Yesterday, this beauty turned six.  Six!  Six is so many lovely things.

Six is pure unadulterated joy.  It’s discovering the fun of squashing peach slices between your fingers as you bake a crumble to brighten up a rainy day.  It’s singing while you do that.

Six is a gap in your smile, but smiling big nonetheless.  Six is speculating what the Tooth Fairy will leave for you, and hoping it’s shiny.  Six is being absolutely thrilled to find four quarters under your pillow in place of your tooth.  Six is all about finding joy in the little things.

Six is chock-a-block full of personality and sweetness and sass.  Six is kicking shyness to the curb, running out onto a makeshift stage at the camp talent show, grabbing the mic and belting out How Far I’ll Go in front of the entire camp and their parents.  Six is absolutely glorying in the applause.

Six is learning, always learning, about the world.  Six is finding your people, and your people might be cheetahs, caracals and servals, birds of prey – where my peregrine falcons at? – and brightly colored fish at the National Aquarium.  Six is delighted with everything.

Six is getting your hands dirty, feeling the soil – even if it’s potted soil in a container garden on your little urban patio.  Six is plucking a fresh mint leaf, chewing it contemplatively, and then declaring that you prefer lollies.  Because of course you would rather dig in the dirt and then eat candy.  Six tells it like it is.

Six says the darndest things sometimes.  Six is all about prancing through a path surrounded by wildflowers and declaring “It’s like we’re inside a Monet painting, Mommy!”  Six is also engaged to marry a boy from camp (Daddy says “we’ll see”) – sometimes six is a little too precocious.

Six is adventurous, and brave, and ready for anything.  Six is fun, and funny, and always looking for the next adventure.  Six is my adventure, my wish come true, and my heart’s treasure.

Happy birthday, Peanut.