Funny side note. Some time ago, I want to say last summer, Tobiah was upset with something that Naomi had done, and in this super serious voice said "uh-uh Nae-Nae Dawn!" We laughed about it for weeks.
Dear Naomi,
Today you turn four! I can't believe it! What an amazing roller coaster the last year has been with you. We have had some lows, but we have had many highs! You have grown, learned, and changed in this last year, and I am so proud of you, and so proud to be your Mama.
Shortly after your last birthday was when we had my suspicions confirmed and you were given an autism diagnosis. Naomi, just because you have this challenge, does not mean there is ANYTHING you cannot do! You have spent the last year proving this baby girls, and I am so proud of you!
Your speech has improved so much, most people can understand you now. You have started stuttering a bit, and honestly sweetie, I hope it sticks around for a while. I find it so enduring.
You have continued to work on being adventurous with eating, and we found a food you absolutely LOVE that kind of surprised Daddy and I-Chili! You still have days where I'm not sure how you survive on how little you eat, but that's ok, you are growing big and strong. You love plain celery (you like to be a Wonder Pet) and will eat carrot after carrot, cut up or not. Your favorite is homemade mac and cheese, just like Mama, and that is exactly what we are having for dinner tonight.
You have learned so much in the last year, too. You know your colors, you are starting to count, and just yesterday you sang the ABC song perfectly.
You started preschool in December, actually on Daddy's birthday! You are doing very well, you are learning to interact with the other kids, and Mama and Daddy are SO proud of you! You love going to school, and love riding the bus.
You also love dinosaurs. You have for a while now, and it all started from the Land Before Time movies, yet I am not so sure you have ever even seen the original as they do not have it in a digital form, and we are mean parents and haven't bought the DVD for you. We really should do that sometime. ;)
A week and a half ago we brought Zeke home. He is your puppy, and our plan is to train him as your therapy dog. He already helps you calm down a lot, and I love watching you with him. You are a little rough, but he loves you anyway. Soon enough he'll be big enough that you won't be able to harass him quite as badly.
Lets see, what else have you been up to lately? Hmm. One thing we are working on is how we talk to others. When one of your siblings (usually Tobiah, occasionally Elli or Ruth) is bothering you, I remind you to go ask them nicely. You always bark out orders at them, and honestly hun, it makes me laugh to myself. You know what you want, and you are determined to get it! While I will be so proud when you master how to speak kindly to others, I honestly think I will miss this sass you have! I hope it never completely goes away, but that it manifests in a more appropriate area.
Did you know that your name means My Joy? Naomi, you ARE my joy! You make me smile every single day! You are the sweetest child, and you fill my heart in a very special way. I love you, my sweet, special, precious child! I love your tender little smile, your big beautiful brown eyes, your gorgeous hair. Naomi, what I love most about you is the beauty that is inside of you, that sweet, loving, spunky little girl that shines through in a special way. I am so, so thankful God has entrusted you to me! I am so thankful to be your Mama! You make me SO proud, you bring constant joy and laughter, and you help me to see the world in a whole new beautiful way that I never imagined was possible. Life through your eyes is beautiful and unique, and I'm blessed to be able to experience a small level of it.
While I look forward to watching you grow, learn, change, and become the amazing women God has created you to be, I hope some of these things never change. I hope you keep that special innocence I love, I hope you continue to see things differently-beautifully!
Naomi, you are so special, you are so unique, and I am blessed to watch you grow. Happy birthday to my "queen".
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