Capturing Hadley

It embarrasses me to realize that it's been a whole year since I sat down and recorded what my dear girl is like. I used to do this exercise every few months. And since my camera now won't take any pictures, I almost put off this post longer. But when we went to JC Penny yesterday for your "school picture" they were having a promotion  where they emailed me all the proofs in low resolution for free. Perfect for blogging. And for the record, Hadley picked the outfit and the hair style. If you  haven't read these portraits in time before, they are always written to the subject. Kassy will come soon.

Yesterday, as I flipped through a catalog I noticed that suddenly all the kids clothing and all the decorations for little girls' bedrooms had models younger than my you. You look like a girl now. There is no preschooler left in you. You are tall and skinny (actually about average height for a second grader). Your hair is still that complement-producing shade of red. And your eyes are hazel.

Sometime last spring you stopped having to wear dresses or skirts everyday. In fact, there have been weeks of all pants. You are suddenly very practical about clothing. It doesn't have to be pink, though it often is. And you wear dresses, not so much for your own pleasure, but to please your sister or your dress-loving friend Alexis. In fact, this fall, the back-to-school outfit you picked out was a pair of khakis and a green shirt with orange flowers! Sometimes you come down the stairs, dressed, and I'll say, "Just so you know, hot pink and orange don't look good together."
"MMMOOOMMM" you reply with disbelief, " God doesn't care if my outfit matches."

After struggling in Kindergarten and first grade with reading, you are now a skilled peruser, eager to learn new things and to find great stories. It gives me so much pleasure to share stories that I have loved with you. You just finished simplified versions of Anne of Green Gables and The Little Princess. Over the summer you were really interested in the Magic Treehouse series. As your reading improves you are becoming more interested in Little House on the Prairie or the American Girl series.

Last November, almost a year ago, you started gymnastics. The sport has captured your heart. Many days your father forbids you from doing any more handstands for the day since fifty or more seems like enough. Sometimes we want to look at you right-side up. You have improved quickly and are very determined to learn each new skill, but we don't have the money or the desire to let you on the team, which is really your dream. It's been breaking my heart to watch you dream of that team and having to say "no." You came out of gymnastics class the other day, frustrated and angry. You started the recreational class able to do back hip circles on the bar and now, since they rarely use the bar, you had forgotten. And it was only at the first class that you got to practice back hand springs, which is a huge goal of yours.

This fall for the first time, you played on a not-so-great soccer team. Your father, the coach, was frustrated but you flourished. For the first time you weren't one of the worst players on the team.  Actually you may have been the best player on the team. While you can still be spacey as a  defensive player, you have excellent ball handling skills and have learned this year to steal the ball and dribble around the defenders with finesse.

You've matured emotionally too. Fights with friends or feelings of exclusion used to make you cry. While those things still bother you, you are able to keep things in perspective a bit. Tears are not as frequent and you seem more confident.

You are still characterized mostly by silly fun. You are a happy kid, quick to make friends, delighted by gifts. You struggle with wanting things and sweets too much, but are slowly becoming more generous. You are a good eater, understanding the value of healthy food. You eat most anything even if you don't like it.  You are affectionate (sometimes too much). You love to learn and to create. You are constantly making connections and asking questions. I was so impressed with your perceptiveness the other day when you said, "Mom, in art class they keep telling how to draw. 'You must have four buildings and trees with two different color leaves.' It looks nice, but it just isn't me."

Currently you are saving your allowance and hoping for an American Girl doll (the one you want changes regularly. You wish Samantha wasn't retired and are now hoping for Felicity).

Most exciting of all though is your faith. It has blossomed. In September you made a decision to accept Christ. I have seen your doubts diminish and your desire to be obedient and kind increase. You are more trustworthy. It our prayer that you will continue to walk down this path.

I love you Hads. Keep growing into a wonderful young lady.