A Birthday Letter

To My Precious Little Princess:

Right now you are sleeping in my bed. You yet again talked me into letting you watch Barney because “we didn’t get to watch a movie.” And since no movie was ever talked about, let alone promised, I’m confused as to how you got your way, but you did. You are a master negotiator, and that is just one of the MANY things that I love about you.

So many times last night you expressed how excited you were that tomorrow was our day…just mommy and you. You kept telling me that you love to spend time with mommy…I felt so happy! Today will be our day…just ours. Whatever you want to do, we’ll do it!

You are such a smart little girl…you beg me to do Hooked on Phonics with you and teach you how to read, because you don’t like to “pretend the wrong words” when you read it yourself. You are trying to learn how to tie your shoes, and you can count to 100 without any help.

You always want to help me…with everything I do. Last night you filled the goody bags for your party…you were so proud of yourself! Grandma called and you told her all about how you divided everything up and filled them all yourself! You have been helping us paint each night…you are so good at it! When I was cleaning up after dinner I said that I had to clean the table and then we would take a bath. You asked me “do you want me to go downstairs and get my cleaning stuff and do it for you mom?” You want to learn how to do everything by yourself, and you’ve learned that they way to do that is to help us, and you try; every chance you get.

You love your little brother (sometimes a little too much!). You were always so good about telling anyone who watches him that he’s allergic to eggs. And if he ever threw up, no matter where he was, you would ask the adult there “did you give him egss?” You help him find the toy he wants since he’s too little to look for it himself. He looks up to you, and copies everything you do, and you eat that up. You told him in the car last night when you handed him a snack “don’t put the whole thing in your mouth, take bites!”

You make me laugh, and that is the one trait (that we can see so far) that you inherited from your dad. You look like me, act like me and talk like me, but you want and are able to make people laugh, and that’s why I love your dad, so it’s the one trait I’m so glad he passed on to you.

When you talk you sound like you’re 12, not 4. You have always talked well and we have received compliments for your speech since you were 15 months-old. And it keeps improving. Today you asked me what “treason” meant. I love answering your “what does this word mean?” questions; it keeps me on my toes. Your attitude is also that of a 12 year-old, which is probably from hanging out with me and our two little (older) neighbors whom you have grown up with. You tell me “whatever, well duh, and of course” all the time. But you’re not disrespectful when you say it, because you’re too young to actually know what you’re saying.

Last year at this time I would have written about your lack of hair, and how it was finally starting to come in. Now you have absolutely CRAZY hair! It’s curly, and we have no idea where you got that from. And only I insist on styling it all the time, so when I pick you up from the sitter’s, it is a frizz ball gone wrong! And you know how you like it. You will tell me if you want to wear it curly or straight, ponytail or pigtails, headband or clippy. You have fun playing stylist with your Ariel salon that your wonderful stylist aunt gave you for Christmas. I would not be surprised at all if you grew up to be a hair designer. Even in the bath last night you were putting “gel” in your brother’s hair and styling it.

You are a beautiful girl; you are my girl. I can’t imagine my life without you. I know there was a time when you weren’t around, but I don’t remember what that was like. I have fun with you every day! I’m not scared of you being a teenager. I know there will be difficult times, but I’m doing my best to lay the foundation for a great relationship between us. I have so many dreams for you, but my biggest dream is that you and I will be best friends when you “grow up” and have kids of your own. I see the mothers and daughters out there that have that, and I want it!

I love you so much, and these words don’t even come close to describing it. But someday you’ll look back on these words and see how much I love you, and how much your dad loves you, and how hard we have worked to provide you the best life we can.

Happy birthday Ky-Bear!
Thank you so much for being my daughter and the light of my life!

Love,
Mommy