Birthday Girl

Our beautiful Miss E is nine today. 
Nine years since that snowy Easter Sunday when she finally arrived - fifteen days late and having been on her way since Good Friday!!!
I looked at her tonight and I couldn't believe how suddenly grown up she looks. The little girl is disappearing - gradually - and the person she's going to be is emerging. 
I suddenly felt a bit sad - we're over halfway there!! I've spent a lot of her childhood wishing it away a bit; wanting to get to easier times. While I've been doing that she's been growing up!
Last year her birthday was her last day at her old school. She's changed an incredible amount over the year. I remember agonising about moving her, not knowing if it was the best thing to do. I wanted it to be a year's time so I could look back and say it was the best thing we'd ever done.
Well here we are, a year later, and it was without a doubt the best thing we could have done!!
She is happier, more confident, more open and willing to talk.
More importantly she's a lot happier in her skin - less anxious, more fun loving, more relaxed and more able to go with the flow. 
She's developed a lovely sense of humour and takes teasing in the spirit it's intended rather than as a deadly slight!  She laughs a lot more in general!!
She had a lovely day today. An early start to open her presents, two chocolate brioches for breakfast as a special birthday treat and a fun day at school apparently.
Nana and Papa came round after school and we headed over to Frankie & Benny's for a birthday dinner. Miss E was so sweet dressing up with her precious E necklace I got her for Christmas, and her clip-on costume earrings I bought her at the auction the other day. She looked beautiful!
She was giddy to order a mocktail to have with her giant pizza and ridiculously huge, gooey chocolate fudge sundae. 
When we got home despite the lateness -  and the fullness - there was still time - and room - for some birthday cake. And the traditional candle shot!
Unfortunately the woman at Laser Quest the other day kept our matches which she used to light the candles. 
I couldn't find a single match or lighter in the house and was worried Miss E wouldn't be able to blow out candles on her birthday.
Thankfully Papa is a born boy scout and suggested we light a candle from the grill. Worked a treat!!! And the Little Misses have been warned against trying anything so stupid, dangerous and irresponsible themselves!
So, yay, we had candles and cake and singing and a happy nine year old. See extras for a few more.

Annual cake pictures!!
eighth
seventh
sixth
fifth