Notes on 6

Six years ago today, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. We were still hours away from greeting our girl, and hadn't yet decided on her name. We were on the way to the hospital when we settled on Juliet Rose.

I blinked and it is her sixth birthday, and she has come to define her name with joy and exuberance. Delight and curiosity. Humor and love. And I am so thankful. She crawled into bed with us this morning, ready to request her birthday breakfast (crepes*). She was so into the snuggling, it didn't occur to her that presents were waiting for her downstairs. When I asked if she was interested in presents, she almost fell off the bed with excitement. And she said 'Thank you!' looking directly in my eyes after opening each gift, with a face shining with genuine gratitude. Where does this sweetness come from?

Other notes on 6:
- As always, if she's thinking it, she's saying it. However, now in the in-between times our house is filled with song. It might be humming or actual singing. It might be Taylor Swift, show tunes, or Christmas carols. But there is always music in her mind, and it showers out of her like a rainbow.
- Also not new but still delightful - there is no walking. There is skipping and running and hopping and loping. There is crawling and dragging and sliding. But walking is unheard of.
- There are intelligent questions and suggestions. She will stop to read the directions before playing with a new toy. She will tell me when something looks unsafe.
- She is more adventurous than ever. With the first blizzard last week (actually, that one was just a vanilla snow storm - today is an actual blizzard), she hopped right on a snow saucer and flew down our enormous hill. I can count on one hand the number of times she has sledded by herself previously in her entire life. I was amazed.
- She can focus for long stretches now - and not just in front of the TV. She will build elaborate structures with Lincoln Logs and vignettes with her pocket-sized toys. She will produce walls full of art for hours at a time.
- She wants to chew life up and spit it out from the moment she wakes up til the moment she falls unconscious at a still-early hour. (We let her stay up til 8pm for Super Bowl (half time anyway), and she was in the fetal position on the sofa, almost weeping with exhaustion.)
- She feels more comfortable in her own skin. She feels pride that she's a popular member of her class at school, and will actively try to assert her equality with K, saying things like, "Don't you think we need a dog like that?" or something else she is certain K will agree to. She'll respond with a smile and a polite, "Thank you!" to adults who compliment her.
-Testing her boundaries goes only as far as using the word 'fart' with a devilish smile.

This is just a perfect, easy, sweet age. Happy Birthday, big girl!

*Crepes - from Alton Brown
1C AP flour
2 Eggs
1/2 C Milk
1/2 C Water
1/4 tsp Salt
2 TBSP Unsalted butter, melted

In a blender, mix eggs and flour. Gradually add in the milk and water while the blender is running. Add the salt and melted butter.

Heat a non-stick or lightly oiled frying pan on medium-high. Pour/scoop batter into skillet, a scant 1/4C per crepe, and swirl in a circular motion to spread the batter thinly and evenly. Cook 2 minutes and flip. Cook the second side for 15-30 seconds more. Serve hot with jelly and powdered sugar. They freeze well - store in gallon freezer bags with wax paper in between.