6 Years Old!?

 

I feel nostalgic on birthdays. I told myself I was going to look back for a cute baby picture of Reagan, and ended up spending 1 1/2 hrs. reminiscing over photos, and crying. Yes, crying. Partially because she was the most beautiful little girl and I feel so blessed to have her, most mostly because she will never be that young again. I swear, there were some pictures I had never seen before.
Like this one…
Who is that darling girl? And can I eat her up?
 

And this one…
oh, I recognize that smirky smile

And who wouldn’t want to wipe this bum?

Looking at all of the pictures made me wish I could relive all of those years again. And yes, partly because things were easier.
Each year this girl gets older I have to step up my game and get tougher. She keeps me on my toes… on the very tippy top of my toes…. always!
Is it a female thing?
In fact, I sometimes wonder if I am parenting her at all, or if I am merely walking along side her. Reagan knows exactly what she wants and nothing I say or do will EVER change her mind. That’s wrong… things I say actually do change her mind… to the opposite. For example: say Reagan puts on a dress for school and I say “I really like that dress on you”, she will immediately go change into something else. Or, when she said how much she loved dancing and I said, “You are a good dancer, I think you should join dancing again,” she suddenly hated to dance. Or, when I decorated her room with pink and purple because, “I thought little girls loved pink and purple,” and she says “I hate those colors, I only like dark colors like black.”
I have learned to be very carful with my words, and I try not to share my opinion with her. Everything has to be “her” choice.
So, the best parenting I do is to keep her fed, clothed, and groomed (and sometimes I can’t even control those things – see picture below). This either makes me sound like the worst mom on earth, or her the most stubborn child. Both may be true.

Here is a picture of Reagan showcasing her style of dress. She has a green shirt, striped sweater, flower headband, flower/striped skirt, white leggings, and polka-dot socks, with jellies… in Winter. She features outfits like this every day. I can only imagine what the staff at school think. Especially when it’s 20 degrees outside and I am fighting with a crying girl in the parking lot who refused to put a coat on. 

I signed the boys up for Basketball recently and asked Reagan if she wanted to play also. “No, I want to do cheerleading” she said. Okay? It’s been a few weeks and she is still enjoying it and (contrary to her past record) actually enjoys participating. I think a huge reason is that Shawn and I aren’t fussing about it. I know the second I ask her to practice her cheers at home, or show her Nana on Skype, she will quit. Suddenly it will no longer be “HER” idea and she will change her mind.

I know… eggshells folks!

She is a very good girl, who just so happens to be extremely persistent and determined.
EXTREMELY persistent and determined! oh, did I just say that? I wanted to make sure you all heard.

Reagan excels at anything she puts her mind to. I feel so proud to be raising her because I know she will be successful in life… in anything… anything she wants.
Right now she still wants to be a Doctor, that hasn’t changed in a couple years. Although, after a recent illness I had, I’m skeptical at whether or not she will actually be a good Doctor. I was really sick, so sick I couldn’t even get up and drive Reagan to school, so I kept her home… thinking she would be my helper around the house. I was lying on the couch and she was sitting next to me coloring. “Reagan?” I said, “I think what would help Mommy feel better is if there was more sunlight in the house, will you open all of the blinds for me, please?” Without even stopping her crayon from coloring she says, “No. You know how to walk, you can open the windows yourself.” Perhaps she’s better suited as a research Doctor who just orders other people around? And, for the record, she got a good lesson after that comment and eventually did open the windows for me.

This sassy girl is always striking a pose. I just love her to death! 

Something else about Reagan… she is neglected. Trust me, I give her everything I have! Every single ounce of energy that I have, plus the energy reserves that are stored in the emergency fund of my brain… I give them all to her. But it’s not enough. She requires more, and therefore, I fear she feels neglected. I pick her up from school instead of allow her to ride the bus specifically so her and I have 30 minutes of alone time before the boys get home. Her and I color, read, talk, talk, talk, talk, and talk. Then, it’s not uncommon to hear her cry latter that afternoon about not being able to spend time with me. Um, what? I need to clone myself, that’s what!

This beautiful girl is the greatest companion (for those of you who have energy left). If you are ever lonely, all you need is a dose of Reagan. She is quite the conversationalist, and has been known to even talk to herself in her room.
She climbs into bed with me in the morning and cuddles all over me, “I love you Mommy, so much!” Her hugs are as strong as a bears, and they freeze time and make you feel like the most important thing at that moment. You are! I am! To Reagan, I am the most important thing at each and every moment of her life, and for that I feel a great amount of pressure, and pleasure.
I feel proud to have a daughter with such an array of characteristics. She is truly incredible. She is witty, observant, intelligent, talented, crafty, sensitive, fun.
But of all her traits, the greatest is that she forces the best out of me. There is no slacking on the job with this child! I have been forced to be a better listener, comforter, encourager, supporter, caregiver, and mother.

Thank you Reagan, for teaching me how to be your mother.  I’ve loved you for 6 years and I will love you for all eternity more!
Love, your Mommy

On her birthday she brought cookies and milk to school. Shawn took some time off of work and we were able to join her for lunch at school and sang “Happy Birthday” with the whole cafeteria. She came home from school to find the house decorated with pink (which is when I was informed that her favorite color was black).
For dinner she chose Taco Bell and ordered nachos.
She doesn’t like cake, so we had a pyramid of brownies instead.


We went to cheerleading practice, then headed to her favorite place on Earth,
Chuck-E-Cheese….

Kennedy had fun riding these guys over and over,
 

Opening gifts,
 

And a big family birthday hug from her brothers and sister (sort of)

We tried to make this girl feel as special as humanly possible on January 8th. A smile never left her face the entire day. I think we succeeded.
Perhaps she doesn’t feel so neglected anymore.

Happy Birthday Reagan!!