth, bottom left) this year, received her first electric toothbrush (thanks Granny and Grandad), and has a smile to melt mountains.

Some of my favourite things about Jessica?  She loves licking out mixing bowls, always has a music cd on, is vivacious and friendly, is developing a great sense of humour and loves joking around. She's got a vivid imagination too and plays for hours making up stories with her lego and cars. She can throw her arms around you and make you feel like a million dollars. She loves hanging out with her brother, and when you take her to the sea, you need to have a full change of clothing, 'cos just a glimpse and she's in at least thigh deep! Even in winter...

I also love it when she starts off saying something prefixed with the words: "Mommy, did you know..."

Parenting her? I find it both wonderful and hard. Sometimes very hard, as she pushes boundaries finding herself, and checking what is permissible. Affirming my parental role and security. She questions me all the time. I am learning that life is not black and white, but technicolour when it comes to this small girl.

Anyway, let me not soliloquise too long. We celebrated her birthday with a bird party with a photobooth (Jessica took most of these pics) and bird activities (hunt the worm etc). Loved it!  Then today we had tea and cake and Dad home for the afternoon.

Happy birthday, my little girl with your strawberry detangler spray that you love on your bedsite table, and your kitties snuggled in amongst the many cuddly toys at the end of the bed. May you grow up even more beautiful on the inside than you are on the outside, and may this year be a year of settling down and finding special friendships. May you realise how much you are loved not only by us, but by Jesus, and may you experience the fun and adventure of being loved so radically. I love you. Mum

Madame's invite:

And then here is the evidence from the actual party... bird cake (chocolate ice cream of course), photobooth and in keeping with the "b" theme, balloons that were buoyant!

Friends Christy, Emma, Constanza, Isabella, Beth and Siena all made the day so much fun and spoilt Jessica with lovely gifts. Thank you!