Happy Birthday Tater Tot!

Five years ago today, I held my baby girl in my arms for the first time. After two rambunctious boys, she was eagerly anticipated. Little did I know. After what was a relatively easy labor, and an extremely uncomfortable ride to the hospital, Myra Tatum made her entrance at 3:19 am. All 7 pounds 5 ounces of her. See that big head? Yeah, I felt that. She is a true water baby. Whether it's a bath, shower, pool, sprinkler, puddle, sink, whatever, if it's water, she's in it.

The attitude was apparent from the get go. After having a very mild mannered, mellow little man (Travis), Tatum let us know, girls are different. She has always been a high maintenance girl. I think she was held and carried for the first three months of her life. I joked with Krista not to stop at red lights when Tatum was in her carseat. She laughed, until she witnessed it firsthand. As soon as the car would slow down, she would scream, and that was only if you were lucky enough to sneak her into her seat while she was asleep, then take off driving quickly while she was still asleep.
The boys liked her then, when she was still cute and cuddly, and somewhat quiet. Now, she annoys them most of the time.
She was a relatively happy girl. And once she got past the "I'm a little princess, hold me all the time and worship me" stage, she was smiling and laughing most of the time. (Oh, wait, except for the hold me all the time, she's still in the "I'm a little princess, worship me" stage.)
It was fun to play dress up with her. I admit, the 0-3 months stage, she was bathed in pink. I try hard to make her a girly girl. It doesn't always work.
Her first birthday was shared with the family Christmas get together. Poor thing. Sucks having a birthday right before Christmas. She was a picky eater even then, although, you can see, she'd put away some cake. And man, was that good cake! I can still remember it and all it's chocolate decadence. Oh, sorry, back to Tatum.

Tate's first Christmas. She didn't quite get the idea of finding a present inside, but she sure liked tearing the paper up.
Remember the girly girl part? No, she's a rough and tumble tomboy half the time. She broke her elbow at Easter time. She really didn't know what to think of that neon pink cast. The first day or two, she wouldn't move it. And it was so heavy, if she toppled forward on her arms, she would just stand there with her butt in the air until we lifted her upright. She finally got the hang of it though and it didn't seem to bother her after awhile.
Yeah, she's always been a little diva.
My little beauty
Welcoming baby brother. He was her baby, of course. I had to be careful with her around him. If he started crying, it was not unlike her to pick him up and try to carry him to me. Uh, she was only 2. So imagine a 2 yr old carrying a newborn around like a baby doll. Yeah, scary.

It's hard to believe it's been five years since she came into our lives. It went by so fast. I feel like I missed her being a 1 yr old, a 2 yr old, a 3 yr old..... I've always said I wish had a video recorder in my head for memories, because once they pass, they are so hard to conjure up. She was mama's little girl. I was so important to her. And I guess I still am, a little. I know someday, she'll be a teenager, and she'll pull away from me. I don't look forward to those days. I love my little girl, but I miss my baby girl. She still likes to be cuddled, but she's defiantly independent now. She is funny, and smart, and precocious. I woke up today with her napping beside me. Still mama's girl.

Since she always has to share her birthday with Christmas planning, we let her have her own special day. Friday, the girls went to Sweet and Sassy kid's salon, and Tatum was pampered like the diva she is. She got her first haircut in 5 years. Well, first official haircut. I don't count when she butchered her bangs. Or was it Travis?
She was mesmerized by Hannah Montanta and having her hair brushed. Definately, my daughter. No, not the Hannah Montana part. It's funny that she seemed to enjoy it so much, because it's a pain to get her to stand still and have her hair brushed. Fancy bows and barrettes are wasted on her. She has never left them in for longer than an hour.
She wanted a princess "do", and sparkly purple makeup.

Checking out her hair for the first time.

My heart hurts a little every time I see how beautiful this girl is. How did I create something so perfect?

We came back home for pizza and cake. Then Tatum opened her gifts. There was a decidely Dora theme. She LOVES the digital camera that grandma got her. Although, for some reason, she wants everyone to make a silly face before she takes their picture.
She also enjoyed the Sing and Dance along Dora dvd. This girl would sing and dance all day if she could. And she will make up a song to just about anything. Ask Krista about her going to Kohl's to buy a gift card song. Yeah, songs about anything. If you can say it, you can sing it.
I hope you had a good fifth birthday, Tateybug. I love you, baby girl. You still make my heart melt.