Four


A sweet little girl turned four today.


I have a feeling she is the most loved girl in the world.

She is completely adored by all of her brothers. And her father. But especially her mother.

When I was the mother of four boys, my mother tried to tell me that I needed a girl. "I know," I'd say. And then she'd repeat it. "I know," I'd say again. I didn't really know how much I needed a girl until Spenser came along. Oh. My. Goodness. There are no words to describe it. I needed a girl. I needed a girl.

She is the balance to these five boys. She is the most girly-girl in all of the world, but she can wrestle and karate chop and jump on the trampoline like no other.

Before she was born, I expected to bring home a blond-haired, blue-eyed baby girl (resembling her older brothers). In the days leading up to her birth, I would stare down at the pink crib sheet, in her pink room, and envision a blondie girl. I couldn't have been more surprised when she had brown hair and olive skin (and a little brown hair, or "fur" as I'd call it, on her lower back). We couldn't tell the color of her eyes right away, but we could tell that they were different from the moment we looked into them. And we fell in love.

To this day, I walk into her room at night and stare down into her bed with wonder and amazement at her brown hair, although it's more golden now than brown. She is a surprise every single day.

She was born on Election Day. Joe and I stopped to vote on our way to the hospital. We were some of the first ones to vote that morning. In a hurry to the hospital. (She had to be evicted from me because she was quite late and the Army was expecting Joe to return to work the following Monday.)

I found this poem a few months ago, and it hangs on my refrigerator. It reminds me of my awesome responsibility to raise a daughter. (Or sons.)

A careful woman I ought to be
A little girl follows me;
I do not dare to go astray
For fear she'll go the self-same way.

I cannot once escape her eyes;
What're she sees me do, she tries
Like me, she says, she's going to be,
The little girl who follows me.

She thinks that I am good and fine,
Believes in every word of mine;
The base in me she must not see,
The little girl who follows me.

I must remember as I go,
Through summer's sun and winter's snow,
I am building for the years to be,
For a little girl follows me.

~Author Unknown~

Happy birthday, to my favorite girl in the world. Spenser, I love you more today. Tomorrow. To-later. And to-now. ("To-later" and "to-now" are her words.)

Comments

Jane said…
So sweet! How wonderful to have such happy celebrations to distract you on Election Day. Happy Birthday Spenser! Also, how was Halloween?
Katie Jean said…
Aww, Happy Birthday Spenser. This sooo makes me want to have a girl now!!
Sarah and Jack said…
Hapde burfday!
Karyn said…
Happy Birthday to Spenser, she is a real beauty!
Bonus Mom said…
Happy Birthday! Lera, I hope it was filled with as much joy as the first! Girls are so sweet and such a precious gift. Her brothers are truly blessed.
Me and Him said…
Happy Birthday Spenser. I cannot believe you are 4 already!
Jo-Anne said…
That is a beautiful poem.

I remember the day I found out we were having twins. I was 5 months pregnant and going for my routine ultrasound. The doctor said, Congratulations, you're having twins....and one's a boy....but sorry, we can't tell what the other baby is. Already having a boy and knowing another was on the way, I secretly hoped that the other twin would be a girl. I was so happy when I found out it was!

Congratulations on your precious little girls bithday. She is gorgeous!
Happy Birthday Spenser!
Kris said…
Hope you guys had a wonderful day! I really get how you needed a girl, cause I needed a boy when my son came along. I ended up with five girls and three boys. And they're all wonderful!
Suzanne said…
Lera, you made me cry! And you described exactly how I feel about my girlie, too!
Emily said…
Lovely poem!
And H.A.P.P.Y..
B.I.R.T.H.D.A.Y..
S.P.E.N.S.E.R.!.!.
Anonymous said…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL!!!! WE love you. From the kids who want to be your cousins!! ha ha
Amanda Jean said…
Happy Birthday to Spenser! Lera, your post almost made me cry. we do have a huge repsonsibility, as mothers, don't we? I love the poem. to me, having a little girl is a dream come true.
Sonja said…
Happy Birthday!
Stacey said…
Love the poem...very sweet!
Anonymous said…
I hope she (and you all!) had a wonderful birthday!!!

xo.
Diane said…
I am sniffing. Very sweet words about your girl. I know how you feel.
Cindy Is Crafty said…
Happy birthday, Spenser!
Anonymous said…
happy belated birthday!

what a sweet poem.

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