Ya’ll already know how much I love that little girl, right? She amazes me to no end. She called me last week to share some news with me. Her teacher nominated her for a “National Youth Scholar Program” this summer which means (1) she is TREMENDOUSLY smart, (2) other people recognize it and (3) she’ll be away from her parents for a whole week. THAT has NEVER happened before. LOL (the “away from her parents” part). She’s in the 4th grade and the little chick is reading on an 8th grade level. I asked her if she was excited about the nomination and she said very casually, “I don’t know.” Well, I was more than excited enough for both of us – trust and believe.

We had a recent discussion about her birthday festivities. Because her dad was supposed to be on a business trip, her party was originally scheduled for last weekend but, life happens and so, it will be this Saturday – May 5th. Now Little Miss Girlie was NOT feeling the fact that I was going to be “late” due to my speaking engagement. I mean, after all, who was going to make her favorite pasta dish?? Trust me – when my sis-in-law said she could/would make it, the Princess was quite skeptical. Raised eyebrows and all. So now I get to tell her that I can be there (event has been postponed).

I remember traveling to Missouri for my nephew T’s last college football game. I think my niece was just beginning to realize that her family consisted of more than just her mom and dad. She and her mom were in the seat in front of me in the van and she kept repeating my name. We had to pullover at a rest stop so she could sit behind me in order to see me. I swear that little girl said, “Aunt Jackie” from VA to Missouri.

The last time I was at her house she asked me quite seriously, “Aunt Jackie, how long have I been fabulous?” I didn’t even skip a beat – I told her long before she was born into this family, when she was in Heaven waiting for God to send her here. Her response, “Ok.” And off she went to play with her best friend.

I still laugh thinking about the first time she went to the State Fair – she was wide-eyed with wonder. She kept saying “this is the BEST day of my life!” I think she was all of 4-5. And the first time I heard her giggle? I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I loved her beyond measure. And when she discovered what a pop quiz was? Girlfriend was TOO THROUGH! She wanted to start a petition and everything. And when her mom tried to tell her that she was “black”? That little sister was H-O-T. She went and grabbed props to show her mom the difference between “byown” and “byack”. When her dad got home that day, she told him that her mom didn’t know her colors.

She still laughs when I tell her that she had problems pronouncing words that started with “w” or “r”. She couldn’t say “why”, “white”, “red”, “water”. It came out “yie”, “yite”, ‘yed”, “yater”. My sis-in-law normally plants a garden every year and the year my niece discovered cherry tomatoes, she ate so many, her little cheeks broke out. We’d go looking for her and find her outside in the garden, eating tomatoes and trying to pluck cucumbers from the vine. And there was the time her god-sister almost got into a fight because her teacher (they attend different schools) announced that a classmate of the god-sister was “smart” and little Miss JLS got mad and had to set them straight! LOL I don’t know many people who are as good as keeping a secret as I am and I think she has me beat. Girlfriend cannot be bribed. When I told her that I’d been laid-off, she was so excited because she had “82.15” which surely meant I could come work (translation: play) for her. Oh, can’t forget the “checklist” she put together for my potential boyfriend. The girl is a riot. I still laugh until I cry when we talk about the fact that she and her classmates think losing their allowance is a “maximum emergency”.

As you can tell, I have sooooo many stories about the Princess. I love the fact that she trusts me enough to share her secrets with me…and to keep mine. I love the fact that she’s young enough to believe in superheros and thinks her family is full of them. And I can’t wait to see what new stories unfold.

She is my favorite girl.
My favorite 10 year old.
My favorite artist.
An amazing writer.
An absolutely divine fashion diva.
The smartest 10 year old I’ve ever known.
My favorite giggler.
She gives the world’s best flying kisses.

Simply put, she is beyond fabulous!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS SO FABULOUS!

From Aunt Jackie So Fabulous (BAE)