You're still our toughest kid and can handle adversity like a champ. When you were a baby, it was the excessive heal pricks to test your jaundice and excessive testing done for your digestion issues. This year, you've proven over and over again that when things are hard, you push through with an amazing attitude. When we were faced with one of our worst parenting nightmares....LICE....you handled it better than any of us. Night one of the terrible discovery kept you up until past midnight having your hair shampooed and combed through and repeated again because we didn't do it correctly the first time. For several weeks, you spent at least an hour each night sitting in the bathtub having your hair combed through strand by strand. When all was said and done, we promised we'd get you something super special for dealing with the disaster as well as you did. All you asked for, when we seriously would have given you WHATEVER you wanted, was to have your hair cut! Fast forward a few months to the start of 4th grade. You realized from day one that you would be spending your third year in a row with a kid who you faced a lot of challenges with in 2nd and 3rd grade. Your enthusiasm about starting 4th grade immediately turned to disappointment and we became very worried about how things would pan out. It only took a day or two for this child to start pestering you and we didn't know quite how to handle it. You took it all like a champ, though, and have continued to show a sense of maturity in handling the difficulties you've faced with this girl. All the while, you have still managed to remain kind and considerate towards her. We are impressed by the strength you've shown through the tears and frustration of dealing with a tough person.
Just like when you were a baby, you're still so loving and sweet, but definitely a fan of having your space. When you were teeny tiny, you were our only newborn who was happiest to be laid down instead of being held 24/7. You hated being swaddled and loved to have some freedom. Freedom and space is still your jam. After reading an article at the beginning of the school year, it became very clear that you are a child who loves to be around people, but definitely needs to have a break (an introverted extrovert if you will). That explains why heading back to school can be tough for you. After months of having time to take a break and find some space, school and the constant stimulation can be a bit overwhelming for you. You self regulate this all on your own, and usually come straight home from school and retreat to your room for awhile to play all by yourself. On the weekends, you are the one who is most content to just hang out with family and live life at a slower pace. When it's winter or summer break, you are in your element. Endless days of no schedule and complete freedom are your favorite. You can still be found fluttering about from one activity to the next and onto the next without ever really finishing one task. There is a trail of "Leah" all over the place just like when you were a toddler and little girl. How you play with such intensity can be rather exhausting to watch, but is 100% where you find your joy.
While so much remains the same and the core of who you are hasn't changed, there have still been so many ways you've grown and blossomed into someone new. This past year, we've seen such a shift in your attention to hair and clothes and nails and jewelry. Most of time, you have a VERY unique sense of style, but it's your's and we love it. You are far more in tune to the world of preteen stuff and much less interested in being a little girl. You requested a room redo this year for your birthday and we figured it was probably time to update the yellow walls that served as a nursery many years ago. In the process, we cleaned out quite a lot of toys and things. Though it was heartbreaking to watch, you were ready to part ways with a lot of things that you used to play with all the time. You hung onto a few baby dolls and kept a decent amount of stuff to play school....because, after all, you still plan to become a "teacher mom" when you're older! You do still love to play school and take any chance you get to take care of little ones. For your redo, you chose a soft pink color and decorated the walls with inspiring quotes and scripture. One of the best of those says "What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful".
Indeed, you are a unique and different young lady. You have always been, and will (hopefully) always be, unapologetically YOU. We pray that as you enter this next decade of life, you live it was as much grace and faith as you have for the first ten years. You are confident in who God made you to be and truly utilize the gifts He has given you to bless those around you. Being a parent to a kid as kind, content, and considerate as you is a joy. We hope that as the years go on, you will continue to influence those around you and will refuse to let the world define who you are. You are a bright and beautiful example of God's goodness and we hope that you will always shine the light of Jesus wherever you go. Happy Birthday to you - our sweet Leah. We love you!
Love,
Dad and Mom
