My Baby is Six

Warning: This post is overly sentimental and is full of the kind of overly sincere schmaltz that I would normally skip if I were reading someone else's blog.

Today, my youngest daughter, Melanie, turns six. We played it low-key and went to her restaurant of choice: Wendy's. We got her a bicycle and her sister got her a Barbie (with a dog). She got a couple of other presents, too, but those were her "big ones".

Melanie has had a rough winter. In the past four or five weeks, she's had strep, a stomach bug, and real life, actual influenza. Earlier in the school year, she missed the first "school friend" birthday party that she had ever been invited to, due to illness. This last Friday, she missed her second school friend birthday party, due to illness. Then, to top it off, she had to postpone her own birthday party for a week, yep...due to illness.

Through it all, she's been a trooper. Melanie is one of the least-demanding, lowest maintenance children I've ever known. (Here's where the sappiness starts) Truly, all Melanie ever wants is quality time with those she loves. From the very start, she was a very snuggly, affectionate child. Even as an infant, she was extra affectionate.

She's also easily misunderstood. Whip smart but brutally shy, she tends to overcompensate with outrageous humor. And she is funny. Unfortunately, her comedic self-survival routine has branded her the "silly" one, and already we see her typecast as the comedian. It takes time and patience for outsiders to get to know her well. (I know there's a Jane Goodall joke in here somewhere...)

She is most herself when she's playing with her sister or hanging out with her mom and dad. If it were up to her, those would be her only chores in life. That would be OK with us.

We love you, Mel! Happy birthday.