Ava Turns 5!

To my sweet girl, Ava.

Ava, everyday you continue to amaze me with your gentle, determined, giving, pensive, laughing spirit. I can’t believe you are turning FIVE already! It seems just yesterday that Daddy and I were going on our final “pregnant walk” with Grandma Pam, with you still hitching a ride in my belly, us talking about your arrival. Before you came into the world, I had no idea my heart could hold so much love in it. You have taught me to love more than you could ever imagine! I ache for you when you hurt, I am beaming for you when you are happy.

I love to hear you sing. You have the sweetest voice! I pray that you use it for God’s glory. You have quite the vibrato when you sing "Once Upon a Dream" from Sleeping Beauty.  You have grown so much in the past year… Where to begin? You have always been a learner, but within the past year, you appetite for learning has increased tenfold. No longer does your world only consist of dolls, pink and princesses. We’ve added dinosaurs, planets and (your brother’s) trains to the list. :)  I love to teach you about new things in the world. I pray that I am relaying the right things to you at the right time.

I was recently watching PBS when something about Pearl Harbor and sunken Japanese submarines came on t.v. You were FASCINATED with this, and wanted to know more about it. I am trying to use discretion with what I tell you and when. Your voracious appetite for knowledge makes it hard to temper the information I relay to you. I pray I relay what God would have me tell you. I am so happy that you’re so curious about the world! I saw a book on the universe on clearance and bought it. You were so eager to look through this book, that when we got home, we cracked it open and spent quite a while looking at the planets, sun, moon and stars. We went through the entire book.  I have so much fun looking at these things with you!

In the past year, you have started to ask more questions of me, as to how things work, what they mean. I am so grateful that you feel comfortable asking me questions. I pray you always feel this comfortable. We’ve been playing the They Might Be Giants “Science” CD in our mini-van lately. It’s amazing how quickly you catch onto new concepts and ideas.

Ms. Barb told me about two weeks ago that you are MORE than ready for Kindergarten. It makes me so proud to see what a great student you are! And how kind and thoughtful you are to/of others. I know you’ve been learning how to read in Miss Ebony’s classroom over the past year. Ms. Trollie says you are the best reader in school! Right now you are in a BEKA program at school. You are sounding out letters, words and blends.  I think in a few months you’ll probably be reading on your own!


The other day, you and I pulled out Daddy's map with state quarters on it.  It's the biggest map of the United States that we have.  You like looking at the map and learning about the states.  You mentioned a few of the state names.  When I asked you how you knew how to read it, you said "I didn't sound it out with my mouth, I sounded out the word in my head."   Wow. 

At school, you seem to enjoy having fun with Tommye-Elyse and Sara. You’ve talked before about the girls being on “one team” and the boys on another. You’ve said that the boys chase the girls’ team on the playground. You seem to be good friends with Jack and Eli, too. All of your friends seem very nice and seem to treat you very well. It’s hard to believe that you’ll be in kindergarten in five short months. It doesn’t seem possible that much time has flown by. I know you will LOVE school, as you love learning.

I love how you quietly come downstairs in the morning, into Mommy and Daddy’s bedroom, and wait for a hug. You still LOVE that “pink blankie” of yours! You are such a good big sister to Liam, too. Whenever he needs help, you always seem to help him out even without being asked. I know he is learning so much from you, by you showing him things and just by him watching you.


You seem to adapt easily wherever you go, occupying yourself with whatever is available and have fun.

I love to watch you on the playground. You are SO FAST! Even Alana’s Daddy commented on how fast you are, that you were running circles around the other kids. To see you running and laughing is one of my favorite things ever.


We recently went to Disney, where everything seemed magical to you. The electric parade at night seemed very special to you, as you waved at each of the princesses as they drove by in their parade float.

You have been taking swim lessons for over a year now, with Miss Meg. You now can swim underwater and come up for a breath, and then swim about 20 feet from the middle of the pool to the edge. You’re our little mermaid! Daddy and I think that we won’t sign up for swim lessons this next session, so you can just have some fun in pools over the summer.

It doesn’t seem like things scare you as much anymore (with exception to dogs). We always talk through things when you are scared, though, and let you know when things “aren’t real”. I also reminded you recently that we can make ourselves scared if we want to, but we can also decide not to be scared. Hopefully over time you won’t be scared of dogs. You come by this honestly, though, as I was scared of them when I was a little girl, too.

You are so giving. It seems like one of your favorite things to do is color pictures and make crafts for your friends and family. You spend many hours at the kitchen table, cutting, taping, gluing, coloring and constructing gifts for people. You are very crafty. You were so anxious for your birthday and to help Mommy with the birthday invitations. You signed "Love, Ava" on the inserts we put in the envelopes with invitations.

You've been counting the days until your birthday, and I think you might believe the world will be a different place when you are 5 and "bigger". I hope it is an empowering, fun world for you!

I am so thankful to be your Mommy. I know Daddy is very thankful to be your Daddy, too. I know Liam is so glad he has such a sweet big sister, too. We are so proud of the sweet , beautiful, pretty, thoughtful person you are. Above all, your beautiful heart shines through.

Daddy and I pray for guidance in raising you to be the person God wants you to be. We pray for your future and all that is in it.

Favorite movie: She-ra (Princess of Power)
Favorite colors: pink, red, blue, orange, yellow, green, black, white :)
Favorite thing to do: Be crafty, cut things out, put stickers on things, make crafts for your friends.
Favorite place to go: Disney World or Monkey Joe’s
Favorite food: Little Caesar’s Crazy Bread.
Favorite book: ?????
Favorite song: “Dog Days Are Over” – Florence and the Machine
Height: ???

Weight: ???

I pray that this year is a fun, exciting new chapter for you, sweetie. Keep that beautiful smile and always look to God for help.

Daddy and I love you with all our hearts!

Happy birthday!

Love,
Mommy, Daddy and Liam