You.

You are just the best second-grader ever. 

When I leave for work in the morning I often hear you doing your home and now Haumana Haumana head banging on your pillow.  And as much as you like to sleep, I often see you pulling your hair back from your beautiful sleepy eyes, creeping down the stairs just so you can get five minutes with me.  These days are precious and you're going so fast. As you are quick to remind me, your half way to driving. 😳

I ask you for so many favors, getting some socks for Henry upstairs, grabbing a shirt for Charlotte, waiting for me to finish doing something so I can help you with your homework. Helping me and (actually truly helping me) with cooking, cleaning, setting the table, doing the dishes, the laundry, fetching things from upstairs, minding the "little kids" while I do something quick... You are organized, thorough, and responsible. You really try to tell the truth. Criticism cuts you deeply, so I am careful not to be too harsh.  I sometimes forget how much you do for me. I often!! Forget that you are not my equal in maturity. You are my baby girl, my first baby love, who teaches me how to be a mom on a field that changes challenges on a daily basis. 

You are quite literally my sunshine. And now you are almost 8..  All you want for your birthday is to get your ears pierced. We are having a pool party.  I am on board but you know who we need to convince!  We asked daddy last night and you know what?  He didn't say yes.... But he didn't say no!!!!