Happy 9th Birthday, JoJo!

Dear JoJo,

Today you are turning 9 years old! My littlest little is 9……I can’t believe it!! Here are some things that I’d like to remember about you when you turned 9 years old and some things that you might like to know about your 9 year old self.

You LOVE gymnastics! You are still spending 16 hours a week in the gym and are competing Level 4 this year. If you could be in the gym everyday of the week, you would. You absolutely adore your coaches…..Lizzie, Dennis, Savanna and Mary Anne.
You are still super girly and love to wear bows in your hair. Occasionally, you try to dress like your sisters……you say it’s your ‘mature’ look, but you are still little at heart.
You love our newest dog Scotty. You are his absolute favorite and you treat him like he’s your baby.
You have lots of friends and are well liked by many. Some of your closest friends are Gabriella, Avery, Peyton, Lily and Jordyn.
You still love chicken nuggets. At any restaurant it has to be chicken, fries and ranch…..and don’t forget the ranch! You still do not eat any red meat. You also love orzo and jasmine rice.
You love make-up and lipstick. You have quite a collection. You don’t wear it to school, but you love to play with it.
You still sleep with your bitty-baby doll named Angel. You also always sleep with your unicorn sleep mask and a receiving blanket from when you were a baby. You like your fan on, your night-light on, your sound machine set to white noise for 15 mins. and your closet doors closed (otherwise a monster might come out). When I put you to bed, you still like me to sing you ‘Rock-a-bye Baby’ after prayers.
Every time you leave to go somewhere you always say ‘See you later alligator’……to which you insist we say ‘After while crocodile’.
When you come home from anywhere, you come in the garage door and yell ‘I’m Hooooooooome’. I love it…..it’s such a happy energy coming in that door.
You love board games. You like Trouble, Clue, Guess Who, Connect 4, Crazy 8’s and many more!
You got a new pair of cowgirl boots in Texas this summer that your Grandma Jane and Pepo bought for you. You wear them almost everyday!
You are getting a pogo stick for your birthday since that was the thing you wanted the most!
You are having a cowgirl themed birthday party with 12 of your girlfriends at our house. You’ve already had a cowgirl party, but you wanted another one. We are having Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, doing a cowgirl themed craft and playing games.
You love to snuggle. You always come up to me and say ‘I need a snuggle’. You love hugs and to be close.
You are still fiercely independent. You take your own showers and baths. You can make your own meals using the microwave and toaster, you put away your laundry and organize and clean your room. You can sew on my sewing machine, tie your own shoes, ride a bike, rollerskate and ice skate. You are just all around a ‘can do’ kind of girl.
You love to give me massages and you are actually REALLY good! I think it’s all that strength in your gymnastics arms, but I love when you say ‘I think you need a massage’.
You love to help Daddy make eggs and pancakes. You love to be in the kitchen.
You are participating in the 3rd and 4th grade musical this year and are very excited to be on stage!
On your birthday we will pick you up during the school day and take you to lunch. This year Grandma Jane and Pepo will be visiting so we will all take you to lunch. You have chosen to go to Portillo’s…..good choice!
You absolutely love all arts and crafts. You love to color, paint, sew, knit on your loom, use stickers and glitter. You love all things artsy.

Josephine Mae Wilkes, how did I get so lucky to be your mom? You are such a happy child and a delight to be around. You truly make this world a better place. Happy birthday, sweet girl……I could not love you more!