Hey Penny,
Today was your fourth birthday. Wow. That blows my mind a bit because it means we have known each other for a long while AND STILL it seems every day you do something that surprises me a little. You're a firecracker. You are the wild card. You truly are and I mean that in the most amazing sense. You are so funny and so sweet and so silly and unexpected. You do things on your own timing and of your own will. You make me laugh, Penny. You are as clumsy as is humanly possible and you get that from me - I'm sorry. You are sweet soul that just knows who needs a little extra - whether it is within our little family or someone we meet out and about. You gravitate to the underdogs and I am wildly in love with that part of you. You tolerate a lot until you just don't anymore and then you come out swinging - I love that about you, too. You love animals and I love THAT about you. I especially love that you've adopted a sweet little polar bear puppet as your favourite... probably not because you like it - but because you know that I do.
Your laugh is contagious, your enthusiasm is endearing, your joie de vivre is dazzling and your voice is something I never, never want to forget. Penn, you have been the most challenging and the most rewarding person in my life... and that's pretty awesome.
You leave a mark. Never stop doing that.
We will never stop loving you for it.
Happy birthday, buddy.
Love you,
Mama
Today: was awesome, but it was tough, too. It was the close of our winter birthday parade. (Pilot (December), Dan (January), Poet (January), Penn (February). And nothing says time is passing like a whole lot of people having birthdays in succession like that. It's hard on the heart... It's hard and wonderful to watch them grow. It's hard and painful to let them go. It's amazing to see these three little hearts grow and become individuals, but also to become sisters and friends... Be still my old heart.
Slow down, old Time.
SLOW.
