birthday letter

Dear Alma, On Your Fifth Birthday

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Dear Alma,

Today you’re five.   Today is one of those thresholds.  You are entering a whole new stage of life.  Five is a big year.  Five is kindergarten, loose teeth, reading, school buses, bikes with pedals, new friends, long days away from home, writing.  Five is big.

Yesterday you were four and you were still a small little child.  Today you are five and you look like a whole new girl to me.  I have to be honest and say that my heart hurts a little bit when I look at you.  You are a well-spoken, creative, brave soul.  Not much of that little baby from five years ago remains.  Your legs are long and strong.  Your fingers are precise and careful.  Your eyes are clear and focused.  Your voice is loud and determined.  You are five.

You are growing up quickly and it makes me miss my baby.  But, Alma, I wouldn’t change it for anything.  Those baby days are gone, but I’m so happy about five.  I’m so excited to see all those things happen this year, but you will always be my baby.

My wishes for you this year:

  • You make new friends and keep the old
  • You are the kid in your class who welcomes everyone
  • You learn to read and enjoy it
  • You lose teeth with courage
  • You fall down and you get back up
  • You keep sitting in my lap and coming to me for comfort
  • You have compassion
  • You stand up for people who need it
  • You smile
  • You dance
  • You sing
  • You laugh
  • You know you are deeply and gracefully loved.

Alma, my little love, have fun being five.

All my love,
Mommy

Dear Harriet, Age 2

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Dear Harriet,

Today you turn two.  I am so excited to watch you grow up.

andthenthey harriet camping hikingOne was a fun year.  We got to know your personality so much.  You are growing and changing so quickly.  You are a good sleeper, a good eater, a good dancer, a funny girl.  You can run and jump and play with the best of them.

andthenthey harriet camping watchingOne thing that I love about you is your love of being outside.  We recently took you camping for the first time and you ate it up.  You loved running in the trees, playing in the river, getting dirty, and being free.  When we finally went to bed, you jumped in your crib as if you were asking why we were going to bed.  You could have stayed up all night!

andthenthey harriet camping1You love people.  You love Alma.  You love your grandparents (especially your grandfathers!).  You are a watcher.  You will just sit with your hands in your lap watching what’s happening.  Then you are a doer.  You don’t sit for long before you’re joining in on the action!

andthenthey harriet camping sittingYou love music and dancing.  It makes me so happy to watch your sweet moves.  Your favorite CD is Cross Current and you get upset when there’s a different CD in the player.

andthenthey harriet camping swimmingHarriet, you are so tough.  You’re strong and brave and I am so proud of that.  You stand up for yourself.  But you also care about others.

andthenthey harriet camping smoresYou will start school in a couple weeks and I’m so excited for you.  I know you will love playing with your teachers and making new friends.  I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you will learn to do in the next year.

andthenthey harriet camping2I loved this past school year and all the time we got to spend together, just us.  I loved dropping Alma off at school, and just walking and walking and walking with you.  It was truly a precious time for me.  I am excited for you to start school, but I also am sad because I know that I’ll miss you.  It won’t be the same.

andthenthey harriet camping runningSo, happy birthday, my sweet girl.  One was great, but two will be even better.

I love you I love you I love you,

Your Mommy

andthenthey harriet camping mommy