Letter to Lucia: 9 Years Old
Happy happy birthday, firstborn!
You were SO excited about turning nine. You've been waiting for your birthday for months. Every year your excitement and expectations seem more extreme; this year, however, they were easy to fulfill with not too much stress. Your top wish was a new American Girl doll--Tenney--and Greta, too, wanted a new doll for her birthday, Josefina. So a big day out at the American Girl Store was a given.
Saturday was a long day to get through, but it actually wound up going quickly because it was our block party. You and Greta got to go to the bounce house early with the little girls who live in the house whose yard sported the bounce house; so that was fun. You got your faces painted and loaded up with glow sticks.
Then, finally, it was Sunday, the long-awaited AG Store day. We drove into the city. When we got to the store, you made a beeline for Tenney. (I'd made two calls to the store in the days prior to our visit, nervously checking inventory; Tenney is being retired at the end of the year, and I was so worried she'd sell out before you could get her.) Greta found Josefina, and then we immediately paid for the dolls so they could be unboxed. That was exciting. A salesperson took us into the "personal shopping" area to do the unboxing, gave you and Greta (and your dolls dolls) birthday stickers, and generally made a fuss. Then we shopped around so you could each pick out an outfit, and went back to the personal shopping area to pay for all that. She threw in some extras, which was thrilling.
Then it was time for lunch at the cafe. You and Greta had also brought your Luciana dolls to the store, so at lunch we had four dolls sitting with us. They all got plates and cups and placemats. The waiter gave you a doll-sized bouquet of silk flowers at the end of the meal. You girls had so much fun.
Next, the final stop: the doll salon, where the Lucianas got their ears pierced.
It was a hugely successful birthday extravaganza.
Today was finally your actual birthday. I had helium balloons tied to the kitchen chairs and one balloon tied to your bedroom desk chair, as is our tradition. I'd also picked up a new outfit for Carmel Judy at a rummage sale and secretly changed her during the night, and you were thrilled to discover Carmel in a brand-new outfit when you woke up. You each got to open one present before school: an American Girl waffle breakfast set.
Then you had to go to school, but I got to go into your classroom in the afternoon to give out Rice Krispie treats (store-bought, as per school district requirements) and Halloween pencils. The kids sang to you. After school you had sewing class. And THEN, finally, you got to come home and have your celebration.
You were so excited about opening your presents so we did that first. Your big gift was Tenney, of course, but you also got: the waffle set, a doll travel set (suitcase, passport, neck pillow, airplane dinner tray, etc), doll pj's and bathrobe, three books (a Heidi Heckelbeck and two Whatever Afters), several pairs of dangly earrings, Racko, Kit's photographer outfit (American Girl), and a Rilakkuma in a yellow sleeper (your top wish besides Tenney). Your ice cream cake was adorned with Puppies in My Pocket. You were thrilled with all of it.
It was a great birthday. But NINE. That's a little insane. Next year you'll be double-digits. I hope you're always this excited about your birthday and that we get a few more years of American Girl overload. You don't know it, but it's fleeting. Those dolls are your world right now, and I'm so glad they're with the nine-year-old you. You're the best, little one.
You were SO excited about turning nine. You've been waiting for your birthday for months. Every year your excitement and expectations seem more extreme; this year, however, they were easy to fulfill with not too much stress. Your top wish was a new American Girl doll--Tenney--and Greta, too, wanted a new doll for her birthday, Josefina. So a big day out at the American Girl Store was a given.
Saturday was a long day to get through, but it actually wound up going quickly because it was our block party. You and Greta got to go to the bounce house early with the little girls who live in the house whose yard sported the bounce house; so that was fun. You got your faces painted and loaded up with glow sticks.
Then, finally, it was Sunday, the long-awaited AG Store day. We drove into the city. When we got to the store, you made a beeline for Tenney. (I'd made two calls to the store in the days prior to our visit, nervously checking inventory; Tenney is being retired at the end of the year, and I was so worried she'd sell out before you could get her.) Greta found Josefina, and then we immediately paid for the dolls so they could be unboxed. That was exciting. A salesperson took us into the "personal shopping" area to do the unboxing, gave you and Greta (and your dolls dolls) birthday stickers, and generally made a fuss. Then we shopped around so you could each pick out an outfit, and went back to the personal shopping area to pay for all that. She threw in some extras, which was thrilling.
Then it was time for lunch at the cafe. You and Greta had also brought your Luciana dolls to the store, so at lunch we had four dolls sitting with us. They all got plates and cups and placemats. The waiter gave you a doll-sized bouquet of silk flowers at the end of the meal. You girls had so much fun.
Next, the final stop: the doll salon, where the Lucianas got their ears pierced.
It was a hugely successful birthday extravaganza.
Today was finally your actual birthday. I had helium balloons tied to the kitchen chairs and one balloon tied to your bedroom desk chair, as is our tradition. I'd also picked up a new outfit for Carmel Judy at a rummage sale and secretly changed her during the night, and you were thrilled to discover Carmel in a brand-new outfit when you woke up. You each got to open one present before school: an American Girl waffle breakfast set.
Then you had to go to school, but I got to go into your classroom in the afternoon to give out Rice Krispie treats (store-bought, as per school district requirements) and Halloween pencils. The kids sang to you. After school you had sewing class. And THEN, finally, you got to come home and have your celebration.
You were so excited about opening your presents so we did that first. Your big gift was Tenney, of course, but you also got: the waffle set, a doll travel set (suitcase, passport, neck pillow, airplane dinner tray, etc), doll pj's and bathrobe, three books (a Heidi Heckelbeck and two Whatever Afters), several pairs of dangly earrings, Racko, Kit's photographer outfit (American Girl), and a Rilakkuma in a yellow sleeper (your top wish besides Tenney). Your ice cream cake was adorned with Puppies in My Pocket. You were thrilled with all of it.
It was a great birthday. But NINE. That's a little insane. Next year you'll be double-digits. I hope you're always this excited about your birthday and that we get a few more years of American Girl overload. You don't know it, but it's fleeting. Those dolls are your world right now, and I'm so glad they're with the nine-year-old you. You're the best, little one.
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