Six.

Dear La,

Today you turn six years old. Six!

I know. I can't believe it either.

Over the past year I've watched in amazement as you transformed from a sweet little preschooler into a mature and able kindergartner. You've still got the sass, oh yes. But my, how you've changed in one year.

Your unique style and flair for fashion have intensified over the past year.

There are just some looks that only you can pull off.

And oh, how you love your accessories.

This summer you appeared as a flower girl in three separate weddings. After you got over your initial control-freak "flowergirlzilla" escapade, you found a rhythm and blossomed into the best darn flower girl that Ohio has ever seen. You made your mama so proud.

In September you started kindergarten.

Your adjustment period lasted for four solid, miserable weeks — which was about three weeks longer than I could bear. Every day I would pick you up from school and you would immediately begin crying about having to walk a whole mile back to our house. It got to the point where as soon as you would begin tearing up, I would grab your hand and drag your whimpering little self right down Broadway, ignoring your cries the entire way home.

I will probably win the Mother of the Year award for that one.

But thank goodness, you got over it. And now you're a champ about our walk.

When you started school you had to give up your fashion-forward ways and submit to a navy blue and white uniform. You were not pleased with this concept. But when you tried on that little blue jumper with the little white polo underneath and the little blue sparkle tennis shoes for the first time, I completely lost it. And you were all, "Great. Now I have to wear this damn uniform AND deal with a blubbering fool of a mother every morning when I get dressed."

Darn right, La.

You were such a peanut back then. I'm not sure why they even let you into kindergarten. I mean, just look you. You were such a shrimp!

This year was all about making new friends.

The best kinds of friends.

The ones that you know will stick around.

... But it was also about keeping the old ones.

... And laughing regularly with all of them.

This year was also about eating as much bratwurst as possible. I think I have at least six photos of you just like this one:

La, I have witnessed a beautiful metamorphosis this year. Every day you change, you learn, you grow. You make me so happy.

You are my pride, my joy, my closest companion. I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to have you. You make everything about life so much brighter, richer, fuller and happier. And just when I think it can't possibly get any better ... somehow it does.

Happy Birthday to my special girl! I love you immensely.