Dear Ivy, You turned 6 yesterday

Dear Ivy,

You turned 6 yesterday.  That blows my mind. 

We told you that you could pick anywhere you wanted for your birthday dinner last night and I just knew you were going to pick Mellow Mushroom but you surprised us and picked Chick-fil-a.  I know we looked shocked and when we asked you why you said "Because I want to play on the playground and have a chocolate milkshake."

On the way home last night you asked me to choose "station #5" on my radio presets because it's your favorite.  The song "Heart Attack" by Demi Lovato was on and you just started belting it out.  You knew (or thought you knew) all of the words and it was one of those moments that blew me away.  I couldn't get over the fact that I was your Mom.  I was thinking about the exact moment the doctor put you in my arms and we locked eyes...I was so happy and relieved and yet so very scared in that moment.  I could never imagine that you would be 6 one day and yet here we are.  Your Dad saw that I had tears in my eyes and said "I know. It's crazy."

We had your birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese this year.  I was a little worried about it and really didn't want to do it.  But you begged us and said "But it will be the best party ever!"  And in your eyes it was the best party ever.  You had a blast with your friends and I think they had a blast too! You got to go in the ticket blaster and you came out with more tickets than I have ever seen in my life.  You had so many tickets that your mind was blown when you went to the prize counter.  You picked out a fun dip and a goody bag.  Then you were stumped and didn't know what to get so you used the other half of your tickets to get a goody bag for your friend Reagan too.  Your Dad and I were happy to see you make that choice and then you said "Well we have the same birthday and I just got a lot of presents and I want Reagan to have something too."  You and Reagan were born on the same day one year apart and she just happened to be the last friend at your party.  You spent the last 30 minutes or so just playing with her and it worked out perfectly for the two of you.

Something that rocked both of our worlds this year was starting kindergarten.  At times you were excited and at other times you could have cared less.  You are going to a brand new school this year and it's less than half a mile from our house.  We got to watch it being built and every time we drove by it you would yell "Oh my gosh!  My school is getting so big!" And it is BIG.  Probably the biggest elementary school I have ever seen.  That school would have scared me to death as a kid but you go in there and run that place.  When I went and registered you for school I wrote down in at least fourteen different places that you went by Ivy and not Ashlynn but when we arrived for open house all of your papers and folders said Ashlynn. You marched straight up to your teacher and said "My name is Ashlynn Ivy Ward but I go by Ivy.  And Ivy is spelled I-V-Y there is no "E" in Ivy."  I was a little shocked because you always tell people like it is but this took it to the next level.  As I stood and watched in horror your teacher didn't miss a beat, she simply got down on her knees and said "It's nice to meet you Ivy. Will you please forgive me for getting your name wrong?" And from that moment on you have loved her.  She then told me and your Dad that you weren't going to have any trouble at all in kindergarten.

You are a very confident girl.  You have the strongest will of anyone I have ever met.  You are determined and sassy at times but you are also so gentle and like to make sure that everyone is okay.  It bothers you so bad if you think someone isn't happy.  Honestly I think it breaks your heart a little bit when someone is upset.  You tell me almost every day "Mama, I don't know why but my bus driver never smiles."  It breaks my heart to hear how sad you sound when you say that.  You missed school for two days because you were so sick and you wanted to draw pictures for your teachers and your bus driver to tell them sorry for missing school and not riding the bus.  When I got home from work that day you were so excited to tell me that your picture made the bus driver smile! 

I've been trying to write you a letter now for over a year about just the little things that I want to remember and the things I want you to know.  I plan on posting that sometime soon but it has been so much fun to read about the things you were doing last year and then think about the things you are doing now.  So much has changed.  It's been amazing to watch you grow and I look forward to what the next year will bring.

I love you!

Love,
Mama