Eight

Dear Carter,

4+4, 10-2, and halfway to 16...how is it possible that you are 8?!

My beautiful girl...

Where has the time gone...

Last weekend we celebrated you...

I can think of no better excuse for a party than celebrating one of my favorite people in the whole wide world...

 

So with 10 of your good buddies we did just that!  With a splash...

And a song... 




And last but not least a movie (because why not go all out)...

One of my favorite moments was looking back in the car at you laughing and having so much fun with your friends... 




And the party didn't stop there...we cut the cake for one last "happy birthday" with your class at school...

And here's the moment where I just want you to know that watching you grow up is one of the loveliest things that has ever happened to me.  I know we have a long way to go together...I'm by no means saying, "You're all grown up" no way no how!  What I am saying is I just love you to pieces.  You are so kind, and helpful and I want you to know that I see you.  I see you looking for ways you can help others and I see you helping your sister and I see you smiling easily and often (you smile is one of my favorite things about you).  You are funny, competitive, hard working, my gosh you are smart and you love Jesus.  You are the apple of our eye Carter Brooke and we couldn't adore you more...

Happy Birthday to the sweetest little 8 year old on planet earth!  (Yes I'm biased and if you ask me every mother should be :)  I'm so glad you're mine.  

XOXO 

Mom

Second Grade

I'm beginning to realize that sounding like a broken record for the next 20 years or so may very well be my destiny.  As we kick off another school year I'm not sure anything has ever been more true than this...

It's so easy to travel through time not noticing subtle changes going on around you and then something gives you reason to pause and you find yourself taking note of legs that must be growing a mile a minute...

Teeth that have begun to fill in where there used to be only gaps....

Little girls growing into little beauties...

And just like that...

Second Grade...

Carter was so excited to meet her teacher Mrs. Miller a few days before school started...

She has several sweet friends in her class again this year which is always a huge plus...

Nothings says "First Day of School" like a head to toe outfit laid out the night before...

With Nate out of town Emme and I did the honors of dropping Carter off the first morning...

We took the obligatory front of the school shot (there's those legs that seem to have grown a mile over the Summer again)...

And par for the course Emme refused to be left out :)

Carter I am so proud of the person you are becoming.  I hope this year you will find the strength to be who you are, but more than that I hope you will begin to love who you are...

You are kind, gracious, smart, and are developing a killer sense of fashion...

You are thoughtful in these amazing ways that I sometimes overlook but I want you to know I see you. I see you helping and loving and doing your best and I just adore you...

I hope you will learn to appreciate who you are and that you will realize much earlier than I did it is impossible to be anyone but your beautiful wonderful self...

Go be great this year my little ray of sunshine!

XOXO Mom