The O'Dell Observer: April 2012

Saturday, April 7, 2012

5 Years with our Lainey

Dear Lainey,

Happy 5th Birthday my sweet girl. My heart is as full as it can be when I think about the joy you have brought to my life the past five years. You have taught me to be a mother. To love in the deepest way possible. To experience a fullness that I did not know existed before you.

This year was a big one for you, little girl. You began to understand just how much the Lord loves you and wants to know you. In response, as we all sat together at the dinner table, you prayed and asked Jesus to come into your heart. It was a moment that your daddy and I began praying for when we found out you were going to join our family and it was a moment I will treasure as long as I live.

This year has been a joy with you Lainey. You are tender and sweet. You are kind to your friends and you love to follow the rules. A couple of years ago, I thought you were going to have a quick temper, but we've worked through those toddler tantrums and now you are just as pleasant as can be. You love your friends but if they are doing an activity that you would rather not, you just do your own thing and are content. I love that about you. You are funny and love to make us laugh...you can cross your eyes and make the silliest faces. You love animals and tell me that you are going to be a veterinarian or a zoo keeper.

You adore your brother and your cousins. Loyalty is one of your best character traits. You would stick by your family no matter what.

I love you so much Lainey girl and am thankful every day that I get to be your mommy.

Here are some pictures of your birthday celebration at Monkey Joes!

We continued our tradition of Lainey choosing her cake theme and mommy freaking out for a few days trying to figure out how to make it : ) Here is my attempt at Ariel. Her mouth was the hardest part and didn't come out just right, but overall I was happy with it. The important thing was that Lainey thought it was perfect!

This is the little boy that Jamie would like to keep Lainey away from! He tells his mom all the time that she is his girlfriend. She just smiles when I ask her about it : ) He is her age but is about 6 inches shorter than she is. I think he's adorable. Daddy, on the other hand, is not so sure.