J Cooper Photography

Well she’s turning FIVE whether I like it or not.  I begged and pleaded but she just grinned at me and said, “you can’t stop me.”  So tomorrow is the day….five.  It sounds so old doesn’t it?

She is an absolute HOOT this little one.  She’s dramatic, silly, and very affectionate…always ready with a hug and always asking for a snuggle.  She’s adventurous, quick on her feet, and about as GIRLY as they come.  She’s our resident princess…loves pink, pink, pink…and anything that sparkles (particularly lip gloss, eye shadow, and glue).  She loves dresses and tights…funky prints…and fancy shoes.  She’s complex.  She’s mischievous and sly and sometimes down right naughty.  But when she wants to melt you heart she has the sweetest puppy dog eyes.  Dare I say she’s manipulative?  She is.  And she’s funny, and smart, and lovable too.

I think it’s hard to be stuck in the middle…shadowed by a successful older sister and adorably cute younger brother.  But she has handled the transition with grace (mostly) and a confidence that defies her almost 5 years.  This past year has been filled with “me too” moments as she has worked diligently to master all the things A can do….kicking the soccer ball, writing her letters, “reading”, and learning her violin songs.  The other day I came downstairs to a new masterpiece laid out on the kitchen table.  A pretty little girl in a dress…and transcribed in broken words across the bottom…”I love you because…”  When did my baby learn to spell “because”?  How have so many little moments already slipped by?

I have big hopes and dreams for the little girl.  BIG DREAMS.  And I know she has them too.  When I asked her what she wants to be when she grows up she said, “a puppy of course!”  Bewildered I repeated the question…”no really…when you’re all grown up…what do you want to be?”  She replied…”yep.  a puppy….a grown up one!”

I love taking my camera out to document the changes I see in her through the years.  She is always a willing subject for me…she craves the attention and definitely knows how to work the camera.  She’s full of poses and silly games that make me laugh.

If I could just bottle up all those giggles and pull them out on a rainy day….

I love this girl.  I love her sense of style (the more pattern the better right?)…her love of tuna and Cheetos…and her Brooklyn accent.  I love how she scrunches up her nose and throws her head back to laugh with her whole body.  I love that look of stern concentration on her forehead when she is working on a new word or playing her violin.  I love how she gets so excited about play dates, and presents, and anything deemed “fun”.  I love that she loves me.  I love this girl.

I have lots of prayers for my little Jule.  I pray the world can handle her spirit…it can’t be contained.  I pray she never loses her sense of adventure and fun.  When the world gets critical and mean…I pray her sense of humor will guide her and help her to overcome.  I pray that she’ll remain tender hearted.  That she’ll always see to other people’s pain before her own and live out a life of compassion and humility.  I pray that she’ll always wear stripes with polka dots.  I pray God will use her in ways I can’t even imagine…to change the world for Him.  My little girl….my little Jules.

Are you sure you won’t stay 4 forever?  Just one more year?

We love you Birthday Girl…more than you’ll ever know.