The Head Princess

Let me tell you a bit about this princess.

Every mom wishes for that dream kid. The kid who is obedient, trustworthy, kind, sweet, generous, loving and just your general all around good kid.

That is the princess.

That is what I got when I gave birth to this baby. We have been so lucky with her. One time I was asked by a friend who was expecting her first baby what we did to train her the way we did. I just laughed and told her that the Head Princess just came that way.

When I was sick this past year, she stepped up her game. She took charge and made breakfast and lunch for her and her sister. She helped clean, cook and care for the rest of the family. She does the same now, not on the same level of course, but she is the first one there if one of her sisters are in distress or need a hug. She has a genuine concern for those around her and she is so compassionate.

She became so grown up.

We are doing a little rearranging in our house this weekend. She is so excited! She loves change. Whether it is rearranging her bedroom, switching up our routine, or doing something different on the weekend, she is game.

My little girl is growing up. When we blessed the baby it was bittersweet. Sweet, because we were blessing a sweet baby, but bitter because we are done with the babies. Next we have her baptism! My first baby will be making sacred covenants. I am so proud of her for becoming the young lady that she has grown into, but I still wonder where it all went.

The reason for this post is this morning she picked out her outfit. A pair of hip-huggers and a cute sweater. She put them on and I almost cried. She looked SO grown up. We went into the bathroom to do her hair. She instructed me on exactly what to do. She has never done that before. Mom has always had free reign of her hair. Lately we have had to have a couple of very grown-up conversations that I wanted to wait until she was at least 12. Conversations that I worried would scar her world. You know what, they didn't. She took them in stride, asked some questions and was okay with things. The girl really has her head on straight.

I watch her change. She hasn't quite hit puberty yet (phew!) however I am noticing some changes. Her arms and legs are getting gangly. Her teeth are still filling in and taking shape. I remember looking at my pictures of me at this age and calling them my "top dog years". When I look at her I don't think that at all. I think she is beautiful! I think it is more than skin deep.

When she was in Kindergarten (Hi Mrs. C!) her teacher told me that she had an "old soul". Wise beyond her years. She really, really does. I don't know how many times I will be talking to her and it is like talking to a sister rather than a daughter. She has so much control of herself. I STILL don't have that much control of my emotions. The older she gets, the more control she gets. I hope and pray every day that it lasts into her teenage years.

I gave her a hug this morning and noticed how tall she is getting. She is no longer that baby that would call me "Nay-na-nay" instead of mom. She is no longer that little girl who had a different laugh every week learning what fit her. She reads well, she writes well, she is poised, she reads music, she plays the piano, she has more grace in her pinky than I have in my entire body. She is beautiful.

And I love her.

Day 6