S-E-V-E-N!!!!!

Seriously, how can my baby girl be 7?!? Each year I say that, but 7...just seems so big. So independent. So grown up. But thankfully, with Hailee, at 7, she's still so sweet, tender-hearted, innocent, loving, thoughtful, and needs me a lot! Each year I reflect back on how the year has gone and there is always so much change, but this year, especially with her starting Kindergarten, she has grown and matured so much. She is definitely coming into her sassy and not-so-patient self (esp with her sister), but she is growing in such a way that makes me so proud of her. Kindergarten was a big deal this year and she LOVES Sternberger and excelled in reading, comprehension, and math! She got rewards at the end of the year and her teacher told me several times, "I wish every student was just like Hailee!" She was a great and kind and helpful friend in her class. But, she did not like getting up each morning and leaving her mama!!! There were mornings I would just sob after she left because I hated to see her in tears every day that she left, but every afternoon when I went to pick her up, she was ALL smiles and had had a wonderful day at school. There were days that it stressed me out and I lost my patience with it, but I was able to see her make progress as the year went on and she would even get up and get dressed all by herself before the alarm! She had the most amazing teacher and sweet little class of friends. We were blessed this year and pray she will have just as wonderful 1st grade as she did this past year. She is reading quite efficiently, can do math in her head, seems to have a great interest in art, and cant wait to go back to the K class and read to them as a big 1st grader! Her heart to love others is precious to watch and every time I went to eat lunch with her at school, she had kids lined up begging for her to choose them to sit with us...and she did make sure each of them got a turn.
She did well at gymnastics this year and had a great time each Thursday afternoon. She is excited to start riding horses in the fall and has made it clear she doesnt want to "dance or do gymnastics, only ride horses!" She loves to read, play babies, play school-and ALWAYS be the teacher, tell her sister what to do, still sucks her 2 fingers and holds her stringy and nightee's (but we made a new 7 year old rule to that!), play AG dolls, dance and sing to her VBS CD's, Swim (esp at the lake), let the fish suck on her toes, take boat rides, eat candy, and draw. She still wont let me get out of the car without her, even to pump gas, and is getting better about me going up/down stairs without her, but still calls my name out if she is unsure of where I am to make sure Im inside. She learned to overcome some "stage fright" this year with some speaking roles at school/assemblies and her confidence is continuing to grow! She prays daily for a baby brother and is the best "little mama" I've ever seen. Her prayers are so mature and she really knows that Jesus loves her. She loves to be with her family and movie nights and going out to eat are her favorite things to do!
We were blessed 7 years ago by her life and realized then what a true gift and miracle her life was, and we recognize today even more how blessed we are to be her parents and how amazing it is to watch your child grow and learn and love! We love you Hailee-Bird, happy 7th Birthday!!

 annual breakfast date with daddy!

 afternoon of Nail Salon with sweet friends!

 my Big and Beautiful Girl!

 Snacks at the Spraygrounds with friends to celebrate!

 

She had to be "fancy" for her birthday dinner @ Bravo! Necklaces, bracelets, purse, high heels, sparkly headband, and of course a dress!

 Her new indoor riding car that she loves, and new Saige riding outfit and helmet for her AG doll!!

 Doc McStuffins care kit-she loves to take care of animals and people!

 Birthday dinner with the family! Horse Ice Cream cake, her choice!

 New books, all horse related of course!

 Grasshopper Baseball Game with the cousins!

And of course this pic b/c these are the things that make 7 year olds crack up!!