Daddy had the cake ready to go in the kitchen. The rest of us gathered around our oldest daughter in preparation for 😈 The Ritual™ 😈. Then the light went out as the cake was carried in, a huge number 3 atop it, ablaze. We all began to sing Happy Birthday to Kiva while she excitedly sat on the floor, the biggest grin etched onto her face. It grew bigger and bigger as our singing continued, clapping her hands together like an ecstatic seal.
Then we hit the crescendo(?) part of the song and her expression abruptly changed. Her face turned to a grimace, and at first I thought it was from squeezing her eyes too tight from the excitement. Suddenly I realized that she was crying, and her lips formed into the most heartbreaking pout 🥺
And I knew that it wasn't because she was upset; she was experiencing tears of joy. I think it was because she saw everyone singing to her, she knew this was for her, she has been dreaming about this day for months... She saw that all of this love was for her and she.. just didn't know how to handle it! 😅
Anyway, naturally I started crying too 😂 Our little girl is only 3-years-old and she already possesses more genuine compassion than most adults. The other day she was in tears because she saw an AI video of toddlers being stung by bees -- she was in tears because the babies were in pain. I know that we are raising such a phenomenal human being...
All in all, I think it was a great birthday! 🎂 Our little girl is growing up so fast, and of course it is bittersweet. But it is another year where she is alive, happy and well, all of us spent it together as a family... Our family has been my greatest treasure; I will protect it at all costs.
