Avery woke up this morning and burst through my door, “IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!” she yelled with a huge smile on her face. She giggled after because she knew it wasn’t her birthday just yet. She had to wait one more day until she was three years old.
While you’d think that she was this cheerful because her birthday was approaching, it’s not. This is just Avery. She wakes up every morning with a smile on her face and it continues well throughout the day until she goes to bed.
I put her to bed tonight and gave her one last kiss as a two-year-old. “Tomorrow you wake up three years old,” I told her. “Yes I do,” she replied. “Tomorrow I’m a big girl!” And it’s true. While I’ll always call her my baby girl, this year has proved that she’s anything but a baby.
Year three has brought so many changes for Avery – a new little brother, a new town, a new house, starting preschool, and yet it hasn’t phased her at all. Through all of it, she’s kept the smile and the desire to have everyone else smiling with her.
She’s gone from being the baby of the family to being a big sister and I have loved watching her fall so comfortably into this role. She’s taken charge and looks out for Macks as only a big sister should. And in return he looks at her with such fondness and love.
When I think of Avery, I can’t help but smile. This year I’ve watched her personality shine. She’s always so caring about others and doing whatever she can to make us laugh. Whether it’s a saying something funny (the other day out of the blue she told me to “put your hands in the air just like you don’t care.”) or making up dance moves, or just laughing so that you will laugh, Avery wants you just as happy as she is.
Her funny faces are epic.
Her smile is infectious.
The way that she looks up to her big sister for guidance, yet still wants to show her how much she can be there for her too is heartwarming. Their relationship is something that most would dream of.
Avery makes our world shine a little bit brighter.
And our days are funnier with her in it.
My heart is full of love for this sweet girl.
Avery, Thank you for being you. For your smile, laughter, and love. Your selfless nature and desire to make everyone else around you happy is something I hope you’ll never lose. Happy Birthday, A. A. I love you.
