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Stephanie Howell

reading, organizing, shopping, momming too close to the sun. Home is wherever the Army sends us.

And She’s Eight.

Sadie // via Stephanie Howell
She’s so many things.

She’s stubborn, proud, fierce, strong, defiant. She’s argumentative, headstrong, and witty.

She always has the perfect comeback at the perfect time and her sense of humor has always been well beyond her years.

She is funny. Really, truly funny.

She doesn’t laugh her real laugh very often. But when she does…oh man is it ever rewarding. If you get her to laugh that laugh you know you’ve earned it.

She fights HARD to get attention. And she doesn’t care if it’s the good kind of attention or the bad kind.

She just yearns to be heard, to be acknowledged.

She knows exactly which buttons to push and doesn’t hesitate to push them. She loves harder, fiercer, and truer than anyone else in this family.

She is tenderhearted inside of a tough shell.

 

Sadie // via Stephanie Howell

She’s athletic, smart, strong, and competitive.

She still likes to hold my hand and is known to climb in our bed in the middle of the night.

She loves sparkles and nail polish and animal prints and lip gloss.

She is skinned knees in a pink tutu.

She’s spunky and quirky and don’t you ever try to tell her not to do things her way.

She makes my heart hurt and soar in equal measure.

She will make the best damn woman to walk this planet. She won’t take crap from anyone and she will stand up for what she believe. God HELP the boy that messes with her. She will be FIERCE.

Getting her there will be the hard part. I pray daily for strength, kindness, patience, and for a level head and level heart when it comes to my girl.

She will rule the world one day. Whether it’s jumping out of airplanes, becoming the next Tina Fey, or sitting in the Oval Office… I don’t know. But I’m telling you. This kid will move mountains.

Sadie, today you are 8. I want you to know that I love you, believe in you, and think that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. I love your strength, tenacity, and fearlessness. I envy those things in you. I know you’ll never have a wishbone where your backbone ought to be. I know that sometimes I lose my patience too easily with you, and I’m sorry for that. I’m learning and growing with you. Happy birthday, precious girl. Eight is going to be great.

Mommy

 

|| photos by Megan Vining Photography

Comments

  5. Happy birthday Sadie!! You are an amazing little girl who is going to grow up to be someone special!

  7. Happy 8th Birthday Sadie! You are in good company…some of my most favorite people were born on February 2nd! My Grandma, Grandpa and my Dad! Eight is GREAT!

  8. Happy Birthday beautiful girl! Such a pleasure to watch you grow through your Mama’s eyes and words. xo

  10. Happy Birthday, Sadie! You are an amazing girl and many of the qualities you possess, I wish I had. Hope you never lose your spark!

  11. So beautifully written! A treasure for her someday will be this post and all the others like it. Happy 8th birthday Sadie!

  15. Happy Happy Birthday sweet girl, from a lady in California and her three girls who love reading about you and your family and all your adventures. And your momma is right, 8 is great.

  16. Happy Birthday Sadie!
    Loved reading your words. Raising strong girls/young women is not for the faint of heart. Literally brings me to my knees many days praying we get it as right as possible.
    Eight is Great ☺️

  17. Happy birthday Sadie! Stephanie your words are so true. Even when she was quite small, you could see a specialness about her. There is something about her – her determination but also her heart. You are doing a fantastic job raising these little girls.

  21. She’s gorgeous! And reminds me of my son’s girlfriend who has similar qualities. So full of life! Happy Birthday!

  22. Happy Birthday to Sadie! I have a little one who is also a Groundhog baby…he was 5 yesterday. I loved reading your post…it was beautiful.

  23. Happy birthday Sadie! She and my Kate are so very similar in age and disposition. Your words, as always make me smile and help me reflect. What a great reminder to embrace what makes our girls difficult is also what makes them strong and wonderful young ladies. Loved this post. Always love seeing how you celebrate there with your beautiful family. Did you find time to decorate! Always love the decorations you think up.

  24. AND she is beautiful inside and outside.
    She is an amazing little girl growing so beautifully!!!
    you can both be proud of each other!!!!
    Kisses from France