Happy 7th Birthday Tracey Ann!

 Our first-born child, our beautiful, imaginative, creative, executive Tracey Ann is seven years old today!

This little girl is such a leader to her herd of younger siblings.  She lives to make the rules, star in the show, direct the play, and manage the others.  Thankfully, her younger siblings pretty much think the sun rises and sets on Tracey, so it all works itself out most of the time.

Tracey loves Bible stories and has such a heart for learning about Jesus.

Tracey loves art, animals, and babies.  She loves school, swimming, music, and friends.

Tracey has a style all her own.  She loves accessories, nail polish, makeup, hair bows, and "hair chalk".  When she accentuates an outfit, she is not trying to look like a princess -- she is trying to look like a rock star.

Any time she gets her hands on my phone, I can be sure that 10-15 Tracey selfies with pouty lips or stylish eyes will be waiting for me on my camera roll.

Tracey has such a special relationship with each of her siblings -- she and Howard are incredibly alike.  Howard is her competitor and the two alternate between loving the same games and playing really well together and bickering like crazy or Howard doing anything to pester Tracey.

Tracey and Caroline have their moments of playing for intricate games of house or restaurant or joining forces against Howard, and times of peacefully seeking their own interests and giving each other space.

Tracey and Lee Lee have a very distinct big sister/little sister relationship.  Tracey plays gentler with Addallee than she does with Caroline and Howard and she looks out for Lee Lee in a very loving and protective way.

And finally Tracey adores Hunter.  She loves that he is her baby brother.  She takes great pride in helping with him in a way that her other siblings cannot because they are not old enough yet.  She loves to make him smile and laugh and is very proud when she can make him happy.

With one more baby on the way, I am very glad that Tracey has set such an example as the oldest in our family, that we love younger siblings.  Never once in her life has she even hinted at resenting or disliking being a part of such a large family.  She has even been known to look at my out of the blue and thank me for all her brothers and sisters.

Happy Happy Birthday, Tracey Ann!  I love you like crazy and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you at age 7!