Happy 7th Birthday, Tatum!

Tatum, Tatum, Tatum...

This has been a crazy, crazy year for you! I say this as you went through some changes this year.

You made it through Kindergarten with FLYING colors. You are so smart. You read at a 2nd grade level and do 2nd grade math. You and I tease each other about skipping a grade. Your first grade teacher is Mrs Clark.

You have the same friends but are gaining a few more. Your best friends are Erica, Estella, Justin and Caleb. You ask for play dates every single week. Your daddy and I tease you that you had your first boy call the house (and at 10:00pm no less..lol).

 You still love Awana and have already finished your first book. You are starting your review book a whole month earlier than last year. WOW. I think having Ellie in your group challenges you.

You continued on with your soccer season. We weren't sure if you still enjoyed it but you begged us to sign you up. You were on another new team but you did very well. You started a new league which now allows goalies. You attended two soccer camps and learned the goalie position--which you love to play. Go Blaze.

You are an awesome big sister. We welcomed Finley into our family and you are such a brilliant little mommy. You want to do everything for her. It is so cute.

Your vocabulary is astronomical. Granny and I talk all the time about all the new words you learn. You use them in the right context too. Sometimes I wonder how you pick them up--but then realize it is because you LOVE TO READ...and you are reading chapter books. You love reading Ramona, the Magic Tree House series and the Jonie B Jones series. You sometimes read two chapter books in a day.

Monster High seems to be your toy of choice IF its not arts and crafts. While I really dislike these dolls, I try to take interest so at least I am in the loop. You love to draw and come up with new fashion idea's. Funny thing is, you hate to shop for clothes. I am sure this will change soon...haha

You have lost four teeth--with the latest being last week. You got your braces off and they just started coming out one by one. You were so happy to have your braces off --and them sometimes you say you miss them. Don't worry...round two will be coming soon:)

We cut your hair. It was a hard decision for us to make, but daddy and I decided it would be best. We got 7 inches cut off and you look so cute. Sometimes we both miss the long hair, but we are making do.

We joined the YMCA and you swim almost daily ( or well we did before Finley arrived). You have become such a fish. We spent most of our summer days together at the Y. You enjoy playing in the baby pool to with bubba:)

We got to go see Taylor Swift again this year. You share my love for country music and I can't tell you how much this pleases me. We have so much fun singing in the car together. We had a great time at the concert too. Daddy got us some pretty cool seats.

I don't have your yearly stats as your appointment is not until January. If I had to make a guess you are still 48 inches tall and about 75 lbs?


Your 7th year stats are:
Weight 64 lbs (87%)
Height 49 inches (58%)

You took your first trip to Kings Island this year with daddy and had fun. You were a little scare of the rides at first but daddy said you came around. You also joined the kids choir at church.

My dearest Tatum. I love you so much. I enjoy getting to see you grow up and become quite the young lady. You are thoughtful and generous. You have a great smile that melts my heart. You are a phenomenal big sister. You are still a little shy and go to the beat of someone else's drum, but you are expanding your horizons a little more every day. Continue to learn and to love my sweet girl. Evolve into that beautiful young woman that daddy and I envisioned for you the minute God placed you into our family. Thank you for being you. I am so proud of you sweets. So proud.

Many many birthday wishes.

Love,
Your mommy