A Portrait of Lila On the Eve Of Her Fifth Birthday

She's so peaceful here.

Come morning, though, Lila pops out of bed, feet and mouth moving before she even knows where she wants to go or what she wants to say. Lila takes photographs and videos. She will always stop to listen to live music and has no qualms about telling everyone else around her, stranger or no, to be quiet and listen to the music too. She loves tattoos, all her cousins and chocolate ice cream. She stomps her feet and pouts when she doesn't get her way.

She's an amazing traveler, but when she asked me "Mommy, why do we keep going places and not staying," I knew it was time to stop and settle down for a bit. I am amazed how well she knows her own mind. I am not like that.

But Lila and I are similar in many ways. We both get cranky when hungry. Both like summer dresses, the beach, blue nail polish and dancing to Gwen Stefani. She doesn't understand why the song Gracie makes me smile while simultaneously making me want to cry.

"I am an artist," she proudly proclaims when showing me a new painting. "I am a writer," she informs me as she takes out her pen and paper. She wants to be with her mommy and daddy always, never wants to be on her own and stomps her feet "No" when I tell her she might change her mind.

I am wholly in love with her