Five! YEARS!

SteelyKid was born five years ago today. I'd try to be clever and schedule this for exactly five years to the minute of her time of birth, but I've mercifully forgotten exactly when the delivery was, only that it was early in the morning after a very, very long night. Here's what she looked like then:

SteelyKid, five years ago today. SteelyKid, five years ago today.

Here's what she looks like now, with her little brother for scale (also the "featured image" for this post):

SteelyKid and The Pip. SteelyKid and The Pip.

Or, if you prefer something a little more active, here she is engaged in the study of optics.

SteelyKid investigating the optics of rainbows with the garden hose. SteelyKid investigating the optics of rainbows with the garden hose.

I'll try to get her to pose for a picture with Appa, for old-time's sake, but she's a little unpredictable there.

Anyway, it's been an amazing five years, and nearly impossible to believe that she's starting kindergarten in a month. Here's to many, many more. Happy birthday, SteelyKid.

More like this

[Scene: Dinner at Chateau SteelyPips. DADDY is starting to say something about his day at work, when STEELYKID interrupts.] STEELYKID: If you eat too many hot dogs, you'll turn into a hot dog!
Long-time readers will remember that I used to do weekly kid-blogging, posting pictures of SteelyKid with a reference animal, Appa the sky-bison from the Avatar cartoon.
In the car, on the way from day care to campus to watch a softball game DADDY: So, what did you do at school today? STEELYKID: Daddy, I'm a superhero. They call me Strong Ninja Girl. Strong World-Saving Ninja Girl. DADDY: Because you save the world?
Those of you who follow me on Twitter/ Facebook have been getting the occasional snippet of cute dialogue from SteelyKid over there. This one's a little too long for breaking into 140-character blocks, so while I wait for her to come downstairs so we can make pancakes, a cute SteelyKid story:

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day :o)