Happy birthday, Angel Baby.

Five years ago today, we found out our first child was a girl. She was born, you see, and we hadn't found out beforehand per my request. Okay, mandate.
She started preschool with a burgundy hand-me-down backpack, but had to have "a pretty one" by October. They were on sale anyway. She's learned the sounds the letters make and how to spell her name. She can count up to 100 by ones and tens, and can do some addition in her head (sums to 8). She sacrificed the last night on the top bunk to her little brother and has shared countless cookies with her little sister.
Today her favorite things were eating her cupcakes, the little beanie dog her dad got on the emergency dog food/milk/gift run to the grocery store, and the trip to the park.
She left the Backyardigans to help me get the laundry off the line, then later set the table without being asked. She knows chores need to get done, even on birthdays.

Happy birthday, Madeleine.