The Blessing of You

Dear Carly,
It's hard to believe that just over 3 years ago you made your entrance into the world. It feels like just yesterday you were a little baby, crawling around the house, then teetering on two legs--and now galloping and skipping through the house.

From the moment you wake up to the moment you fall asleep at night, you are ON--playing, talking, dancing, reading, talking to your animal friends. Your best buddy is still your puppy dog stuffed animal (and when people ask you what his name is, your reply is simply "puppy dog"). Of course, you have a posse of stuffed animal friends that stick together--Fluffy, Goosey Duck, baby puppy, Lovey, Buddy. . . and when I say stick together, you like to have all of them in bed with you at night. And, you know if one is missing. And you are relentless in calling for the missing friend until it's found. You are a sweet little momma to your babies.

You love being outside. When we go on walks through the neighborhood, you like to pick up leaves, acorns, pine needles, pieces of pecan shells. . you name it, you like to pick it up and examine it. You love kicking the ball in the front yard, and this summer, Grandpa taught you how to swing the baseball bat. You had your first real experience with snow last winter at Grammy's house. After some uncertainty, you warmed up to the whole idea of snow and had a ball building a snow fort and making snow angels.

Your typical "uniform" each day is a dress, donned with shoes and a bracelet or two. Quite often, you request for me to turn on some piano music so you can dance or your Bible Songs and Stories cd's (or "Jesus" as you call them) so you can dance and sing along. When we're in the car, you like to listen to music at times and I'll glance back and see you bopping your head to the beat.

Some of your other favorites right now are your ponies, coloring with crayons or markers, reading books. . and just collecting little knick-knacks from the house and stock-piling them. At the end of the day, when it's clean-up time, we are putting things back all over the house! You have about 3 different purses, and up until recently, you usually piled one full of an assortment of items every time we left the house.

You just started preschool this fall and go a few days a week. The first few days, you were a bit apprehensive about all of it, but now, when I drop you off, and a teacher comes out to the car to get you, you literally skip into school holding her hand. I always look back in the rearview mirror and watch you, feeling a mixture of happiness and sadness. Happiness that you enjoy school so much but sadness that you're growing up so quickly.

You are a happy, joyful girl! You typically wake up in a good mood and are excited to start chatting and playing. You are a sensitive, loving child and if someone is hurting, you'll offer your blanket as consolation. I love your boldness in asking for your heart's desires; just the other day, we were outside playing with some wooden planks and sticks that Daddy made for you from some wood scraps. It was time for a nap, and you asked me, "Mommy, can I take these to bed with me?"

Your daddy and I are so proud of you for the amazing big sister you are to Hannah. Even with all that she has endured this year and the time we have spent on her care, you have been a sweet, loving sister to her. Just the other night, it was your first night in your "big girl bed" and you asked if Hannah could come sleep in your room in your crib.

Daddy and I pray that you would always know how much you are loved, not only by your family but by your Heavenly Father. We are so grateful for the blessing of you!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy