Dear Caroline,
You are nine years old today. Nine. How is it even possible that we’ve already come to the last single digit year? Especially since we just brought you home from the hospital like two days ago.
I think the thing that has hit me the hardest about nine is when it dawned on me that nine is the halfway mark. In just nine more years you’ll be eighteen and headed off to college or whatever adventure God calls you to as you begin your adult life. And I have a feeling the next nine years will go by as fast as these first nine.
Excuse me while I go cry in the back of my closet.
The thing is that it’s okay. It’s how it’s supposed to be. Honestly, I love you more with every passing day because there is never a day that you don’t surprise me with some type of insight or an unexpected reaction or make me laugh out loud. You are one of the funniest people I know. I told you the other night that I think God gave Daddy and me a funny kid because he knew how much we love to laugh and I meant it. You’re hilarious.
I can definitely feel the shifting sand as we hit nine. I don’t know as much as I used to. I’m not quite as smart and my word isn’t always the final word. You have your own opinions and thoughts and you’re never afraid to voice them. It seems like there are more and more days where I find myself saying, “Just quit arguing and do what I asked you to do” or the less patient, sarcastic version which is “You know what would be a real novelty? If you’d just do what I asked and quit asking questions.”
Because while the infant and toddler years were physically grueling at times, this new stage sometimes leaves me biting my tongue until it bleeds or feeling like I have to bang my head against the wall until I either pass out or don’t care anymore.
Yet that’s just about the time you’ll do something so dang sweet I can barely stand it. You’ll crawl up in my lap while we’re watching T.V. or reach for my hand as we walk across a parking lot without even realizing you’re doing it. And then it feels like you’re three years old again and I soak in every moment of it.
And that’s what I love about you right now. You’re right in the middle of pure little girl sweetness with a little bit of pre-teen angst thrown in. The other day you asked, “Mama? Do you ever just feel sad sometimes for no reason?” I wanted to say “Get ready because that’s about to be one week a month for the rest of your life” but instead I just reassured you that we all feel sad from time to time and it’s totally normal.
Then there are the times that I can feel you try to manufacture something to be sad about. Like the other day when we passed a cemetery and you asked in a very solemn voice bordering on tears, “Do we know anyone who’s buried there?” And I quickly told you no because I felt the drama brewing. You’ve always had a knack for a little bit of drama. I think you come by it honestly.
About a month ago you woke up and the first question you asked that morning was “Mama? Am I almost at the end of my little years?”
Oh my heart.
Yes, you’re almost at the end of your little years. I read one time that the magical years of childhood are from age six until ten. So I guess if that’s true then you have one year left of the magic. But when I look at you I see someone who will always find the wonder in life. You will always find the magic because it’s just the way God made you. You live life with joy.
And you fill our lives with that joy.
Every day.
The greatest gift Daddy and I have ever known is getting to see the world through your eyes. We love you more than you’ll ever know.
Love,
Mama
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good gracious…where is the tissue alert..dang judy..this killed me..i just got done doing the ugly cry watching gabby win the gold, and her mama mouthing to her from the stands I LOVE YOU, and now this..o i give up..
caroline is a beauty just like her mama!!!
Happy Birthday Caroline! Your mom is a VERY wise woman.
You’ll treasure and love her even more in a few years and see she was right all along. 
Enjoy your day!
Happy Birthday!
Oh my! This describes my 9-year-old as well! Happy birthday, Caroline.
When Our oldest grandson ( the thoughtful serious one) turned ten he said “Nana look how fast I got to ten……just think how fast I’ll get to twenty”
He’s 16 now…….time does fly by……I miss holding his hand …..having him sit on my lap…..
Oh my…..
Happy Birthday Caroline!!
Oh my. You need to have a “tissue alert” on this post, just like my local newspaper needs to have a “spoiler alert” on their articles before they ruin the entire Olympics for me. What a wonderful post, full of honesty and love. What a special girl & special mom! (And one day she will realize you were right!!!) Happy Birthday, Caroline. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Happy Birthday Mamsy! Mimi and I remember the night (early am) you were born like it was yesterday. I remember how upset I got because I thought the nurse was treating you too rough as she hung you upside down to clean you up. And now it’s 9 years later.
You spent a couple of days with us this week, not wanting to go home because we were having such a great time. Mimi and I cherish those times because we know you’re growing up and things will change but you’ll always be our baby. We love you always.
What a sweet note to your daughter. Happy Birthday Caroline!
Happy Birthday! Arghh the tears you caused me this morning! Beautifully said!
