Happy 5th Birthday, Greta!

Happy Birthday, you fantastic, fun-loving, free-thinking five-year-old!! Mommy and Daddy love you so much and can hardly believe half a decade has passed with you in our lives. Today we celebrate you!

It seems like only yesterday that Dr. Deering came into our room at 8:00 on a sunny Thursday morning and said that it was time for you to be born. He told Daddy he had time to shower and assured me that the four weeks we had spent in the hospital had made you strong enough to arrive eight weeks early. Two hours and eleven minutes later, we became a family. And now here we are, five years later. Wow. It is so hard for me to fathom all those minutes and days and weeks and years because it honestly seems like I've barely blinked.

In the last year you've grown into an inquisitive and charming little girl. You still love the colors pink and purple and white, and 99% of the time insist on wearing a dress or skirt. You enjoy fancy frills, lipstick, and high heels. You are an excellent student, already reading at a kindergarten level! Daddy and I can't spell out words like i-c-e-c-r-e-a-m or b-o-o-k-s, because you quickly figure out what we're trying to say. The conversations you and I have astound me at times because you ask questions about natural disasters and war and God. And then you'll want to talk about kittens and fairies and flowers. You sure do know how to keep me on my toes. You are serious and sweet and are deeply touched by both sorrow and joy. You wear your heart on your sleeve and in your eyes. You are quick to come to the aide of an injured bug or worm or playground friend.

Your favorite travel game is "I'm thinking of an animal," and you have quickly mastered deductive reasoning, usually guessing correctly after three questions. You humor Lincoln when he plays the game, since you know he thinking of a scuba diver. You'll still ask: "Does it swim in the water? Does it have flippers? Does it wear an oxygen tank and goggles? Is it a scuba diver?!" And then act surprised when he shouts "YES!"

Speaking of your little brother... Lincoln knows how to push your buttons, but you are exceedingly patient with him. You usually understand that he is only two, that he really wants your attention, and that he loves you, so you'll tolerate his hair pulling or his toy-stealing or his intrusions into your bedroom. You share your dress up clothes with him, and seem to understand when he doesn't want to play with princess figurines. You compromise on role play, where he gets to pretend he is Batman and you are a little squirrel, but you're in the same forest and Batman will protect you. You love to dance together, play tag, and hide-and-go-seek. I love watching you create adventures together.

Overall, you've adjusted really well to my return to work and seem to have grown up a little faster. A downside is the ongoing battle over whether your room is "cozy." You insist it isn't and that you should sleep with Daddy and me. When we tried to reward you for staying in your bed all night using a sticker chart and the promise of a gift when you became a good sleeper again, you responded that you'd rather not get another toy if that meant you could snuggle in with us. Again with the reasoning... I guess you're your lawyer-mama's daughter after all! Although, honestly, I don't mind too much when you crawl in for a cuddle. Because I know the day is coming when you won't want to be tucked in or snuggled. If the speed of the last five years is any indication, that day will be here all too soon.

I love you Greta Corleen Merrill -- my peanut, my princess, my Miss Pris! It is a wonderful, wonder-full privilege to be your mom! May all your birthday wishes come true.
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A couple Blackberry photos from this morning before I ran out the door to work. The camera battery is charging and Carey will post some "good" pictures later today -- Rob