Lorna turns 6!

How did this happen? I held Lorna on the morning of her birthday and rocked her like a baby as I do most mornings. But this morning I tried to remember what it felt like to hold her when she was just born. She was 3 lbs., 15oz. and we were separated for the first three weeks by the NICU. The anxiety of being away from her would melt into hormone induced bliss when she was in my arms. How did that tiny little being blossom into this strong, confident, happy, little girl?

With all Lorna’s changes this year, my father said, “we need to make a big deal about her birthday this year!” So Dad, Val, and Aunt Daisy all flew into town for the party with her 6 friends. We rented out the Carousel of Happiness up in Nederland for our own private use on Saturday morning. Scott, the creator, mc’d the event, even slowing down the carousel for a happy birthday group sing. After our hour was up, we walked to our favorite Nepalese restaurant for the kids to eat at the buffet followed by cake and presents.

For Lorna’s actual birthday on Wednesday, she awoke to balloons on her floor, and a stack of blueberry pancakes with a candle in it. They did a wonderful celebration for Lorna at Kindergarten. Lorna got to wear and cape and crown and sit on a throne while Will, myself and Lorna’s teacher spun a web of stories about Lorna’s life with candle lighting and crossing rainbow bridges and all sorts of other magical happenings. Lorna was beaming! I picked Lorna up from school and she chose Chinese food for lunch. After lunch we brought a blanket to the park, sat under a crimson tree, and read two Shel Silverstein books. Then Lorna got to play in the park as long as she wanted with no little siblings needing my attention or controlling the schedule. We had a quiet pizza and beet dinner with just the 5 of us followed by presents. Top billing were her roller skates and teepee. And so begins her seventh year!