Dear Katie,
We just celebrated your fifth birthday, my sweet girl.
Now that you’re getting older, I often wonder what you’ll remember about your childhood.
Will you remember that your daddy and I decided to forgo the big birthday party in favor of spending the day celebrating you, just the four of us?
Will you remember that you awoke to a bedroom filled with pink and light blue balloons? Daddy and I snuck them in the night before and nearly woke you up. Who knew balloons were so loud?
Will you remember that we continued our birthday breakfast tradition with birthday cake pancakes?
Will you remember spending the afternoon at the park?
Will you remember asking for oatmeal for your birthday dinner?
Will the presents that we gave you be happy memories?
Will you remember your initial disappointment when you saw that I made you a white cake (not light blue!)?
Or will you remember the joy you felt when I cut your cake open to reveal what I had hidden inside for you?
If you remember nothing else, Katie, please remember these five things…
You have blessed our lives with your amazing little spirit.
We cherish each and every day we have with you.
You are beautiful both inside and out.
Mommy and Daddy love you with an intensity that we could have never imagined.
You were so worth the wait.
With a heart brimming with love for you,
Mommy

Beautiful!! Simply, Beautiful! Happy birthday sweet girl!!
I don't have words to add to the perfection of this, but I wanted to let you know I stopped by and will be smiling the rest of the night because of it.
What a perfect day. Despite all best intentions, I always find myself unprepared and rushed around birthdays. This looks so easygoing and perfect. Very inspiring. I’m sure she loved it and will love looking back on it.
Beautiful little birthday girl! Thanks for sharing her day with us!
Should I admit that I have tears streaming down my face? I LOVE this. The way that you write about motherhood and the things you do for your children make me want to be a better mom. Happy 5th Birthday to your sweet baby girl. Love you! xoxo
What Rachel said….with a sniffle.
Oh my goodness! I can't believe she is 5. You write so beautifully, and that will be a wonderful gift for her someday. Whether or not she remembers these times, she will be able to relive them through your incredible words.
She will remember – how could she not? Such gorgeous moments (and a gorgeous cake!). Happy Birthday, Katie.
You must have been so excited when she was disappointed that the frosting wasn't blue, knowing what was in store for her in a few minutes. So sweet. Happy birthday to your little (big!) girl.
Oh so sweet and perfect…it made me teary eyed. Happy 5th birthday to a dear sweet soul.
1. Sniffle. I love your words.
2. I'm stealing the room full of balloons idea for next year!
Happy birthday! She is beautiful and your love for her always shines through. Such a sweet tribute, and so touching as I write my own to Wesley, who turns 5 tomorrow.
Absolutely beautiful. Happy 5th Birthday to your sweet, sweet girl. (We did the same for Mattix's 5th in February – a special family day.) xoxo
In the end they/we remember the simple things. What a beautiful celebration of life – her life. She must have felt special on her special day. :))
What a lovely day for Katie. Happy birthday to her!
Happy Birthday Katie! My sweet Ainsley will be 5 in July and for some reason this birthday seems different. I can't believe how quickly time has passed.
This has me in tears.
I'm certain that she'll remember all of this.
It's the simple moments that last a life time xo
That is a beautiful cake for a beautiful little girl. Happy birthday Katie.
What a beautiful little girl and what a beautiful way to celebrate! Love the balloon surprise, the blue cake, and the oatmeal dinner! Oh, and the pancakes? Yum! Well done, Mommy. =)
this is simply divine. what a lucky lady!! (both of you!)
So beautiful, Nichole. What a wonderful Birthday letter to Katie. And oh, she will remember this. Most of all, she'll remember the feeling of being intensely and unconditionally loved.
this is beyond lovely. and that cake! oh!
happy birthday to a lovey little katie, from an older slightly bigger katie
Oh so beautiful, you, her, every word of this. Love to you both.
Beautiful. Words, little girl, memories and cake. 🙂