Friday was Character Day at HOPAC, and Lily wanted to go as Disgust.  Her Daddy dressed her up, her principal snapped this picture, and I found myself a bit afraid of when she becomes a teenager.  She does that face a little too well.

Now she is seven.  And though she just saw her big sister have a giant, blow-out, crazy loud birthday party with all of the girls in her class, just a few weeks ago, Lily said she just wanted to celebrate at Water World.  Inwardly breathing a sigh of relief, I told her that would mean she would only get to invite three friends.  That was okay with my Lily.  My little introvert sometimes has a hard time managing even three friends at a time.

This was Lily when she became mine at age two.  I still mourn what I missed with her; sometimes I feel like we are still making up for lost time.  But she has come so far and grown so much.  She was only five pounds at birth, but she’s already taller than her older brother, and it’s just a matter of time before she passes up her older sister as well.  She loves school and she writes notes on everything; she loves babies and she loves helping.  Her gap-toothed, first grade smile can light up a room.

Happy Birthday, Lily Bug.