Our sweet Ava Grace is 6 today.

She is petite, and princess-y, and putzy.

She is soft-spoken, with occasional moments of being extremely loud and boisterous.

She is more than happy to let others serve her, but also volunteers to vacuum and wash windows and peel garlic.

She has become an excellent reader, and is great at math, but struggles to remember things like months of the year, or names, or anything that requires simple memorization with no context to give meaning.

Ava loves dancing, and bike-riding (though still with training wheels, which is mostly the result of parental oversight, rather than anything else), and running, and picking flowers, and blowing bubbles, and building with blocks, and drawing, and painting.

She excitedly does anything her older siblings do, but is also starting to have her own opinionated, and often resolute, voice.  Yet despite her clear preferences, she will often defer to others in order to keep peace.  She loves her little brother and willingly, joyfully plays with him for long stretches of time.

Ava still curls up in a ball and tucks herself in right next to me (or anyone else available for snuggling).  She is moved deeply by affirming words and encouragement, and hugs are still how she receives the most meaningful comfort, consolation, and affection.

She’s moving so slowly into the realm of “girl” without the “little” in front of it that I don’t always notice, but the changes are there. Still adorable, but growing more beautiful now, too.  I love to see her personality emerge in new ways, and I love to see the characteristics she’s always had take on new maturity and strength.  She is simply precious and wonderful.  These six years, she has brought joy and blessing and sweetness to every day.  I love her so very much.