Dear baby girl-

When I picture you on your birthday, I always picture you dancing in the sand, with your curls blowing and your laugh carrying over the waves.

You’ve celebrated 3 out of your 4 birthdays at the beach- which is just as much fun for us as it is for you. You love that you get to celebrate with your big cousins- two little boys who you’ve wrapped around your fingers from the minute they first met you- and the rest of your daddy’s side of the family.  You get to spend the day racing the waves and the evening being loved by some of your favorite people- what more could a girl want?

3 was such a big year for you! You started preschool full time this past September- something I couldn’t talk about without crying over for the weeks leading up to it.  While I knew you’d do well and I knew you’d love school, dropping you off was probably one of the hardest I’ve ever done. We eased your brother into a full time school schedule over 2 years, but we just threw you right in. I tortured myself wondering if we were doing the right thing, but somehow, it all worked out.  You made friends and learned a lot and were the belle of the ball- just like I knew in my hearts of heart you would.

Your daddy and I laugh when we think about the day you were born. After a whirlwind labor and delivery, you came out- shocking us all that you were a girl- and proceeded to cry for the next 3 hours straight. You made us and everyone else around us perfectly aware that you were Not Happy and if you weren’t happy, no one would be happy.  And so it’s been since Day 1. You have the biggest personality I’ve ever seen and you know your mind better then 99.9% of the adults I know.  On the days I’m cursing you under my breath for this, I remind myself that these traits will be your most valuable assets when you’re older.

You, little girl, are this complicated ball- you’re sweet and cuddly and funny and scary smart. Your kind and loving and considerate and so so sincere. Until you’re not- and then you’re rude and snotty and stubborn and mean. You’re as likely to tell me you love me as you are to tell me you don’t like my shoes- and I never know which way the wind is going to blow with you. You keep us all on our toes and you ensure that we are never, ever bored with your never ending stories, your funny faces, your endless questions and your mercurial moods.

You are, quite simply, perfectly you. And I can’t imagine our lives without you in it. We are so very, very lucky to have you Beaner!

Love,

Mommy