Happy Birthday, Jillise

My first baby turns six today. I don't even know what to think. My heart is so full of love for this sweet, smart, sensitive, beautiful child that I am just in awe that I had a hand in creating her. I am so glad that I took the time to go back and find these pictures of her through the years. While it made me sad to see that she is officially a big girl, it also reminded me of what an amazing child she was. Her smile has always had a sparkle and and genuine-ness to it that just makes me so happy. There is not a doubt in my mind that she is destined for great things. To celebrate her six years of life, here are six things about Jillise:

1. Jillise is a "highly sensitive child." She notices things around her that most people don't pick up on. While this makes her incredibly aware, this has also been a struggle for her because she has trouble processing all of the sounds, sights, and feelings that her brain is taking in. She has gotten MUCH better in the past year and I am so proud of her for making the effort to stay in control when she wants to shut down.
2. Jillise loves to make up games and activities. On Tuesdays I have an 11 year old that comes over to play with the girls while I teach students. Jillise always has something planned for them to do. Last week she had invented a club for them.
3. Jillise is a deep thinker. She always catches me off guard with her questions. I love it, though. It forces me to think about why we as humans do what we do. Why do we dislike other people? Is it inherent in us? Is it learned? (These were questions brought up when she was wondering why a girl she has never done anything to has decided that she doesn't like Jillise -- something that devistated my poor little girl).
4. Jillise wants to be an artist, a doctor, and a mom when she grows up.
5. Jillise is turning into a giggly girl. The mom who drives her to school in the morning says that Jillise just cracks her up because she is always tee hee hee-ing when she gets in the car. I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with the fact that all the other kids in the car are cute boys. I am *so* not ready for the teenage years.
6. Jillise is very intelligent. She had a very large vocabulary when she was one, she knew all her letters before she was two, and she taught herself to read before she was five. She loves school even though she can do everything they are supposed to learn in kindergarten. She just loves to be in that structured environment with all of her friends. And they do crafts. Her favorite.

So Happy Birthday, my sweet Jillise!

Birth May 10, 2001

American Fork, Utah

One Year Old: May 10, 2002

Orem, Utah

Two Years Old: May 10, 2004

Orem, Utah

Three Years Old: May 10, 2005

Portland, Oregon

Four Years Old: May 10, 2005

Here, Oregon

Five Years Old: May 10, 2006

Here, Oregon

Six Years Old: May 10, 2007

Here, Oregon