It wasn’t that long ago that I was doing this. No, really. Just last week, as a matter of fact.
But this time, it’s Crisana’s turn!
On January 22, 2003, we welcomed a precious little baby girl into our lives. Everything about her has been a surprise, from finding out we were expecting another baby to her birth experience to discovering her personality. It’s been the most fun adventure we’ve ever had, and the fun is only beginning! Here, in no particular order, are the top Six Things I Love About Crisana.
1. I love Crisana’s sparkly personality. She just oozes charm everywhere she goes. She lights up a room just by being in it. She loves to laugh and she knows how to make others laugh with her. She loves being around other people, and makes friends everywhere she goes. She has a delightful sense of humor and can make anyone feel at ease being around her. I love spending time with her…she’s my little buddy!
2. The second thing I love about Crisana is her adaptability. As a second child, she has had to adjust to the schedules of other people from the time we brought her home from the hospital. Although I tried to keep her on a routine, she has never had the luxury of being the only focus of my attention and has ended up being carted around to different activities at a much younger age than Trey. But she has never seemed to mind, and always finds a way to enjoy wherever we are. She is a go-anywhere, do-anything kind of kid!
3. The third thing I love about Crisana is her love of language. She learned to read pretty much on her own and was reading at an end-of-kindergarten level by September. She is never far from paper and pencil and loves to write notes about anything and everything. She talks constantly and is developing confidence in speaking in front of people. More than anything else, this makes me feel a connection between her and my dad. He was a masterful writer, a gifted speaker, a talented educator. To see his legacy passed on to his granddaughter keeps his spirit alive, and keeps him close to me.
4. The fourth thing on my list would be her love for God. She couldn’t wait to ask Jesus to “clean her heart”, and was so excited to be baptized last September. To her, God is as real as any friend, and she is developing in her understanding of what it means to live for Him. She has a heart that is tender and willing to learn, and loves to do devotions and talk about what we’ve studied. She knows she is God’s little princess and is proud to be a daughter of the King of Kings!
5. Number 5 would have to be her love for the outdoors. No matter what the weather, she wants to be out in it…well, except for thunderstorms. Whether it’s jumping on the trampoline, playing on the play fort, riding her scooter, roller skating, riding her bike, or just decorating our driveway with sidewalk chalk creations, she is all about being outside. She, more than Trey, gets excited when it’s time for family campouts and doesn’t seem the least bit afraid to sleep outside or take night hikes when it’s pitch dark. She enjoys exploring in nature and is a force to be reckoned with on family hikes.
6. The sixth thing I love about Crisana would be her girliness. I love that she loves the colors pink and purple, that she loves her baby dolls and her tea set and making tea parties for her dolls. I love that she loves playing Mommy and snuggles with her stuffed animals and reads to them. I love how she loves to dress up in pretty dresses and put on all her jewelry and carry her purse when we go out. I love how when she was only 4 months old she held a rattle phone up to her ear and started “talking” into it. I love that she paints her own fingernails and wants lip gloss on her lips before going to school. I love how my little rough-and-tumble nature explorer can turn into a little princess in only a moment’s time. And I love that she wanted to be a fairy princess for Halloween. I love that my little girl is truly that: a little “girl.”
Happy birthay, princess! May the sparkle of your life continue to shine throughout the year ahead!
Love,
Mom
I will always remember how Crisana just smiled away at all of us at gram’s visiting hours/funeral as we took turns holding this adorable and cuddly almost 6 month old. She was an inspiration ressuring us that life does go on. You have two great kids. Have a great year Trey and Crisana.