Nine was one of my favorite years with Betsy. You’re both going to love the end of the little years!
Well pooh…here I am at work, tearing up. Thanks Melanie. I feel your pain. Not to rub salt in a wound or anything…but just last night I was at a fitting for my baby girl’s wedding dress. It was just yesterday that she was nine. Yeah, hang on girl… Oh, and could C look anymore like you in the picture with the Easter eggs?
Welling up here at work – thanks Melanie! My girls are 19 and 22 and they still make us laugh! The magical years are still there – they’re just more mature. Enjoy!
These are my favorite posts every year. Happy Birthday, Caroline!
Happy Birthday, Caroline.
And yes, Mama, it goes way too fast!
Oh my heart! The days are long but the years are short…….
Melanie,
Your daughter Caroline reminds me so much of my baby (19) Sara. Like Caroline, Sara is an only child and she is her own person!!! Reading your blog this morning brought me to tears. As I am reading about Caroline, all I could think of was my baby and how fast the years have passed! My baby is getting ready to go off to her 2nd year of college, and my house is going to be so quiet…enjoy these days, because they really do pass very quickly! Happy Birthday Caroline!
Happy birthday, sweet Caroline!!!!
?
Happy Birthday Caroline!! Such a fun night/morning 9 years ago!
And she’s always going to be a 3 year-old in a flower girl dress to me
Oh my! This is the sweetest post! Happy Birthday Caroline! I have a 5 year old and 1 year old and just last night I was telling my 5 year that I couldn’t believe he was going to be in kindergarten this year. Now I’m sitting here crying at my desk at work after reading this!
It does go by way, way too quickly!
Love this post! Happy Birthday to her!
I read this blog every day, but rarely do I comment. Happy Birthday Caroline. Hang on to your mama, baby. You’re gonna need her more now than ever these next 9 years.
And Melanie (may I call you that since I feel like I know you?) please for the love of Kleenex put some sort of alert on these types of posts. It’s not called the “ugly cry” for no reason.
OH! “almost at the end of my little years”…WHY?! WHY did you have to add that bit in?! I won’t be able to get anything accomplished for the next week because of that sentence. Ugly cry surfacing…
Happy Birthday Caroline!
Weeping. I feel the same way about my daughter, who is 15. You put things SOOO beautifully, Melanie. Happy birthday, Caroline!
Good grief, my mascara is a mess.
Happy Birthday sweet Caroline!!!
Happy Birthday, Caroline from your Bryan family! We love you so much and are so glad you are part of our lives and such a big part of our family!
Fasten your seatbelt, dear mom. These next nine years WILL fly by and they will be full of tears and smiles and sadness and joy (but mostly joy)! I am so proud of you and P and the great parents you are to that precious little girl.
We love you so much!!!
Happy Birthday Sweet Caroline!
Oh my word, how I loved reading this post. Caroline is such a joy to read about through the eyes of her mama. I laughed through the whole thing and kept asking my husband (who was trying to work on his computer) if he would let me read him one more paragraph. Ha! Our favorite might have been where Caroline tried to manufacture some drama near the cemetery. We have a daughter turning 7 next week, so your stories feel SOO familiar. I love it (aaaand i don’t).
Thanks for sharing about your girl today. I hope her birthday is extra special.
My daughter is 20 and has already been away at college. We are closer than ever. You have so much to look forward to in the coming years!
Having a daughter is a blessing, no matter the age. My daughters are 19 and 22 and we still have so much fun and laughter when we are together. You make it through the teen years and find you have a friend
Oh my heart, I can totally relate to how you feel! Thank you for sharing! ?
Beautiful post! Happy birthday to your Caroline! (Who reminds me a lot of my own very melodramatic 8 1/2 year old daughter.)
I don’t even have children yet and this made me tear up! Such a good mama!
Oh my goodness! I have dealt with all the same emotions this week. My little boy turned nine on the first and it almost killed me. He is one of the best things that has ever happened to me or ever will and the thought of half of his childhood is already over kills me. Him and Caroline would get along so great, he loves to read about her hunting and fishing adventures. Quinten made me feel better the night before his birthday because he said Momma no matter how old I am if you need me I am there. He is my angel! Enjoy your baby because like you I know time goes by way to fast.
Stop it already and pass the tissues my way! Friend’s daughter is going off to college next week, I don’t have kids and she has always been the one I wanted…..feels like part of my heart is leaving town–she will be all of 45 minutes away. I keep thinking, roots and wings, make sure they have both but GEES..!
Happy Birthday Caroline!
