>And Now You Are Five
>Just when I thought you couldn’t possibly get any more precious than you were at three?
At four, your heart was as big as an ocean. You cried each time your brother got in trouble, because you didn’t want him to be sad. You continued to idolize your older sisters. You decided your father was the world’s best playmate. You constantly reminded me that you would love me forever and ever. You were obsessed with not hurting anyone’s (or any thing’s) feelings, and were reluctant to choose favorites, for fear of upsetting whatever wasn’t chosen. You sought out children who were crying or hurt or scared and you hugged them and patted them and sat beside them until they felt better. Your manners were impeccable. You cared for your dolls and toys with great devotion. You were a snuggler, a unifier, a true and loyal friend and daughter, and an all-around great girl.
At four, your verbal skills continued to blow our minds. Your ease with big words and colloquialisms (and on one very memorable occasion, the mother of all curse words) astounded me. Your father and I continually laughed with delight (and occasionally cringed with chagrin) at your many, many attempts to figure this big world out. Your curiosity was insatiable.
While you were four, I opted to home school you instead of sending you to preschool and despite others’ concerns, you flourished. You began reading. You learned to count to 100. You revealed yourself as an ace speller, an imaginative storyteller, a talented actress, a budding writer, a future pundit, a pony rider, and an artist… of sorts. And you told your first lie. We’ll let that one go.
At four, your social world expanded. You began having friends over without their mothers in tow (which ended up being more work than I had imagined). Before your friends arrived, you’d spent hours planning out the fun you’d have with them. You and your five-days-younger next-door-neighbor, formerly oblivious to each others’ existence, began spending hours playing together, and I began wishing for the money to have a gate installed in the fence between our yards.
But your best friend still is unquestionably your brother. He is your partner in crime, be it morning, noon, or night. He follows you everywhere you go and you have kindly invented games that the two of you can play together. You are his teacher, his protector and his role model. The two of you share hugs many times a day, and each time it happens, my heart bursts with love for both of you.
Four was your last full year here at home with me. I’ve loved every single minute that I’ve had you here. I’ve tried to make the most of each day we’ve spent together and I don’t regret for one moment keeping you home for so long. In some ways, I think you taught me more than I taught you. We’ve had so much fun together that I’d like to have you around even longer, but it’s becoming clear that you’re ready to widen your horizons now (at least a little bit), and I’ve got to let you practice flying, even though it breaks my heart to do it.
Because all of a sudden, now you are five.
Now you are five and your legs are longer. Your face is thinner. You run faster and you know many, many more words. You ask more questions and you know more answers.
Now you are five, and I couldn’t be prouder of you, or more grateful to call you my daughter.
Happy birthday, Punky. I’m going to do everything I can to make five your best year yet.
>happy birthday punky. i hope your day was wonderful. You have a blessed new year..
>Happy Birthday Punky!Her birthday dress is gorgeous! Is the birthday cake and balloons cross-stitched?That scrunchy face smile is so universal. I have a few gazillion pictures of my son making that same face.
>Happy Birthday, Punky!!
>Happy Birthday Punky! She has such great expressions! What a doll …
>She’s beautiful. Happy Birthday Punky! :]
>One of the very best things about homeschooling my kids is that they are best friends as adults. If you can find a copy of the out-of-print book, “Better Than School” by Nancy Wallace, you will be utterly charmed by the descriptions of a brother and sister and the imaginative games they play together. Well worth the effort to locate a copy.
>That was so sweet. I love to see parents writing about how hard it is to let go of your kids’ baby years. I have trouble in that area, being so attached to my babies that it tears me apart to think about kindergarten. But you are encouraging! I love knowing that each year gets better and better for you, so it’s not so sad to leave one year behind for the next. This is so encouraging!Happy 5th birthday Punky!
>Please tell Punky Happy Birthday from the Watts’ Family in Texas. That is a very sweet post. They sure do grow up fast! Have a great week!Many Blessings,Amanda
>What a sweet letter to a very sweet girl. 🙂 Happy birthday!
>okay, kleenex alert!! that was the most precious post. i wish i had taken the time to remember these little details along the way. remembering and telling. such important treasures. happy birthday (to you, you know, the one who did all the work!!) to both of you. many happy days to follow.
>She looks so much like you! Happy Birthday to your sweet girl!
>What a touching post!! Oh I wish my mother had done something like this — I will definitely want to document EVERYTHING that my children do! She is so precious, I just want to squeeze those cheeks! And that black and white photo so resembles YOU in your blog title!HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUNKY!
>What a sweet post for a beautiful girl. Happy Birthday to your girl!
>Oh my goodness she is a doll!Steph
>And, now I’m tearing up because my girl is five now too and I didn’t get the year you had with yours. I sure regret that. Happy Birthday, Punky and great photos, L.
>By the way, I can’t login using my WP account for some reason, so that comment was from Steph at CattywampusLife!
>Five already ? My goodness. What a beauty . She looks like you.
>Happy 5th Birthday wishes to Punky!!!! p.s. love all the photos 🙂
>Beautiful!
>happiest of happy birthdays so far to you, Punky!Lindsay, I love, love, love these posts you write. thanks for letting us watch your girl grow this past year! my oldest is 3.5 and some days, I want to bottle her and all her 3-ness up to look at forever. because before I know it, she’ll be 5, 9, 18. it’s awesome and scary and so dang fast.keep writing it all down! you’re a great momma to those munchkins 🙂
>Oh my stars!! I teared up reading this! Happy Birthday Punky!!
>What a sweet and tender post. You do have a way with words, either making me laugh or making me cry. And your daughter is precious beyond words. Happy birthday Punky!
>HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUNKY! You rock and so does your Mommy. Five will be great!
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>What a beautiful little girl she is… the photos are amazing.Enjoy this next year, five was one of my favorite ages with my (now) teenager.Kay
>I totally thought you were gonna say you’re pregnant with baby #5. 🙂
>Punky’s a doll, and it’s obvious her parents have busted their tails to provide the best possible environment for Punky and Bruiser to grow and flourish in.And it’s working. Happy Birthday Punky!
>happy birthday punky – I didn’t realize that our girls were so close in age. Pumpkinpie is only a couple of weeks away from 5 as well.
>How precious…she is beautiful. It does go by too quickly. Enjoy her years.
>she is so precious! I can’t wait to have my daughter 🙂 It’s amazing how time flies, you feel like you’ll be pregnant forever, and then all of a sudden they’re like grown ups
>Happy Birthday to your daughter.She is adorable.
>My daughter turned five this weekend as well. I never thought it would be such a dramatic birthday but wow – it was!! Its amazing.
>Delurking to wish Punky (and you) a very Happy 5th, going on 6th, year!!!
>Have a wonderful 5th Birthday Punky!
>Happy Birthday to your completely adorable 5 year old!
>Hi. I'm new here 😀 I found your link on another blog. Your daughter is absolutely gorgeous! I love the fact that you call her Punky. My mom nicknamed me Punky and still calls me Punk, Punks and Punky—I'm twenty-seven. I actually wrote about it awhile back after reading your blog for the first time. Love your stuff!