If
you've known us a while, you'll know how much of a challenge raising
Aurora has been up until now. She's always been incredibly adorable,
spirited, creative, hilarious, uninhibited, intense, lovable, dramatic,
and full of beans. But really, without going into all the details,
she's definitely made us sweat and kept us on our toes.

Lately,
though, Aurora has really come into her own. I am not sure if I can
pinpoint the change. But there IS a change. I've been thinking about
whether or not it has something to do with her teacher this past year
(whom I have deep respect and love for), or whether it's just that
she's growing up. I don't know.

All
of the good things I said about her above still stand. She's still got
ants in her pants, she's still dramatic (though much less often in a
negative way), she's still creative and hilarious. She's definitely got
spirit. Most of all, she is still lovable. But all Chris and I can say
about her lately is how incredibly sweet, introspective, calm,
respectful, agreeable and just plain lovely she is right now. She's
still constantly making us laugh. The thing is, she is just making us
cry (in frustration and defeat) far, far, far less. We're enjoying her
more and more; worrying less and less. It's a breath of fresh air. It's
joyous. It's beautiful.

Most of all, we are enjoying seeing Aurora enjoy
her childhood. She is enjoying her summer. She is owning the
neighbourhood on her bike. She's discovering a love of reading. Like
all girls her age, she's into Webkinz.
She's running off to the park with Supie, without casting a look back,
almost every day. It's just such a pleasure to watch Rory -- carefree!

This week Aurora has rediscovered her love for her American Girl dolls after seeing her favorite doll in live-action on the big screen -- Kit Kittredge -- An American Girl.
It was so fun to take her (and her doll Kit) to the movies to see this
story she's enjoyed, come to life. She was just a doll herself! I just
love spending time with her. I always did...but now...it is just that
much sweeter.

Here she is, tonight, with her "Just Like Me" American girl...dressed in matching jammies:

My beautiful girl, I love you!