Dear Stella

Dear Stella,

Today is your 9th birthday. Every year I think about how you came into this world on a summer day after 6 hours of labour and a doctor telling me, with the most unapologetic face, that it was too late to get an epidural. That also happens to be the moment your dad will forever describe as when mommy had “crazy eyes”. Lucky for me your actual delivery only lasted about 10 minutes much to my utter shock. Born with a full head of hair and a desire to be held, cuddled, walked and rocked for the next 12 months.

You are my star, Stella. You are sweet and sensitive and will never turn down an extra hug or snuggle. You are tough as nails and always have been. As soon as you could walk and talk, you would run at top gear only to trip and fall flat on your face and almost as quickly bounce back up and proclaim, “I’m alright!”.  At the age of 3 you started to show your sporty side and fell in love with gymnastics and although 3 years later your desire to be silly and find more of the fun in an activity than the focus of the activity led you to explore other sports, I know you can and will be good at anything you take on. You love to wear dresses and you love to play sports, get dirty, climb, run and be active. Most recently you tried hockey for the first time and although your skating skills were lacking and you’d never held a hockey stick before, you came off the ice and looked me in the face and said, “mom, can you put me in hockey?”.

I love that you are determined, independent and strong. You have been asking for a dog for 5 years and unlike the typical kid who asks for something and then gets bored of the idea, you’ve taken the possibility of a pet to the next level. You do research on breeds of dogs, you read books, you talk to other dog owners and when given the opportunity, you take peoples dogs for walks, feed them, pet them, play with them and yes, even pick up their poop. There is no doubt in my mind that you’ll be a great dog owner when we do get a dog.

For a long time you’ve been telling people that you want to be a veterinarian when you grow up. Your love of all animals is apparent, especially this summer. You spent every moment of every day that you could at the horse stables during our annual camping trip to Osoyoos, BC. There was no way to keep you out of the fences, you got in there and started helping in anyway you could. Saddling horses, shovelling poop, spreading out fresh hay, feeding them and of course, loving them and learning each horses name and personality. You worked so hard that they rewarded you with a free trail ride, even taking the horses down to the lake for a dip. Talk about great memories!

I know it must be hard to live sandwiched in between your older sister and your little twin sisters but you’re learning quickly to do it with grace and you should be proud, not many girls grow up being BOTH a big sister AND a little sister. It’s the best of both worlds really. I love spending one-on-one time with you because you love to chat and anything and everything that comes to your mind. You have ideas and opinions and endless questions about the world and how it works. You’re observant and (sometimes sadly) you notice everything.

Stella, I am continually amazed at the fun, interesting and intelligent person you’re becoming and I look so forward to all the amazing things you’ll accomplish in your life.

Happy 9th Birthday!

I love you.