Poppy. What a joy she is in the everyday.
And celebrating her makes us all smile. 
She is loving and kind. She is funny and always able to laugh at herself.
I might be biased, but I certainly can’t take any credit for how amazing she is.
She’s pretty darn wonderful. And her siblings think so too.
She’s also surprisingly mature. Composed and calm. Capable.
And crazy enough, nine candles on the top of her cake seemed appropriate, not angst-producing. She seems like she’s really nine.
And in her mature, composed way, she asked for the most practical gifts: markers, a sewing kit…
But we gifted her with a few surprises. 
Sophie made her a tiny lovey in the shape of her favorite food – a pickle.
And we decided to gift her with the one thing she’d been dreaming of but never expected.
A trip to the bunny farm. The same farm her bigger sisters had visited a few months before and picked out their very own miniature rabbits. The farm where Poppy began dreaming of maybe having her own bunny someday.
Surprising her is such fun.
Isabelle gifted Poppy with a pinata – and all the candy trimmings – in a beautiful display of sisterly love.
And we all proceeded to laugh until our sides hurt.
Or until the pinata burst open.
Cue mad dash for candy by everyone under the age of 30.
An old favorite, ice cream cake, was the birthday girl’s dessert of choice, with mint chocolate chip and cookies and cream ice cream.
And nine candles on top.
So much endured and accomplished in those nine years.
This girl has come so very far from the scared little love I met in China 7 years ago.
Poppy-girl, you astound me. He created you so perfectly, and watching you blossom into all He’s made you to be brings us all more joy than you’ll ever know.
Love you to the moon and back,
Mama
Leave a Reply