Dear Adalyn

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October 8, 2015

Dear Adalyn,

You turn three years old today. Three years old. Your fingers work so hard to form the 3 that you proudly hold up to anyone who asks. 

I could say the same exact thing every year to you. I will want to say the same exact thing to you every year. What you looked like when you were born, how you felt balled up into the baby smell that is a newborn, those early days when we started our world as Mom and Dad. How everyone knew you as Sparkle; how you had a one-eyed-pirate-smile from those beginning weeks, with crossed legs and a fuzzy head.






Now, you are three.  You are busy, sometimes with intent focus; most times with the attention span of a gnat. You are a singer, and what you lack in talent, you sure make up with enthusiasm and sheer volume.  You are independent, from potty-time to wardrobe changes to opening a juice box ‘all myself!’ You are playful, chasing the bad guys with Shang and Mulan, doctoring the splinter in our legs, painting Daddy’s nails with “puh-pul tartles” (purple sparkles), building sand pies, building towers, and dressing up at least 500 times a day.  You are persistent, and stubborn, and wild. Yet you are quiet, always playing hard to get.  You love singing, you love costumes, you love basketball, fire engines, princesses and diggers. You love helping your dad build by “measuring” for him; you love helping him cook; you love giving Wallie baths (note: this is less than reciprocated). You love making chocolate chip pancakes and you think scrubbing the floor is a blast, as long as we are singing Hard Knock Life on repeat. You are funny, you are goofy, you are definitely a little weird.




But best of all, you are loving. To your sister- kisses on her head, toys when she cries, hugs, baths, feeding – you love caring for Bria. And her eyes follow you like nobody else, because she knows her best friend. You are loving to Wallie. In crazy squealing circles in the backyard and in quiet moments of snuggling on the couch.  You are loving to your people – your grandparents, your aunts, your uncles, your cousin, your friends; and they to you, in a way you’ll one day realize is amazing. 




You are loving to us. One day, when you watch your little one lean against your husband’s (or wife’s) shoulder reading, you’ll know how perfect one moment can be when you’re looking at it.   One day, when your child wraps her arms around your neck and says “I love you Mama!” your heart will melt into a glob of complete contentment and gratitude for your life and your family. And you’ll know then how much we love all that is You.  


Every day, you make us smile (amongst other things children make their parents do, but that is a list for another day).  Every day, you surprise us with something new you’ve learned or picked up. Every day, you and your sister remind me of what I love about this world. Every day, I look at your round cheeks and messy hair and crazy outfits and bouncing energy and repeat statements, and I am proud that you are mine, and so thankful for you that my heart literally moves inside my chest. Every day, every walk, every song, every bowl of cereal, every book, every bedtime, every minute,

I love you. Always.

Mama
















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