Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Daphne is seven!

Dearest Daphne Belle Minor,

The year you turned seven has been a wild ride!

Last year, when you turned six, I realized you are the youngest person in your class (besides Bryden!), by an entire year. I remember the day you came home so frustrated and upset because everyone else (besides Bryden, lol) could tie her shoes except for you. I told you that your fine motor skills were still developing, a whole year behind everyone else, and we practiced on a thick, robe tie, which made it much easier for you to learn the technique. I hope I always remember the look on your face the first time you tied it, the sheer joy when you exclaimed, "I did it! I did it, Mama!"

Mama, I am this year, or just Mom. I haven't been Mommy for a while, and this year when I dropped you off for second grade, you didn't let me kiss your cheek, because, "You'll embarrass me, Mom."

At the beginning of first grade, Mrs. Flexter held you all to a high standard, and because you were still growing and figuring things out, it was hard for you to finish your papers on time. You were frustrated, and you thought she didn't like you. I went to meet with her around December, and she realized how much effort you were putting in. It wasn't long after that, you flourished! In fact, you are far and away the best reader in your class. There isn't a word you cannot either pronounce or sound out. At church on Transfiguration Sunday, Linda Simmons asked you and the other kids what the word was, and you immediately said it flawlessly. I laughed, so proud of my tiny six-year-old saying "transfiguration" with no problem.

You are a tiny one, too, my dear. Every year of your life, you have fit the clothes of your age. As far as I can tell, this is pretty unusual! You are seven now, and you wear size seven! Your shoes are the smallest in your class, still a size 12. This year was the first year I saw you get attached to your things, and it was a pair of shoes, your Frozen shoes, that you loved dearly. You said to me, "Mom, there is something wrong with my shoe, it's gotten smaller here in the toes." But, it was just that your feet grew! So, we went to get you new shoes and you cried because you couldn't wear the old anymore.

Daphne, you are pretty sentimental about things like that. You worry about your stuffed animals when I tuck you in at night, especially Tsumie, a raccoon Dad (Dave) bought you for your sixth birthday. You always make sure his little face is poking out of the covers so he can "breath" while you snuggle.

Snuggling is still a favorite for you, though you much prefer dance parties, playing Barbies, and playing anything pretend. You have an arsenal of Nerf weapons from Dad (Dave) under your bed, and over this past year, you and I partnered up against him for some wars! We had a lot of fun, even if he seems to always beat us!

This past year, you joined an acting class at the Cultural Society with Miss Carrie, who adores you and said you have a natural talent for it. You had a speaking part in the school Christmas pageant, and you practiced over and over again for the big night. You said it beautifully, just a tiny bit shy on the stage in front of the whole crowd. You also joined soccer this year, and your team was almost entirely made up of your class from school. That was pretty fun for you, the hanging out with your friends part, but you told us you really didn't like playing soccer that much. We could tell, because every time the ball came by you, you skipped around until someone else kicked it. You skipped a lot, and talked a lot! One game, there was a boy on the other team who seemed like he was a bully to the other kids. I saw you go right up to him, but you were so far away, I couldn't hear you. I asked you later, and you told me that he was mad at you. He said you kicked him, and I asked you, "What did you say?" You said, "I told him like you tell me. There is pain in soccer!" I laughed so hard. You're so brave!! My grandpa, Grandpa John, came to watch almost all of your games. We were all SO proud of you when you scored a goal in the final second of your final game! Even if you didn't love soccer, you kept trying, and I'm always so impressed at the way you put effort in and improve every day.

This year was a big year for you, because Dad (Jon) met Diana. In May, they got married, and you were the flower girl in a darling blue dress. You told me so many times how happy you were that Dad met her, that she is the nicest ever, and you are even more happy about the step-brothers you gained. Dad tells me you annoy them every chance you get, which I'm sure you absolutely love. You told me that Dad is happy, which makes you happy. We prayed for God to send Dad his wife, and we are so happy that God answered our prayers with DD, which is what you've nicknamed her. She always pays attention to you, does your nails and your makeup, and makes you feel special when you're with her. I couldn't be happier for all of you!

This year was also a hard year, which was kind of the first time you've ever had to experience that. My mom, your Grandma Joan, found out she has cancer. You didn't even know what cancer was. All you knew was that your mom was crying a lot and praying a lot for grandma. I know that it's been hard on you to see me so upset, and I am sorry for that. But, I also know, that this is real life, and I am grateful that you are learning how to cope with hard things. You're pretty tough, kiddo, and your kisses, and snuggles, and prayers have helped me so many times through the hard stuff.

Another hard time this year happened when I had to go away for school again this summer. This time, I missed your seventh birthday and your first day of second grade. We were all pretty bummed about that, but you handled it beautifully. Dad (Jon) and his family took you to the Balloon Fest to celebrate, after you had Wendy's (your favorite!) and a piece of cake which DD made you. You loved coming back to school, too, I heard from my friends, the other moms. AnnaLyn's mom told me that when asked about the best part of summer, you answered, "Coming back to school today and seeing my friends!"

That was probably true for you at the moment, but we also got to go on a most amazing vacation this summer! Nana and Papa brought us to Maine, and we stayed in a gorgeous beach house with Auntie Kris and Keyshawn, too. You slept on the pullout couch with your Nana, and loved every second of it. She spoiled you with all your favorite treats, including Munchkins! You were brave this year, and went into the very cold ocean all the way to your chest. You wanted to play on the beach every single day, and we mostly did! One day, we went to York and got to see the carnival there. You said that was your favorite, because Dad won you a stuffed animal playing a game and you got your face painted with a pink heart.

Everything is still PINK! You still love all things girly, but you tell me you like chasing the boys at recess at school. I guarantee you're a comedian at school, because you're hilarious at home. You are quick witted, kind, thoughtful, curious, imaginative, and getting prettier every day. Everyone keeps telling me how tall you are getting, and now I see it, too. You are nearly up to my chest!

As always, I am completely taken by you. Nothing in my life could have prepared me for how much I love you. I watch you, so brave, so confident, and I am utterly grateful that God gave me you.

Love,
Mama