Dear Adelade,
I’ve had lots of moments as your mother that were filled with happiness, delight, total joy. And you’ve said and done many things in your eight years of life that I will never forget. This weekend you may have topped them all.
You have wanted a pet for quite a while. Any pet, really. A hermit crab. A lizard. A fish. In your mind to wish for a dog or a cat must’ve just been dreaming the impossible dream. You have told me many times you would love to have a cat. When we visit your grandparents, you are the chief cat feeder and petter. So, Daddy and I decided that you should finally have your long-wished-for, often-dreamed-of pet.
I picked out two kittens, one for you and one for Sawyer. They are six weeks old, small and playful and sweet. I could hardly wait to surprise you.
Your eighth birthday party arrived, and I wrapped a dish, a collar, and some cat treats and saved them as your final gifts. You opened the bag, and your friends excitedly talked about what was inside. A dish? A cat collar? Cat treats? Do you have a cat? they asked. You sat in stunned silence for a moment before throwing your head back and happily howling, “I’m getting a cat for my birthday!” And then the happy tears started. And you laughed and cried and asked, “How is this possible?” Your friends were smiling happily, probably a little bewildered by your reaction, while all of the adults in the room dabbed at their own happy tears, watching you in your utter joy.
You are a beautiful person.
Even now I can hardly think of that moment without tearing up. Because you are so sweet. Because you are easy to please. Because you are mine.
I love you, my girl. You bring happiness to my life. And I love your little kitties because you love them so much.
Happy eighth birthday! I’ll remember this one forever.
[…] an adorable and sweet kitten for her birthday. Some of you have seen that incredible video of her finding out about the kitten. She cried happy tears. The next day we went to pick him up. He was all white, […]