Happy Birthday, Abigail Ann!

Today my middle child, Abby, turned 7 years old.

Wow.

How time flies when you're having fun.

I do believe it was just yesterday that she was a fat and happy baby, wanting nothing more than to be held by her momma.

And now she's a big first grader, turning 7.

Luckily, she still likes to be held by her mama, and for this I am eternally grateful, because she is just the most amazing child.  I am working on a post (maybe I'll have it done by tomorrow) with 7 pictures from her life and 7 reasons why she is awesome.  For now, we'll just say that watching her grow and change is my greatest pleasure in life.  I am blessed to know her, and even more blessed to be her mother.

Tonight was her "special night".  In our family, on the night of your actual birthday, we have a family dinner, and the birthday girl gets to choose the menu and the cake and the theme and anything else they want.  It's their day.  We were lucky enough to be able to have Luke's parents over for the evening.  Abby wanted Minnie Mouse on her cake, and I found some silly Minnie ears.  Here are the girls, modeling their ears with their Grandad, who was a really great sport to pose wearing those ears!!




Our dinner table centerpiece was the lovely rose that was delivered to Abby at school today by her "best friend in the world", Miss Lainey.  Thank you, Lainey!

Here is the birthday girl, posing with her cake.
Here's a close up of the cake.  Abby has always loved Minnie Mouse... we have a gigantic Minnie Mouse up in our play room that her Gran gave her for Christmas when she was about 3 years old... Abby was Minnie Mouse for Halloween when she was not quite 2 years old... I guess the love continues, because this was her choice for her special day!
I call this picture "portrait of a seven-year old".  Note that she is holding up 7 fingers!  
Happy, happy birthday, sweet Abby.  You are one of a kind, and everyone who ever has the joy of knowing you falls in love with you.  Thank you for sharing these first seven years with me.  I can't wait to share all the years to come with you!