Birthday Girl Maia

She was mortified when I wanted to drive her to the bus stop last week in the rain
But grabbed my hand and held it walking into Target on Saturday.

She does her own hair for school
But still lets me do her hair for church.

She wanted Ugg-style boots for her birthday
But was just as happy to get a dress for her favorite doll.

Today, she is eleven years old--that strange part-girl/part-young woman age--
But she'll always be my first baby.


After she got home from her day at middle school, I sat Maia down and conducted my birthday interview with her. Here is the result:

What was the best part of being ten?
Well, like, when I had my 10th birthday, I got excited because my age had two numbers in it.

What do you think is going to be the best part of being eleven?
That I'll make more friends in middle school.

What are your favorite activities?
Writing, swimming, sometimes I dance in my room, and I like reading and going outside.

Which outdoor activities are your favorites?
Climbing the tree and going into the forest.


Name three of your favorite books.
I like Ella Enchanted, Twilight, and the Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series.
(Asking Maia to choose only three favorite books is like asking me to only eat three M&M's in a sitting.)

Give me three words to describe your room:
Sometimes it's not very neat; it's small--but I don't mind it that much anymore, and right now it's all white--but it's going to be painted.
(I know, I've been in the process of getting her room painted for a year now. I'm ridiculous.)

What was your favorite birthday present?
I don't know. I think it might have been the boots, though, because those are cute. But the scarf, it's cute, too, though. And the American Girl doll outfit was cute and stuff--oh, gosh, that's all of them!

What is your favorite thing to hear Mom say?
Good job! I'm so proud of you!

What is your favorite food?
Spaghetti, pizza and watermelon.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
An author or an artist or maybe even if I wrote a book that got turned into a movie, I could have my friends and me be in it or something.

What is your favorite movie?
I really don't know. I like Aquamarine and I liked Coraline. I'm really not sure; I like a lot of movies.

What is your favorite thing about your mom?
Like, for some reason, like, most of the time, I end up being sort of how she was when she was younger so she understands me.
(Mom might have gotten a little teary at this response. But you can't prove anything.)

What is your favorite thing about your dad?
He's funny and I like going places with him (I also like going places with my mom) and I remember one time I showed him this restaurant that I had been to with my mom and he liked the food there.

My girl and me at my cousin's wedding four years ago.

Maia's first-ever catch!

My Maia is such a special, sweet girl. She is kind, very smart and has an admirably independent spirit. She did not get that (or her beautiful thick hair) from her mother. I marvel at how she happily marches to the beat of her own drummer; I never had that quality. I am so proud of her!

Happy Birthday, My Baby Girl!
(And yes, that is a candle left over from Mackenna's first birthday. Tonight, we chose to interpret it as "It's great to be #1" as in the first-born child.)