This is the first picture of Esther that I posted on my blog nearly five years ago.
Five years ago, my three year old Esther loved dressing up in tutus and playing with toys. My Esther is eight today, and I’m happy to say that tutus and toys still occupy a big space in her life. As they should.
Esther is the epitome of innocence because I’m sorry, but eight is still rightfully deep in ‘little girl land.‘ Let her eat too much chocolate cake, have extra whipped cream on her cocoa, and invite her Polly Pockets to the coffee shop.
Esther is excited for her birthday. Not because she’s all that excited to turn eight – but because she likes a good celebration. You just have to go back and watch her enjoying her fifth birthday and you know pure joy.
Because if you haven’t noticed yet – Esther is a small package of huge joy.
And I worry for her. People who hold that much joy are easily hurt because they don’t believe bad things could ever happen. Their optimism is unending..until it’s not.
I admit I hold Esther with a little extra care than I do my other daughters as her reality is just different than that of her sisters. She requires a few extra hugs and snuggles and homemade cupcakes on her birthday as store-bought just isn’t ever right.
Esther is a light in this world that I hope shines bright for another 100 birthdays. Because her giggle should last through several lifetimes.
Sometimes I think that her giggle could help end all wars and help feed the world. It’s that powerful.
How do we bottle that?
How do we bottle that innocence of a child this pure and good and give a little to everyone.
Because if we did I know the world would be something so much brighter.
Bright like my eight year old with the light in her eyes that shows us that the future must be good.
It has to be.
For her.
Happy Birthday sweet Esther.
Happy birthday sweet Esther. Wishing you a wonderful day. Love Grammy and Papa
happy—happy birthday, dear sweet esther
Happy 8th Birthday, Esther!
She’s beautiful, Tracy. Pure joy.
Eight is great! We are well into eight here – and edging ever-so-much-closer to nine. Happy Birthday to Esther! Also, I think we should definitely look into bottling giggles.
Kim@Co-Pilot Mom recently posted..Rule Bender
Happy Birthday Esther! Eight is great!
Ali recently posted..Don’t Mess with the Tooth Fairy
Gorgeous photos of a beautiful little girl. I love the way you celebrate your life and your children, Tracy!
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It’s our job to make sure it stays bright for her, that we don’t do things to diminish her happy, her light, her reality that is perfectly fine to have. And my goodness is she gorgeous. Cupcakes all around!
Arnebya recently posted..Sometimes
Oh happy happy birthday Esther!
I hope that the day is just as bright on her 88th birthday and she is still filled with so much joy.
Marta recently posted..The Character.
Happy birthday sweet, sweet girl. May more whipped cream and chocolate cake (and even a unicorn sighting!) be in your future.
angela recently posted..Inching Towards a Solution
Oh I remember that party! Magical, just like Sweet Esther. She completely personifies the saying “I believe that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world.”
Happy Birthday Hugs all around!
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Happy birthday, Esther! What a lovely tribute on her special day.
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Happy birthday to sweet Esther! xoxo
Cheryl @ Mommypants recently posted..Killing childhood
Happy birthday Esther. I hope your heart stays the same for the rest of your life as it is today.
Jennifer recently posted..Time keeps on slipping {Just Write}
Time flies. It always amazes me how your girls are getting older but you haven’t changed a bit
Happy 8th Esther.
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Happy Birthday to a beautiful little girl!
Happy birthday to your Esther. And the future will be bright and good because people like Esther and her sisters and my kids will make it so,
Shannon recently posted..A Tale of Two Drivers
Oh God, I’m sitting here and bawling reading this. It’s so beautiful and sweet and my own princess turns 8 in just a few more weeks. Xoxo
And Happy Birthday, sweet Esther!
She is a beauty and this is written so wonderfully. Happy birthday, Esther!!
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Happy birthday to a wonderful little girl! I hope she has an amazing day!!
-Elizabeth
Oh Tracy, That 5th birthday video is perfection. I wish I’d had the foresight & creativity to do that when my boys were little. And I’m with Esther….store bought cupcakes are never right!! Happy birthday to your precious, joyful 8 year old
Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
It looks as if you’re on your way to being as Beautiful as your Mother.
Your Mama’s Friend, m.
Mark recently posted.."Closer, Getting Closer"
Happy Birthday to your beautiful girl! Mary is also still in the little girl stage– I’m going to stretch that out as long as I can. Love you and your darling girls. xoxo
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Beautiful post.
My son has one of those laughs. It rolls endlessly and everyone around can’t help but grim or laugh with him. Kids are small but their eyes hold so much wisdom on how the world should really see things. Love the photos!
Debbie McCormick recently posted..Why I am unplugging my kids from technology
Happy 8th Birthday to your beautiful and lovely girl!! I have a daughter with a very precious and tender trusting soul like your sweet Esther and I share the same worries and concerns you have expressed so beautifully. Truly a gift I hope they never loose. Hope her day was fantabulous!
Happy Birthday Esther!
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Happy *belated sorry* Birthday Esther.
I know who you are, sweet girl, because I am you. I hold hope, optimism and happiness in my hands like the gift they are. I give my whole heart, Hug with both arms, love and love and love even when it hurts, because I believe in GOOD STUFF, even now at 43.
I am happy for that light inside you, for a smaller kindred soul in this world, for no other reason than to keep believing in it.
enjoy those cupcakes, make your wishes, celebrate every wonderful part of you…
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Happy Birthday sweetie, and please always believe in unicorns!! Love You
PaPa
Happy Birthday! – As a middle child – I think that this holds true for most of us – the hugs and assurance…something about that middle child that grows great optism for a wonderful world but needs a little extra care/support from people around us. I still believe that 30+ years older in life! Enjoy the year Esther.
Eight. How does that happen? She’s beautiful and so are you.
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Happy Birthday little sweet!
Happy Happy Birthday Esther! She’s beautiful and I hope that there is some way to bottle her innocence and joy.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Unplugged
She is so sweet, I feel like I know her through her amazing mother. Happy belated Birthday to her. And that video is like THE sweetest thing ever… you remind me I need to take more videos of my kids…
xo
Elaine recently posted..Old School Blogging, March
really nice, Thank you very much for sharing