i thought it was the 28th.

all day.
i spent all day long thinking about how it's the 28th of september and i need to tell stella who she is today ...
because that's what i do on her half birthdays.  4 1/2.  5 1/2.

and then i realized that it was actually the 29th.  and i was already late.  and i didn't have pictures available at that moment.

and hello?  haven't i mentioned that i suck at getting shit done on time before???

so. yeah.  and now.
SIX and A HALF.

holy.  when did i get here?

so my belly.  this is who you are ... today.
and probably tomorrow ...

... you still love pink. 
... like REALLY love pink.
... but mostly just light pink.
... though you decided that sometimes you might just like turquoise.
... but it doesn't matter what color cup/bowl/spoon/pillow you have anymore.  that's SO last year.

... you are a voracious reader, as your teacher would say. 

... which means you read everything.  phone numbers on signs, street symbols, and sometimes crows. 

... your favorite word to write on everything lately?  bromenschenkel.  

... (yes.  i know those last two won't make sense to most people.  sorry.) 

... you can make the baby boy laugh.  just. by. jumping. 

... and i kinda think you feel that's one of your greatest life achievements thus far.

... you are still figuring out the whos of who you are.
... sometimes you yell too much - and i think that's my fault.  i'm trying to be better.
... sometimes you stress too much - and i think that's your daddy's fault.  but he's getting better.

... you love art.
... and music.
... and making people happy.








... you love french onion soup.  and people always have a look of confusion when you order it at the restaurant.  (apparently children aren't supposed to like french onion soup.)
... but at every possible opportunity - you tell people that your mommy actually makes the best french onion soup.  ever.


(you are very bright ... har-dee-har-har.)

... your brain amazes me daily.

... you are a thinker. 

... an observer.

... and a social butterfly.

... in other words?  you are well rounded.

... you love your bff.

... you love your sister. 

... you love your brother.

... you are a family girl.  you just plain love your family.

... you love.  plain and simple.

... you are so confident,

... and unconfident - it's hard to explain.

... i want to do what's right for you - but i'm having a really hard time figuring out what that is lately.

... if i could teach you one thing and you would really truly listen to me? it would be that i want you to love yourself for exactly who you are at this very second.  there's no need to think of who you will become or what you couldshouldwould do ... you only need to love the who that you are. already.
... you are beautiful. 
... inside.
... and out.

i love you as big as the universe.  (and just for the record ... that is really REALLY big.)
xoxo.
mama.