Happy Birthday Ruthie!

Dear Ruthie,

It's hard to believe it was only 5 years ago that we welcomed you into our lives. It really does seem like you've always been a part of our family. From the day you came home from the hospital you have wanted nothing more than to be one of the big girls. As a baby you were always happy as long as you could see your big sisters. You have always been so determined to do everything they do and NOTHING slows you down! You don't allow your size or your age to stop you from doing anything you want to do and I love your fierce determination and the confidence you have in yourself that you can do anything! You are so blessed to have big sisters that love you and are willing to let you be a part of whatever they are doing. They willingly share their toys and friends and for many years their room with you. And you also have JP who adores you and is your willing partner in crime. He is always so sad if you are not around especially at bedtime and naptime as y'all now share a room. You are pretty positive that you are a first born child so it's a good thing that you have a JP to boss around/mother! You definitely were not meant to be the baby of the group!

Ruthie, I am constantly amazed by your strength. We asked a lot of you this year when we started OIT. We ask you everyday to eat your peanut dose and you so rarely complain. You put up with every other week trips to the doctor's office in North Carolina and you rarely complain. I am SO proud of you and your fierce drive to get control of your peanut allergy. You are so excited about all the things you get to do once you finish OIT (like go to Marble Slab) but you told me you are most excited about not having to worry about people touching you. That broke my heart a bit but made me even more determined to help you control your allergy instead of letting it control you. You are so well educated about your allergy and are very good at questioning everything before you eat it and I am so excited that, if we stay on track, you shouldn't have to worry about any food you are or anyone else are eating when you start kindergarten. I know that will be such a big relief for both of us!

Speaking of school, you have a had a wonderful year this year in the 4s! You have had a little trouble adjusting to going 5 half days instead of 2 but you love your teachers and friends so that makes it a little easier. Your teachers tell me often how sweet you are and that makes me so proud! You are SO looking forward to kindergarten next year and I know you are academically and socially VERY ready to go. The elementary school has no clue what they're in for when you walk through those doors in the fall. You already know the names of all the teachers and most of the kids in the school and you're pretty sure you already run the school! You are pretty determined that you are going to have Mrs. Estes (Emmie's 1st and 2nd and Ellie's 2nd grade teacher) and while I keep telling you she doesn't teach kindergarten you are pretty adamant so hopefully you will be content with being able to go by her room and get hugs next year!

This year you more or less stopped sucking on your fingers. You still do it occasionally in the car or at night but it's more that you put them in your mouth instead of sucking on them. Sometimes I look back at pictures of you the first few years of your life and miss that sweet baby habit you had. It definitely makes me realize how much you've grown up this year. Also, over the course of this year your hair has pretty much straightened out. I SO miss your curls...you however are very excited to have straight hair like your sisters.

Your smile lights up any room you are in and you bring so much joy to those around you. You always have fun with whatever you do and people love being around you! You know what you like and don't like and have no problems with standing your ground when you want something. This causes problems for you sometimes but I know that your fierce determination will serve you well later in life! I have loved so much watching you grow up a sweet, happy baby to a fun-loving, determined preschooler. You are beautiful inside and out and I'm so happy that God chose me to be your mom!

Happy Birthday sweet Roo Roo...I know 5 is going to be a great year!

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