Celebrating Five Years

This tiny baby girl in her going-home outfit is now my big five-year-old girl getting ready to go to kindergarten! I am such a sentimental sap. Do most mothers find tears springing to their eyes as they say, “Happy fifth birthday, sweetie! I love you so much!”?

It’s just like the first day of preschool. I had prepared her for a long time, talking to her about how exciting preschool is and how much fun it would be. We took a mom-and-tot class together for several weeks so she knew what “school” would be like. By the time the first day of preschool arrived, she stayed happily without crying whereas I barely managed to hold back the tears until I got to the car. It wasn’t that I was sad really (truth be told I was excited for a little one-on-one time with my second daughter). I was proud of her and proud of myself for preparing her enough for the transition to preschool. Perhaps I should have spent some time preparing myself as well!

Same thing with this fifth birthday. I didn’t realize I would feel this way and it’s turning out to be a bigger milestone than I thought. Come to think of it, it’s a big milestone for both of us in more ways than one! Not only is she celebrating five years of living, I’m celebrating five years of breastfeeding! My daughter nursed straight through my second pregnancy and then I tandem nursed without any time off in between. Not every mother’s choice but it worked for our family. All I have to do is look at my wonderful and amazing five-year-old for validation.

Happy Birthday Five-Year-Old and Happy Nursing Anniversary — “Nursery”? LOL – to me!