My Cami Rose

Cami turned 10 this month... I cannot believe how quickly these 10 years have flown by. 

10 years have been quite an adventure with our Cami Rose. Here is a little information about Cami:

*She still loves Barbies. If she is ever missing, you can usually find her in her room playing quietly with her Barbies. She has a great imagination and will include any of her siblings or friends that want to play with her, but she is also content just playing by herself.

*She is my rule follower. If we ever want to make sure something gets done, we tell Cami that it is a new rule and she will make sure that everyone follows the rule, including herself. She likes knowing exactly what the rules are and how to follow them. We love that she follows rules, but have also been trying to teach her to question some of the rules (like her siblings do all the time). If rules don't make sense, then it is OK to change them  (for instance, if you tell her to make her lunch and then take a shower, she will do it but will cry about it saying that by the time she is done with making her lunch Max will be asleep in her room and she will not be able to go in there to take her shower.... I tell her to take a shower first, THEN make her lunch, but she says "NO!!!! You told me to make my lunch first and then take a shower.....". So, if a rule needs to be changed, she has a hard time changing it. But, we have been working on this for the past few months and she is definitely improving.

*She loves to talk and explain everything in detail. I love this about Cami. There is never lack for conversation with her. She will share details about everything (where she sat at lunch, who sat with her, what she ate, what her friends ate, what everyone said about what they ate, etc...).  It is fun  to know that she loves sharing everything about her day with us, if only we remember to give her the time every day. We try to remember, but sometimes our days get so busy and we miss hearing all the details. I always feel bad on the days I don't make the time to sit with here and hear every detail about her life, because who knows how much longer she will feel comfortable sharing everything with me.

*Cami is willing to try! In every aspect of her life, she is willing to try. She is doing gymnastics and tumbling classes right now, and although she is in a class with 6 and 7 year olds she doesn't complain and quit. Instead she is happy that she gets to be the oldest and set a good example and she is having fun and that is all that matters. I love that about her. She really is willing to try and have fun in everything.

*She seems to have a lot of self worth. If someone doesn't like the way she dresses or sings or doesn't want to play the games she plays, she is fine walking away and hanging out on her own. She likes her friends, but she also knows that it is not worth sacrificing who she is and changing herself to be what they want. We have talked with her about compromising to play games they like and then the ones she likes, and she is working on that. But she really is fine with who she is and that is really important. 

*Cami wants to be a designer. I have been trying (and failing) to give her sewing lessons. She loves sewing and designing and is very creative. 

*Cami loves food. She may very well be a food critic one day. She savors each bite and can name the things she loves and the things she hates about each dish. 

*Cami is very smart. She is smart without trying or caring. She gets her work done, easily, because it is required and without any fuss. She understands math and science so easily, but it is not her passion. I wish it were, because she is a natural. She is not competitive or she would be passing up everyone in her grade. Instead, she is content to be good at it and to get her work done. And if that's good enough for her, it's good enough for me. I don't want to push her just because I am competitive and know she could really succeed. 

*Cami loves her siblings! So much!! She is always making them gifts and cards and is always willing to share and play with them. She truly loves her family. She is the best at giving hugs and cuddling with mom and dad. She makes sure to give us at least 12 hugs a day and many more kisses and cuddles.

I am thankful for the blessing of my Cami. I love her and am thankful for her.Happy Birthday, Cami.