One of those days....

Today, Princess Kayla turns 7 years old. It's been 7 years since I first laid eyes on the tiny, 6 lb squirming and demanding baby girl in Alturas, California.

Honestly, I didn't know if she would make it to 3. :0) Which is one of the million reasons that I love her so much. Having Kayla was a lesson in patience, a lesson in choosing battles and a lesson in operating on very little sleep. And it wasn't that she didn't sleep. It was that she stole my side of the bed for approximately 5 years. She slept just fine.

Princess Kayla showed me that all girls are not created equal. She showed me that not all babies are happy and content to sit in a swing or under a playgym.

Kayla taught me joy. Pure, unadulterated and from nowhere but a smile. She smiles a lot. She loves to laugh and tease. She's like a mischevous little pixie that bounces from one giggle to another.

I'm not really good with birthdays. They depress me when I see my children getting older. I know they're one year closer to leaving home. But, birthdays are good things too. Another year of new and exciting learning experiences. A new kind of smile. A different point of view.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS KAYLA!!