Happy 9, Natalie!

It's hard to believe but our little groundhog is 9 today!  Wow!! She came into this world on her due date and has kept us on track ever since!

She has it all together, this one.  She likes to be on time everywhere and has turned over a new, very organized leaf lately.  We deep cleaned her room almost two months ago and she has kept it spic and span ever since.  It turns out she was a neat freak all along...she just also happens to be a pack rat collector, too.  But once we got the collections (from shells to rocks to pencils to jewelry) put away in an orderly way, she has been a lot more calm, cool and collected herself.

She's a lover of tradition!  She makes sure the holiday decorations are in the same place each Christmas, favorite festivities get scheduled each year, grace gets said at dinner each evening, and  the same bedtime routine we started when she was still in diapers is strictly adhered to 8 years later.  While she's not a fan of a spontaneous schedule curve ball, she will rally when needed (usually), especially when she's asked to be a helper.

 She's artistic to her core!  This girl can paint, draw, sketch, doodle, craft, color, and chalk ALL. DAY. LONG.  She sees the world with an artist's eye and produces work that seems far beyond her years.

She's a fashionista, too!  This girl can put the most adorable outfits together.  She has her own, unique style; I don't see anyone at school dressed quite like her.  Which I love.  I call her style "bohemian bling-tastic" and I think that about sums it up. Regardless if she's home in play clothes or at school in one of her favorite outfits, she is ALWAYS wearing a sparkly necklace.  In her case, accessorizing is not an option.  It is mandatory.  My style, or lack thereof,  continues to be a crushing disappointment to her.

She's got it all this one:  brains, beauty, blonde and braces.  Oh, and she'll likely be tall, too.  So, she really will be able to take over the world one day. She announced at dinner the other night that she's going to run for president one day.  Not sure I'm as excited about that one as I probably ought to be but the White House does fit her style quite nicely!  And I guess I'd love to have my girl surrounded by body guards for life.

Love you, sweet, sassy, sparkly girl.  You are a shining light!