Samantha is TEN! Two whole hands! Double digits! She truly is a perfect 10!

From this precious baby girl (born on her due date at 1:04pm)…

To this happy one year old….

To this perfectly perfect two year old….

To this lively three year old…

To this sweet and sassy four year old!

To this sunshiney five year old…

To this bright light of a six year old….

to this amazing seven year old…

to this so so great eight year old…

to feeling fine at nine…

to a perfect 10!

She is happy, she is fierce, she is competitive, she is joyful, she is pure sunshine! I truly think she’s got some magic inside of her! I love her so much.

Samantha loves to flip around all day, every day. She loves to jump on her new trampoline. loves to watch YouTube on her iPad and laugh along to AFV. She can still sing every word to every Taylor Swift song and loves Meghan Trainor too. She loves to style her perfectly wavy, long blonde hair – headbands, half-ups, ponytails – she’s learning to do it all herself! She loves to get her nails done and is always asking for tips like she had at Halloween. ha! She plans her outfits and, lately, ends up in Aviator Nation or Lululemon most days – but will also do a cute sweater and jeans look. She likes to look good!

She’s that perfect mix between a little girl and a tween. Skincare and a trip to StarB’s are quickly rising to the top of her list of interests, but she still loves to hop on her bike or play with her Barbies. She wants to look so grown up but is still my little girl. What a fun age.

Samantha fights with her brothers…a lot. She doesn’t want them touching any of her stuff and they poke and poke and anger the bear! ha! She’s very quick to yell at them and we’re working on that…but I also know she loves them and they can be so happy together. Ah, siblings!

Samantha is a competitor. She does swim team in the summer and plays soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, dance, cheerleading and lots and lots of tumbling. I must say – she’s pretty good at all of then! Naturally athletic, she also hustles harder than just about anyone. She plays to win and really does not like losing. She’s so determined in whatever sport she’s playing at the time. In tumbling she can do backhand springs from one end of the field to the other and she can land her round-off, back handspring, back tuck. That standing tuck will be coming soon! I love to see the grit and determination on her face when she plays…and I love to see that superstar smile when she’s performing on stage!

This girl is still a total Momma’s girl. She always wants to sit next to me and never wants to share me. She can put on a mean pouty face when she doesn’t get her way about it too! Oh, she loves me and I love her every bit as much right back. We sure do have fun going on adventures together!

4th grade has been great so far. She has a cute class with some of her besties. Girl drama is hard to avoid but Samantha does her best to steer clear and never be the one creating the drama. She loves her teacher, Mrs. Hinely, and is excelling in school. Math comes easily to her – just like her brothers! She has lots of besties including Frances, Emma, Kate, Frances B, Violet, Jane…lots of cute girls!

A few questions with my favorite NINE year old!

Favorite book? Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not So Bratty Little Sister
Favorite TV show? America’s Funniest Home Videos
Favorite movie? Bring it On
Favorite color? Purple
Favorite song?
Favorite number? 9
Favorite restaurant? Zoe’s
Favorite thing to eat? mac and cheese
Favorite friend? Frances, Frances B, Emma, Violet, Kate, Jane
Favorite toy? iPad
Favorite animal? puppies
Favorite dessert? brownies
Favorite sport? tumble
What do you want to be when you grow up? Interior Designer / mom

I sometimes just stare at her and can’t believe she’s real and she’s mine. She is pure sunshine and joy and will always be the biggest dream come true.

Happy birthday Samantha! We love you so much!!!