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Four. Four years old! Marlowe getting older always makes me emotional, but what a glorious ride this past year has been– I truly feel that I’ve watched my baby become a little girl. The other day we were laying in her bed at bedtime for our nightly snuggles. I told her how excited I am for her birthday party coming up. She turned to me, looked me right in the eyes and said “Don’t worry Mom. No matter how old I get, I’m always going to be your baby. That’s forever.” Tears sprung to my eyes. How wise, kind, and infectiously joyful this little human is.
Marlowe has grown in leaps and bounds this past year, and it’s been so exciting for our whole family to watch her really blossom in to this hilarious and curious little goofball. I’m totally not exaggerating when I tell you that I have better conversations with her than I have with most grown ups. This year she asked me a lot of big questions: why grownups fight sometimes, How a woman “gets pregnant”, Why different animals have babies in different ways, What scares me the most, If I’m going to get old one day, and what death means. I can’t say I was prepared for any of these questions, but I felt compelled to not just throw them away but to think critically about all of them, and to answer in the most age appropriate terms. The thing about Marlowe is that she really inspires me to be an honest, direct, and authentic person. I can’t really describe why, but when I look in to those big, bright, beautiful blue eyes of hers I know she deserves every truth there is. Her trust in me makes me trust myself.
She’s my best friend, and makes me laugh harder than anyone. I love how freely she laughs and enjoys things. Her preschool teacher told me at the end of the year “Marlowe makes every day a Holiday” and I knew exactly what she meant. She can make pumping gas feel like an adventure. I’m in awe of her openness to people, experiences, foods, feelings. It’s been an interesting balance this year of parenting her, keeping her safe and teaching her– while also making sure not to squash the special energy and that makes her HER. I feel I’ll probably be trying to strike that balance for the rest of my life.
Today I couldn’t be happier to celebrate her. I couldn’t be prouder of her, I couldn’t be more deeply in love with the person she is and the brightness of her future.
Marlowe, our darling girl: Daddy, Bubba and I love you fiercely. You guide us all with your limitless spirit, and we’d be lost without you. Happy Happy Happy Birthday! We hope all your wishes come true. Grab every star, sweet thing: we are your parachute.
Now let’s eat that Paw Patrol Ice Cream cake!
Photographs by Julia Dags.
aww, made me tear up. Happy birthday Marlowe!!
Thanks!!
Look at that smile! Happy birthday!
That was such a beautiful tribute to your precious little/big girl! Thanks for sharing!
Beautifully said!!! She is such a joy to watch, thank you for sharing her and your journey of raising your babes. My sweet girl will be 5 in October and I feel the exact same about her, definitely my best friend and the funniest person I know!!!
Happy Birthday sweet and fierce Marlowe!!! Xoxo
It’s the luckiest feeling, isn’t it!
Awww you made me tear up 🙂 Happy Birthday for sweet Marlow!!! I hope you know that everything you wrote about her shines brightly through the Insta stories into our lives. It’s so obvious from just those tiny fragments of life that Marlow is exactly the extraordinary little girl you described and that’s in such a big part thanks to you! I am forever in awe of your family and the tiny, perfect human beings you are raising ❤❤❤
Thank you so much for the kind words and encouragement!!! xoxo
Happy Birthday Marlowe! She is just adorable and puts a smile on my face whenever I watch your stories on Instagram. She seems to be such a good big sister. And I absolutely love to see her eat with such unbridled enthusiasm. Enjoy your party!
Shes the best big sis! I’m so lucky 🙂
Joyeux anniversaire a votre fille xx
Merci!!!
So sweet. We give them a nest and wings and it’s beautiful to watch them soar. She is a joy to behold and I hope she has a very special birthday month!
Thanks!
I have so enjoyed Marlowe group up. My favourite times are the videos of her and Major when he was a baby. Happy birthday beautiful!!??????
Thanks! They are a cute little duo 🙂
Happy Birthday to one fierce little lion cub from another fierce big lion cub! Leo’s rock! xx
I love leos!!!
Wow,Brenda.A precious, truthful & such an eloquent posting for your first born’s birthday!I could tell you really spoke from the heart. ❤
I so enjoy reading &visiting your blog&this is from a mama of two adult sons.
Just keep doing what you have been.