NINE

I carried you next to my heart for 9 months. 39 weeks and 5 days to be exact (that picture was taken the day before your birth). When you were born, the entire solar system shifted (at least it seemed to).💫

And then....I remember the day you turned 9 months old and I put your sticker on and watched you laugh while I held a pink squishy ball in the air trying to get your attention, and I thought “the world has officially had her in it longer than I held her inside of me. 9 months in, 9 months out.” I felt somber at the thought that half of your life had suddenly been lived on the outside of me.🤱🏻

And now you’re 9 years old and I realized that in 9 short years, you’ll be moving into the next phase of your life. In 9 years, you’ll be 18. You’ll be an “adult” and probably leave to do great things. But it’s only 9 years away; we are halfway there. It’s a tough pill to swallow. I’ve held your hand for half of the years you’ll be safe at home with me and I know that *just like that* you’ll be walking out the door... only a short 9 years from now. I cant believe it. I can NOT believe it.... But, with all that being said.... happy 9️⃣th birthday my Lucy Lu💛 I hope it’s one you’ll never forget.

Her 9th birthday in a nutshell 🥜

*My breakfast in bed tray is packed so her “tray” is actually a cardboard box🤪

*Her bedframe has also been taken apart and her mattress is on the floor.

*She helped me make her cake and wanted 9 layers for 9 years. The design was ALL her idea.... I’ll let her take all the credit on that spectacle...(also packed- my cute cake trays. Her cake is on a cutting board covered in brown kraft paper 😩).  It was a pattern of chocolate/vanilla/chocolate/vanilla, etc. I can't believe I forgot to cut a big slice out to show how cool it looked inside! :(

*Social Distancing rules are groups/gatherings of 10 and under, however, no one cared today- we are all over it✊🏼

*Cotton Candy machines are a HIT at birthday parties.

*Pinatas are still fun!

*Sully tried really hard to fit in with the girls all night 🤣

*The ice cream truck was NOT supposed to come today- Friday is the day!!!! But noooo. It decided to come during a party with little girls who run all around the neighborhood chasing it.🍦 (Let me just add.... Lucy took some of her birthday money and paid for all of her friends treats.  I said "are you sad you spent your money on popsicles for them?" And she said "no, it made me happy to see them happy." It brought tears to my eyes!)

*Schools’ out early so party can be any day of the week and she wanted it ON her actual birthday for the first time in years!

And, even though this isn't about Lucy... our house was FINALLY finished being painted! It looks sooo pretty! It's such a great before and after! The exterior paint and hardwood floors were finished on Lu's birthday (and are curing nicely). The blinds were *finally* installed. Being new construction means there were quite a few things we had to wait on to get finished.... and now it all is- wish us luck as we move on with the next phase of life! 🙏🏼🤞🏼

I can't wait to LIVE here!!!!! 

Good night world!