Farewell Three, Hello Four

Dearest AK, On the occasion of your Fourth Birthday, I sit to write you a love note. I am overwhelmed by the tremendous changes that have transpired this year. You started preschool and attended the same school as your brother. You were together in the afternoons and are such good friends. I hope that continues throughout your lifetime. During school you discovered friends, and developed a close bond with several girls in your class. You greeted each other with hugs and kisses each day, and complimented each other on your dresses.

Which reminds me, your school wants all the kids, girls included to play and play hard. We bought darling jeans and tops, all of which you refused to wear. Every morning for several months you and I would disagree on clothing. You would insist on a dress, while I waved several pants and shirts in front of you. We were fighting every morning, until after a few months I relented. You have worn a dress almost every day, since then I can count on one hand the times you wore pants. Don't get me wrong AK, you know I love a good dress just as much as you. I cannot resist buying you cute dresses, and currently there are 52 dresses crammed in your teeny tiny closet. Which seems like a lot, but you change your clothes and shoes at least three times a day. I just hope that you don't let "looking pretty" get in the way of having fun and seizing opportunities. However, the mud & paint stains on your clothes let me know that I have nothing to worry about. Your current favorite pasttime is looking for bugs and digging.Your language has come a long way. You went from a few words to speaking long monologues. Your favorite is to tell me a story that always starts with, "Once upon a time there was an old lady who lived in a castle." This year in school you were eager to share all things you were learning about. All year you were always dissappointed on the days that were not school days, and in the Spring we put you in school every day. You loved it! You are so social and want to be with your friends all the time. When people ask you what you want to be when you grow up, you say, "Bigger". Our favorite phrase that you say is, "Oh he's so doot!" when you see something cute and little. We love that on your school report that you had to do, your one wish if you could wish for anything was to have, "Pink Hair". You love Pink more than anything. Your favorite books are Posey Prefers Pink and Pinkalicious. You are smitten with the Disney Princesses and thanks to your Auntie Laura, you might just have every Princess product available. However, all that girlyness is balanced by your brothers influence. You sing the Star Wars theme song all the time and your princesses often engage in space travel and fights with the dark side. We love the balance!We have big hopes and dreams for you this year. You enter pre-K this year, and we hope you will learn and grow academically. We love that you know a handful of sight words because of your brother. You learn a lot from observing him, just last week you taught yourself to dive in the pool after watching him. AK, I want you to know that you can do anything you want to if you're willing to learn. We live in the most amazing place, and even though many days it appears to grown ups that the world is falling apart, you still have every opportunity to be whatever you want, to do whatever you want, and know that Mom & Dad are right here ready to support you. We'll even help you dye your hair pink, if that is your greatest wish.

On this day, your dad and I can't help but reflect on your beginnings. For two weeks, we woke up each day to get the report on your amazing birthmom who has in the hospital helping you get ready to be born. You came early, anxious to get this party started. We had breakfast with your birthparents one morning, and told them, "Yep, we are all ready for the baby." Daddy bought a new safe car for you to ride in, and I showed them pictures of your crib and a closet ful of onesies. You heard that and decided to come that night. However, your spirit might have been ready, but your body wasn't. So a whole medical team held you off for 16 more days. Long enough for your body to get ready. I remember on the day you were born, the nurse told me, "Baby Girl is coming today! She's ready!" We couldn't stop dancing around the house. Oh that glorious moment when your birthmom placed you in my arms. Our whole life together flashed before my eyes. The next day on our 10th wedding anniversary we got to take you home. Worlds Best Gift. When the nurse came to check you out to us, I broke down into tears of gratitude. You were going home, to our home.... I was so grateful. We spent a lot of time keeping you healthy over the next year, a team of people oversaw your growth and cheered every milestone. We do not take your health for granted, we are so grateful for your healthy toddler years, may that continue a lifetime.

We hope that this is your best year ever. We love you!

Mommy & Daddy