Today, it happened. Even though I tried to talk her into repeating 4, Stella insisted on turning 5.
“Oh, alright then!” I’d say as she giggled. “Are you sure? Are you really sure?” I’d ask, “moooooom!” she’d giggle back.
Stella is exactly what you would imagine a five year old little girl to be – cute and bubbly and giggly and happy and prance around all day in dresses without a care in the world. That is my Stella.
She woke me up at 6:18am with a tap-tap-tap on my shoulder and as I peeked one eye open, I saw her whisper “Mom, it’s my birthday!” I pulled her in my bed for a birthday snuggle where she laid patiently for another 12 minutes before she wanted to see her birthday prize. 
We had lunch plans at noon, but since she woke up so early (which is quite unlike her) by noon she looked like this:
Lunch was postponed, but we still made sure to keep up with tradition at Pizza Factory for her number 5 pizza! 
Stella was as sweet as could be all the live-long day. We picked up a cake at Costco, went home to ready our house for a little get together, played with some new birthday toys. She just shared with her sisters and kept a smile on her face all the day. It was the best!
At 6:30 we had a few friends over for cake and pinata – except Stella calls it a “peeyata” (and asked me how to say it in Spanish! ha!) a Peeyata was pretty much the only thing she asked for, and I almost forgot to pick it up. When I said “Stel! I forgot about your pinata, do you still want me to?” she said, “It’s okay, mom. It will be a little bit of a bummer, but it’s alright.” Oh my dear sweet soul, you better believe I jumped in the car to get her that dang peeyata. She had such a blast even though I had done really no previous planning. I love this about Stella and I’m so glad she’s part of our family. We really need her!
This is Stella.
My sweetest sisters. I heard Harlo say two times to me, “Mom, this is the best birthday ever.” I’m glad she could appreciate her sister’s special day! 🙂
Grae very much enjoyed mooching bites off of everyone she could. I think she ate more cake than anyone at the party – combined. Yikes! (At least it’s not paint – that’s another story for another day!)
Basically, I just feel like the seriously luckiest mama to be at the receiving end of all the love this girl has to offer. What a little ray of sunshine to our lives she is.
Stella,
We had the best day celebrating you. I hope you know how loved you are! Happy FIVE, sweet baby girl.
xoxo – mama