Chanko: April 2010

Happy B with her new cousin

I think more telling about my experience than my age is the age of my children. My eldest has had another birthday, bringing me back to memories past and how she has changed before my very eyes in the last year. Fewer melt-downs? Definitely. Maturing mind? Certainly. Helpful? Always. I see a definite change in my B. I have often wondered when the change is when younger kids turn into older kids. When they really do know better. Well, I think this is the year. It is incredibly fun to see this change occuring. Makes me practically giddy really. When she began to give us a certain look at times, where she knew what we knew and it was a little secret. Like when her little brother or sister say something not quite right and we all sometimes have a little look between us that silently says, "yes, that's not quite how it is but it's too cute to correct". Yes, she shares in those moments now. Now that she's an older child. I'm not saying she's plum perfect, but I've really seen her change in the last year since her birthday. She's sensing more about which people/friends she can trust and which she truly feels she can be herself with. She's beginning to read chapter books herself when she just can't wait to see what happens and I'm helping someone else at the time. She's really coming along well in piano and actually chose homework over a movie the other day. This is when I feel like I'm doing things right as a mom. (Sure, there's plenty of times when I don't feel that way, but I'm not about to dwell on them and bore you with my faults) I see confidence coming her way, even accepting when she knows/thinks someone is better than her at something (some adults can't even take that). She still loves to stay very active outside and riding her bike after school is excellent down time for her. She loves weddings and got to participate in two this past year. One where she was flower girl in Georgia and most recently at her uncle's wedding where she voluntarily stood in line next to him holding the bride's flower just about the entire reception. She LOVES her new camera she got for her birthday and has taken quite a few pictures and videos in the past couple weeks. She does not like the travelling part but she does love to go to new places and try new things. She caught her first fish (and like 3 more after) this past summer at Mirror Lake. She went inside an LDS temple for the first time (Oquirrh Mtn. Temple Open House). She and I made her first apple pie together. And she has her first family pets (2 mice and 2 fish) and she adores them. We just love our little B!!

Perhaps it's the part of me that misses climbing as much as we do/did out west but I thought I'd take you through the change from baby B to older child B thru climbing (her Daddy will love this post)