Adelaide Jane: 13 Years Old

 Dearest Adelaide Jane,

How are you an actual TEENAGER today?! It is truly hard to imagine that you've been here for THIRTEEN years...at the same time, I do not even remember my life without you!

This last year, you have shown so much growth and maturity. You are a blossoming young lady and a beautiful soul. You also keep me on my toes and give me gray hairs ;)

You have successfully completed your first year of competitive swim at Lakeside. You had wonderful short course and long course seasons. You flourished in state meets~ proving that hard work and perseverance can accomplish so much. 

                                                     

You had the privilege of swimming for Team Kentucky ay Zones in Orlando. Swimming against the best of the best throughout 15 states, you swam the max 6 individual events and anchored 5 "A" relays. You had so much fun cheering for others and sharing a room with Claire L, Lila D, and Kelsie C. And I think deep down you loved having me there as a chaperone!

                                                                 

You are thoroughly enjoying L7 at SHMS. Your growth from the last half of L6 to now is remarkable. You are back to loving math and feeling confident in your abilities. Your love for reading is growing even more with each day. You read far more than your summer reading and often can be found reading at bedtime unprompted.

 

You continue to be an amazing friend and teammate. You are embracing your role as "big sister" with the same zest as you did back when you were first given that title. You are always helping Salem with her hair in the morning; building Aspen up in his tennis & academic endeavors; bonding with Brighton over word quotas & being social. You have a beautiful role in our family of pseudo mommy & big sister.

 

But to me, you will always be my little girl; the one who made me a mom; my best friend.

I love you!

Love,

Mommy 

Adelaide Jane: 12 Years Old

 Dearest Adelaide Jane,

You are well past double digits today and three weeks into middle school. In some ways, 6th grade sounds so young. In other ways, you are now in your last year before being a teenager. I wish time would slow down, and I could go back to your days of roaming the aisles at Target with a cake pop to keep you content! The days before life seemed heavy and the smiles came easy. 

This year has been one of growing pains and growing attitudes. You are trying hard to figure this things called life out; some days it comes naturally while other days, I can see your struggles. But we are in this together my sweet girl.

                                                

You have retired from competitive gymnastics officially and are diving {literally} into swimming & diving full time. I am very proud of your decision to try something new but also walk away with your head held high. How similar we are in so many ways!

                                               

This summer you really took to both sports and worked hard to improve. You ended up 5th place at City Meet Diving. Then you rocked it in swimming with your relays and individual. You won 1st place in your individual backstroke as well as your freestyle relay. You placed 2nd in your medley relay and 7th in the 14&u medley relay. So proud of your growth and dedication to working hard!

                                                 

You are enjoying school~ educational travel groups, making new friends, having a Chromebook, and rotating with all three of the 6th grade teachers. You are even playing powder puff football with many of your classmates. You are a strong offensive and defensive player~ often playing the hiker position.

You have your first real crush that you truly are smitten with~ Wyatt Ruley. He is a very sweet boy and you get butterflies when you see him. You have gotten to have a few family "dates" over the summer where the two of you just enjoy each others' company. I hope that you are always as joyful in wherever life and relationships take you.

Adelaide, I hope that year 12 brings you happiness, blessings, and pure joy. You are a beautiful young lady inside and outside. Please do not let anyone dim your light. Always remain true to yourself~ it will be the greatest gift you can give yourself and give others!

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Adelaide Jane: 11 Years Old

 Dearest Adelaide Jane,

How did we get to 11? On the other side of 10...the side that heads into teenage years sooner rather than later. You are growing up before my eyes and it’s both beautiful & heart breaking all at the same time. 

You are very smart. Bright in ways that make being your mom both challenging and rewarding. You flourish in an academic way and you have a yearning for learning. 4th grade wrapped up nicely and you’re already working hard in 5th grade.

You continue to work hard in gymnastics. You had a very busy late spring and summer. Qualifying for Nationals by doing one routine at Regionals then turning around and testing out of Level 4 less than a week later with completely different routines. You competed in Nationals in NOLA and you truly shined.

You are maturing at home~ settling into your new big sister duties. Helping with household chores, assisting your siblings with homework, making meals for our family, and just being a more “active” part of keeping up. You shine most when you’re helping others which is something I hope you always hold in your heart.

You continue to make friends and be inclusive. You are always the peace maker~ wanting friends to talk things out and be a mediator. You often come off as  little tough, but deep down you have a very special heart.

I am so proud of the young lady that you’re becoming. I hope you always remember to be uniquely you~ there is no one else like my Adelaide Jane.

I alove you!

Love,

Mommy

Adelaide Jane: 10 Years Old

 Dearest Adelaide Jane,

I can hardly believe that I am writing you this letter and you're turning 10 years old. Double digits! It seems like only yesterday I was sitting down to recap your first six months of life. We have shared so many memories over this decade that I want to bottle them up and remember them forever. So many precious milestones and achievements. So many growing pains and learning experiences.

You are a fierce little girl who is not afraid to express how she is feeling. Yet you are gentle & kind to those whom you meet. You aren't really a stranger to many; always willing to include others and chat about their problems.

You are bright eyed and eager to learn. Not only in the classroom but life as well. You thrive in school and are always keen on being close with your teacher. You have a way of lighting up a room with your big smile and your happy heart. 

                                            

You are flourishing at gymnastics {despite fracturing your foot on the first night of fall practice} and the practice you put in amazes me. I hope that you always feel confident, compete with your all, & love the sport the way that you do now. Passion in life is key...don't ever forget that sweet girl!

You had big goals this year on how to treat your siblings & the type of big sister you want to be. You're part mini-mother and part fun-loving big sister to them. You often comment on how being the oldest is...I believe that is because you take your role very seriously. You want to be the best you can be and yet still enjoy being Big Sister. You wear it well~ even when you feel like you don't.

You continue to love swimming, drawing, reading, writing, riding bikes, and simply playing. Ten years in and your spirit is alive & booming! I was afraid that my strict discipline would break it at times, but we've learned a thing or two together as we have navigated mother-daughterhood for some time now. 

In so many ways, you are my best friend & I am yours. I can still find you in my bed fast asleep at times...after you've quietly snuck down while laundry is being folded. I don't really mind if I am being honest; the moments when you want to cuddle me in the middle of the night are probably dwindling so I hold on tight to them.

                                           

Keep being you, my Adelaide Jane. Keep believing in yourself & the magic of life.

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

40 Under 40: Day Trip to Bernheim Forest

On one of our last summer days, the kids & I took a day trip to Bernheim Forest. We set out to hike to see the Forest Giants and explored the grounds for several hours. We saw tiny turtles, beautiful flowers & lots of nature treasures. 

We stopped by the playground and gift shop before grabbing a snack for ourselves to yummy soft serve ice cream. The kids worked up a sweat and appetite hiking so the treat was well deserved.