Oh, all the big feelings over this girl. Each of my children’s birthdays are special and emotional in their own ways, but this girl is and always will be the one to do things “first.” God is so wise in placing her as the firstborn in our family, she has paved the way beautifully for the other children in her kindness, joy, helpfulness, love, and exuberance. To know Phoebe is to love her, there’s just no argument there. People tell me all the time that she makes others feel special, and I think that’s just exactly right. It isn’t hard to celebrate this girl, but for this momma who just wants to slow this whole thing down a wee bit and hang on just a little longer to these sweet days, it comes with a tinge of sadness. Phoebe has grown up so much over the past year and there’s just no stopping this girl. She can’t wait to be all grown up.
She’s traded in her love for dress-up with a deep abiding love for horses. It’s her dream to own one, but she’s happy just to see them. To touch one or ride one is pretty epic. She has slowly been collecting Breyer’s horses and plays so sweetly with them. She has read the entire history of horses curriculum many times over, has memorized her horse handbook, and lately has been enjoying the Horse Diaries series immensely. We purchased a few of them for her for Christmas, but also got her A Horse for Kate for her birthday, as well as a horse calendar. She is becoming quite addicted to reading and devours her books in a day or two. Every week I scour the library for more books on horses for her to read.
Her birthday sweater is called the Ghost Horse sweater and she really loves it, which makes it all worthwhile (it was quite a lot of feverish knitting). She also got a pair of roller blades and she is so into them. Anything we can do to keep motivating our children to be outside and moving!
I made creme brûlée for her, and she requested spaghetti for dinner (though she only eats the noodles plain). Phoebe loves a good party, so we joined with all her local aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents for a celebration. It was really sweet to celebrate her together with them. They gave her sweet and meaningful presents too, and she really treasures it all. She hopes to use some of the gift money she received to take some horseback riding lessons.
Phoebe girl, I adore you with all my heart. Happy 9th birthday! Last year to be in the single digits. Let’s savor it.
everything He gives 