Dang you for making me cry at work this morning! My oldest is nine and I sure don’t like thinking about him being grown and leaving home in 9 more years!!
Happy Birthday Caroline!!
What a wonderful heartfelt post!!! Your family is truly a blessing!!!
Oh good grief…I was determined not to cry but the question about the little years did me in. My oldest turns 11 next Tuesday and starts jr. high on Friday. My heart is a wee bit tender on the fleeting nature of those “little years”.
Happy Birthday Caroline
Oh my dear! Our Caraline has grown up right alongside yours–she turned nine in June and just this past week I had to do math to convince myself that she’s not still eight!–and this so made me cry, and realize that we really must capture these days.
She’s been with her grandparents for the past two weeks–can’t wait to see her today!
Hope you all have a GREAT weekend!
Happy Birthday to Caroline! Such a precious post by a sweet mama. Soak it all up! Our baby starts his senior year in a couple of weeks. Can’t believe it.
‘Am I almost to the end of my little years?’ Oh that has to be the most bittersweet thing I’ve ever heard!
May God bless you Caroline on your ninth birthday and on all the birthdays after you leave your little years.
LOVE the birthday letter posts! They get me everytime.
Birthday wishes for a wonderful day today, Caroline!! Thanks for being you! Your mama’s stories about you have helped many of us have a laugh or feel blessed!
Happy birthday, Caroline!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful day.
Happy Birthday Caroline!!!
Oh my, I am sitting here crying like a baby! Glad I’m at home
Hard to believe Caroline is 9 today. She is such a cutie. I love reading funny stories you tell about her. Happy Birthday Caroline!
And as I’ve said a million times … Don’t blink … she’ll be graduating before you know it! Time goes by much too fast!
The sweet question about ‘the end of my little years’ did me in. Just broke down. You are wise to savor EVERY moment … even the sassy moments, the dramatic moments, etc. By the time they are in high school they are so busy with activities, friends, jobs, and dates, you rarely see them. I say it is God’s way of easing you into them leaving the nest.
Last night we just realized this will be the first fall in 25 years we have had no one start school or college!! The last of the four graduated from college in May. But friendships with adult children are so, so precious!
Happy, Happy Birthday, Caroline! You are blessed to have parents that treasure you!
Oh my heart, indeed. Big lump in my throat. Happy Birthday, Caroline!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAROLINE!!!
My own five year old drama queen also manufactures things to be sad about, so I totally “saw” that cemetery scene.
And the “end of my little years?” Be still my heart!
*Sniff, sniff.* Happy Birthday, Caroline!
Sweet post for Caroline. Happy Birthday! And Momma, savor these precious days. They go by faster and faster, and before you know it, you’ll be preparing to send her off to her SECOND year of college. sniff, sniff. BUT, although they totally want you to believe they don’t need you, they so do. It’s just wisdom on our parts in now knowing how.
Blessings for you all!
“Am I almost to the end of my little years?” Good heavens, give a girl some warning, would you?!?!
I always look so forward to reading your birthday posts every year – Happy Birthday, dear Caroline!
Happy birthday, sweet Caroline! My ‘little’ girls are 7 and 10, and it is indeed a precious time.
Thanks for sharing, Melanie!
Hugs,
Mary
This week is the first time in 12 years I’m not preparing to start another school year. My husband and I felt the Lord leading me to stay home with our 20 month old son and any other babies that might come along.
This morning I was sad because I wasn’t in the thick of preparing my classroom and new materials for a new class. Thank you for the reminder that the time home with my babies will fly and *THIS* is where I need to be.
Today is actually my birthday (24), but before I even read this post I was thinking about my emotional breakdown when I turned nine. I remember telling my Mom, “It’s my last single digit!” (What a nerd). She calmed me down and said I’d always be here baby. 15 years later, still true… she’s making me homemade rice-krispie treats today to celebrate. Happy Birthday to her!
I started reading your blog this spring and then over the last month or so of my summer vacation (I’m a teacher) I caught up from the very beginning. I feel like I’ve known Caroline all along after reading the whole blog. My son is going into 4th grade too, but he’s already in the double digits (10!) and it has been a bittersweet birthday year. Thank you for sharing Caroline with us, thank you for your honestly, and most of all thank you for helping me get through this summer (the heat? my WORD!) by making a 7 1/2 month pregnant mama laugh everyday!
Happy Birthday Caroline!
So sweet! Happy birthday!
Beautiful words about your beautiful daughter. Happy Birthday Caroline!
Oh mercy! Beautiful letter. I hope you have these all printed out and put together for her some day. So special.