You, bug, are my sunshine.
From the moment you were born, you have brought sunshine into my life.
Smiles and silliness and the best giggles... and SUNSHINE.
You still love Ellie, and watermelon, and pizza, and your brothers. You are sensitive and bossy and hate being the center of attention. (When I had the waitress sing "Happy Birthday!" to you in the restaurant on Saturday, you hid under the table with your sweet, shy, beautiful smile.)
You love to make people happy, and absolutely can't stand the thought of anyone being disappointed in you.
You are obsessed... OBSESSED with school supplies. In fact, the top two items on your birthday wish list? Post-it notes and highlighters.
You are rocking Kindergarten like nobody's business.. earning sparkle sticks and Trojan golds and making friends and loving your teachers like they are your second mamas. And getting to go to school with you everyday is just about the coolest thing. Ever. Especially on Fridays, when we have our weekly donuts-and-dancing parties.
You radiate such a sweet spirit, Cameron... you have such a kind heart - such a pure and innocent and timid yet brave soul.
You, my girl, are the one who made me a mama. In your first breath of life, you allowed me to step into an entirely different chapter of love. The kind of love that makes me feel like my heart is beating outside of my body. Like the deepest part of my soul may explode. Like I have to be the best version of myself with each passing moment, to make you proud of who I am.
In the six years since you were born, you have helped transform me into someone who I am proud to be - a mama who feels big and loves hard and believes in herself and in the beauty of each moment, both big and small. I am someone who will always be able to look at you in those big brown eyes and feel proud of the example I am setting for you - as a lover of God, as a woman of faith, as a mama who does everything she can for the sake of her children... as a person who is loyal and faithful and sensitive and strong and brave.
And you know who has taught me the most about being brave?
YOU.
I have lived through some dark, hard moments. Especially lately. And you have been such a guiding light for me, such a source of strength.
I have seen the trace of a tear rolling down your cheek as you mustered up the strength to try something that made you nervous. The quiver of your lip when you heard something that hurt your precious heart, but the nodding of your head when I told you it would all be okay.
You make me better.
You make me stronger.
You make me believe.
Believe in myself, believe in my heart, believe in my future.
Believe in the hope of tomorrow because of the promise of joy in your laughter.
I see so much of myself in you, Cameron Kate. And yet I also strive to be more like you.
I am humbled by the opportunity to be your mama.
I am PROUD to be your mama.
Today, I am nostalgic and emotional, but so happy to celebrate YOU. My bug, my sunshine, my daughter, my mini-me, my girl.
Happy, happy SIX.
I love you to the moon and back and more than anything in this world.
~Mama
