Ava at 9

 She went ahead and did it. 

Even after my explicit instructions to the contrary.

 Ava turned nine.

This past year has been a one of marked growth for her.  She seems more responsible with each day that passes.

She does her chores everyday, without reminder, without fail.

She looks after Finn and gets him after naps. In fact she helps out all the brothers. 

She is invaluable help and the perfect shot of femininity that our household needs.  She orchestrates the surprises and the thoughtful presents.  The boys are more than willing to go along, but she is the initiator.

On her birthday wish list, item #7 was: A Sister

I wasn't excited to tell her our new baby would be a boy but she has taken it beautifully, only leaving a few disparaging entries in an open diary.

She is so silly.  She loves to tell stories and jokes and does so with great animation.

She loves her books.  Her shelves are full, so next to her bed are towering stacks of her current reads.

And she has ridden the wave of this Colorado move better than I expected.

School may never be her favorite thing, but that's alright with me.  

Her teacher says she's one of the hardest workers she's seen and as far as I'm concerned, that is as much as I can ask.

I pray daily that her confidence will grow as fast as her body. 

And that she will learn to see herself for the beautiful, kind, creative, creature that she is.

As much as I hate to see her growing up, she is doing a really beautiful job of it.