four point five

Celebrating a half birthday is not everyone’s bag, but it is ours.  In fact, minus the party and the presents, the lead up to it is just as grand as a real birthday.  We talk about it.  We plan.  We get excited.  This year, she thought she’d tell her friends and teacher at school, and she quickly learned that not every family (read: nobody else) celebrates this particular milestone.  Too bad for them, I say.  😉

My girl.  Smart, sweet and sassy.  And by sassy, I mean SASSY. Oh so sassy.  But, lucky for us, she is also lovely and kind and generous. She is definitely coming into her own.  And I adore who’s she’s becoming.

In the last 6 months Jaia has become more confident and sure of herself.  She is eager to absorb everything she can.  She’s learning to read, and now that’s she’s begun be able to string letters together, she wants to read everything herself.  Everything.

She’s also super interested in learning French.  In September when she heads back to school for Senior Kindergarten, she’ll be taught 100% in French.  She doesn’t understand much yet, but she recognizes it.  Dan and I have been using French to communicate in front of her  for a while now (if we don’t want her to know what we’re saying), but lately she’s been busting us with a “are you and daddy telling secrets in French again?”  We are definitely going to have to brush up on our Spanish.  Thankfully she’s not watching Dora anymore or we’d be screwed.

Thursday, on Jaia’s half birthday, two big things happened to her (and to me).

1)  Soccer!  Jaia had her first soccer practice.  She’s been in soccer a few times before now, but it was a very much geared at little kids.  Now though, it is more serious.  Kids on her team have definite skills and could easily out play me (ok, that wouldn’t be so tough).  And she devoured the challenge.  Intimidated at first, she came off that field after her first real game, beaming.

2)  More monumental than the soccer game, was that today was Jaia’s last day of kindergarten.  No longer the littlest kid in school (maybe not littlest, but definitely the youngest), Jaia finished up her first year of school like a trooper.  She started as a shy, timid little lady and walked out of there with friends she made on her own, with new life skills she learned completely independent of her parents and with memories that will last forever.  I couldn’t be more proud.  She did it.  She made it through and she loved every second.

Happy half  birthday, my not so little one.  I can’t wait to see what the next 6 months brings our way.  Less sassiness, perhaps?  Maybe?  Please?