Abigail: Six Years Old

This has been a major year in Abigail's life. There haven't been types of family changes she's endured in previous years. There were no overseas moves. No new babies born into the family. No cross-country moves. But, I think this year was a foundation for everything to come.


She's now school-age! Abigail's kindergarten year has been amazing. I can't believe how much of a difference a school year makes. After just a few months, she became an excellent reader. Although we still read to her regularly, she has now taken on the bedtime book reading for herself. Recently, she made the leap from Fancy Nancy books to Beverly Cleary chapter books. I think this is such a huge foundation for everything else she'll learn in the following 12 years. It's been amazing to see this whole new world opened up to her through reading.


As for being a girly-girl, even that has expanded. She still loves to wear dresses, and never prefers shorts or pants. (Fortunately, we own every color of leggings and tights to keep dresses an option through colder months.) This year she moved into real earrings with her ear piercings, and she's now too big for all the dress-up clothes and jewelry. It's all real, now! That's seems impossible...

There's been so many "firsts" this year...


Her first school dance.


Her first wedding party.


Her first sleepover


Her first swim team and competitive meet


She did learn how to ride a bike with no training wheels, but she's hardly ever on it. She'll take the scooter any day over the bike!

I'm sure I'm forgetting all kinds of "firsts," because she has truly grown up so much in the past 12 months. She shows no signs of the baby I birthed six years ago. She's a full-fledged little girl!


One of my favorite changes this year has been that Abigail and Cooper have become very good friends. They are not just related, but they truly love each other, protect each other, and have a blast together. Of course, they have their moments. (She did recently ask if I would send him to an orphanage.) But overall, they have become so close. I've loved to watch this change in their relationship.

My how time flies... It's so cliche, but still so true. I can't believe how much has happened in the past six years.