Every year, I am surprised by how fast time has gone, and how fast the the kids grow. I’m always caught off guard a little when it’s time for their birthday. You’d think I’ve gotten some practice and would know better by now. But no, I’m still in shock that Savanna is turning six.

This past year, Savanna made some really significant strides. For the last 2 years, she has repeated the exact same swimming class over and over and over and over and over. She refused to put her face in the water. I want her to do this at her own pace. A few months ago, one day she just did it. At her own will. Then all of a sudden her swimming progressed at the speed of light. The other day she offered to teach me how to swim. I think that day is coming very soon.

Also, since she has entered the elementary school system, she has been very shy and reserved in class. You can barely hear her. She never spoke up. But this year, she has just gotten out of her shell. She puts up her hand to ask questions and answer questions. She participates. She speaks up. She gives direction.

Even though she is small, she has great endurance. She can hike and walk far. She can ski all day without feeling tired. She ended last season without needing any assistance down very long green runs at Whistler, even some easy blue runs. I can’t wait to see how she will progress this season.

Our favorite thing to do together include playing Spot It, Zingo, or Uno, or go for a walk and get coffee. She is so good at finding something interesting to do or look at, anywhere we go. She never complains about being bored. She adapts to her environment quickly. When we went ice fishing last winter, she spent hours playing in the snow in freezing cold temperature. On a long drive, she’ll hum quietly the entire time.

When she decided she wanted to enter the iRide bike races at cyclocross events, she didn’t care that she is still riding with training wheels when all the other kids are riding 2-wheels. She pedaled her little heart out, picked up her bike after a fall, and continued. I don’t give a rats ass that she rides with training wheels. Her grit and her determination make me just burst with pride.

Happy birthday, Savanna. I wish you a year full of new adventures and discoveries.

Me: “Savanna, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

Savanna: “A teenager.”

*****

Five years ago, I was so worried about adding another kid into the already crazy mix. Josh was just starting potty training, and reliably sleeping through the night. Now another baby is going to join our family. I could not imagine loving anyone more than I loved Josh.

Then bam. This little girl showed up. All of a sudden, my heart threw a few sizes. There was just no doubt in my mind the moment I saw her. I’d do anything for this little being.

*****

Savanna and I are very similar, and therefore we butted heads a lot. From the moment she can speak a single word, she contradicted me. But if Cliff jumped in to the conversation, she immediately softens and listens to him.

Then we went to Morocco. It changed our relationship. It was the first time we had each other to ourselves. I began to appreciate her patience, her adventurous spirit, her tenacity, and her adaptability. She began to see I’m sometimes right. This year, we went to Costa Rica. I messed up the GPS direction, and turned a 2-hour drive into a 5-hour drive. She did not complain or whine or make a peep. She sang silly songs, played with her toys, munched on snacks, and took a nap in the backseat while I sweated it out driving the mountainous roads in a downpour.

*****

Savanna discovered this year that she can live off of mangoes alone. She loves arts, crafts, pottery, and dance. She does not like playing sports or swimming. She can ride her 2-wheel bike about 10 meters unassisted. She is capable of riding down a green run at Whistler without help.

She has little interest in building a Lego structure, but she’ll play with the figures for hours on end. Her dream of having a real cat was realized earlier this year when we adopted Jewels.

Despite her small stature, she walked into Kindergarten and was not shy about giving everyone else commands at clean-up time. We opened up her piggy bank the other night, and she put a large portion of her savings into the “investment” jar, immediately earning 10% interest from the bank of mom-and-dad. My prediction is that she is going to be a CFO one day.

*****

Savanna teaches me to savour my food, enjoy my surroundings, and not live my life for the expectations of others. She is the most incredible 5-year-old I have ever met.