Addison Sophia: 6 Years

Dear Addison:

I can't believe I just wrote 6 years. There is no way that you are actually six years old already. You are still my little girl. But now you are six, a big sister, a kindergartner. Whether you are my little baby or this six year old you now, you were, are, and have always been amazing.

This has been a busy year for you. You went from being in pre-k to kindergarten. You moved into an even bigger room in our house. You tried dance class. You found out you were becoming a big sister twice over. You lost several teeth. And quiet frankly you are just growing up to be such an awesome little girl.

The year definitely didn't start out so great since you had to get your kindergarten shots right after your birthday even though you weren't starting kindergarten yet. Those definitely weren't fun but you were tough and you got through it like a champ. I'm always so proud of how well you will do in moments like that. But you are a tough kid.

Definitely more exciting was losing your first tooth. We had gone to the dentist and they told me you had some loose teeth but it wasn't until months later that while we were making dinner one night, your tooth came out. So you got your first visit to the tooth fairy and that was definitely exciting. Since then of course you have been visited by the tooth fairy three more times having loss your second front bottom tooth and your two top front teeth. You definitely took the cake with cute in your school picture with two missing front teeth. They are already growing so fast and you are already ready to lose more teeth. You like to tell your brother that he isn't old enough but you are and that's why you are losing your teeth.

Your preschool graduation was emotional but also very exciting. It was hard to believe that you were already done with two years of preschool and ready to move on to kindergarten. But you were also so ready. You wanted to start kindergarten right away even though you weren't sure about the fact that you had to start at a whole new school. I worried about you and how you would do away from the school you had grown used to and the friends you had developed. But of course I didn't need to. By the time you left preschool you were completely off your IEP, you were reading and writing and doing basic math. You were definitely more than ready for the challenge of kindergarten and not ready for the boredom of summer, although you did grow to love sleeping each morning.

I was definitely more emotional about you starting kindergarten than you were. You were just ready by the time the school year started. You told me that you were ready to make new friends and were excited to start especially since we could see the school and I spent so much time talking to you about how awesome school was going to be. I think you were definitely nervous starting school but you have adapted quickly, made lots of friends and are loving school.

We went to the beach again this year and you have come so far in your fear of the water. You were all about playing in the ocean and jumping in the waves. You floated in an inner tube and had a great time. I was really proud of you and all your water play time. You even did quite a bit of playing in the pool and over the course of the summer you started learning to trust a lifejacket while in a pool. You aren't swimming on your own yet but you will be there in no time with a few swimming lessons.

In the last few months you have taken on more responsibility around the house in the form of chores. You have been wanting to help more and we have talked more about chores you can do and the benefits of working for your money. You have definitely enjoyed getting an allowance and have been saving your money for a toy. You have really done a great job helping out around the house and taking on a little more responsibility.

We are really proud of you. You are an amazing little girl and have come so far in such a short amount of time. You are beautiful and energetic. You are funny and bring so much to this world. You are the one who made me a mom and I can't imagine the world without you in it. Always remember how beautiful and smart and amazing you are. I love you so much.

Love, Mama