An eight year old Peanut

 one of her first pictures

Peanut is eight years old today. Normally I would tell her birth story but I wasn't there. Because I am Peanut's step mom. I refer to her as my daughter, because referring to her as my step daughter makes it seem like she is less a part of our family. Which is anything but true.  

I do know that she was late and her mom was only in labor for like four or five hours.  Hubs thought she was shaped like a little Peanut. So thus she was named. I'm sure when she's a teenager she'll demand we stop calling her that. But for now, it stays. 

my all time favorite picture of her as a baby

I remember when I first started dating Hubs, my room mate who had known him for a while said "You know he has a kid?" She was concerned and wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into. (But then she told him that I was flaky and to watch out. Thanks buddy.)  "Um yes. I've met her." I replied, confused.  When I talked to hubs about it he explained that a lot of woman he had dated thought he was looking for an "instant family". I had never even thought of that.

her mom is a photographer so we have lots of great pictures of her

I knew that Peanut came first and that's how it should be and still is. Our girls come first. Period. I wasn't use to kids and we had a few bumps and bruises. But Peanut is one of my daughters. I have helped raise her since she was 2. I love her and she makes us laugh all the time. I wish we had her more often and I wish I could change the way people treat her. But short of punching them in the head I just have to give her love and squgs (squishy hugs...obviously) to erase them from her little heart.

 so much sugar!

So Happy 8th Birthday Peanut. (holy cow! 8!)