Double Digits

10
Double Digits
A Decade

Lexi, today you are ten.
And while I have no idea
how this happened so fast,
what I do know is that you have
grand plans and dreams for yourself,
the confidence and determination
to make them come true,
and the good sense to have fun
and enjoy yourself along the way.

We are endlessly blessed by you
and so very proud of you.
We've sure come a long way
since 2:11 am on November 16, 2008
when a beautiful 6 pound, 6 ounce
baby girl surprised us all.
We worked through the whole first
baby thing - learning how to care
for you, keep you alive and help you thrive.
It feels like yesterday that we stared
at you in wonder as you yawned,
or held your head up on your own,
or rolled over for the first time,
or took your first wobbly steps.

Now, here we are staring at you in wonder
as you whiz through your schoolwork,
or finish yet another chapter book
in one day's time,
or nail your overhand serve at your
first volleyball tournament,
or hit your first 10U home run at softball.

Looking back on it all though,
it's very clear that not much has changed.
You have always been self sufficient.
You have always done things in your
own good time.
You have always approached a challenge
with confidence and courage.
You have always been a leader,
sought out fun, enjoyed the outdoors,
made new friends easily
and been curious
about the world that surrounds you.

It's just that the interests have changed
from the toddler passions of
stick collecting, dog petting,
slide climbing and block stacking
into the big kid interests of
watercolor painting, chapter book
reading, sports playing, rollerblading,
math problem solving,
sleepover hosting and baking,
to name a few.

At ten, you are mature yet silly,
responsible yet unpredictable,
a perfectionist yet empathetic,
creative yet organized,
hard working yet playful,
athletic yet a book worm,
smart yet social,
stubborn yet helpful.
You are so very perfectly you,
at ten.

We are you biggest cheerleaders,
your biggest supporters,
your biggest fans,
the shoulders you can
always rest on,
and the hands you can always hold.
We cannot wait to see what
this next year holds in store for you,
our double digit girl!