Happy 4th Birthday, Pooh Bear!

Dear Pooh Bear,

Obviously I saved every card we received from your baby shower, etc...  I brought out the case to look for a specific card and you followed me (even though you're supposed to be sleeping) and saw a Winnie the Pooh card and said "AWWW!!  That card is so SWEET! Who is it from? Was it for me when I was a baby??"  I know part of you is milking bedtime - I'm no sucker.  But I also know you would love to sit down with me and go through every single card you received, study it, find out who it's from and what it's for and then you would feel grateful.  You are GOOD- you are made of good stuff.  You are smart and you are interested in the world around you and you are an awesome companion and a natural comedian.

You were absolutely born to be a big sister.  You're kind and overprotective and bossy and a natural leader and playful and observant.  Even when you're upset with Hilly, you want to know where she is, what she did while you were at school and how her gymnastics went. When Ben was born, Grandma called and said you selected your dress and were literally waiting at the door to meet him. You held him and it was clear the bond was instantaneous.  Now you know all of his habits.  Your observation skills know no bound. 

I digress.  The card I was looking for is from an old coworker I don't even particularly like.  She wrote, "Motherhood is a wonderful adventure."  I thought- adventure... interesting word choice.  I knew we were experiencing chaos, but I was too overwhelmed to appreciate that she used the perfect phrase to describe what Dada and I experience every moment of watching you grow.  A wonderful adventure.

Thank you for dressing so awesome, for letting me pick at your scalp on occasion, for being open to new experiences, for standing up for yourself and for your friends when boys at school use the word "poopyhead", for being our very first baby to walk the earth, and for watching out for our smaller ones.  You are my precious, precious angel.  Happy 4th birthday and I look forward to so, so many more.

I LOVE YOU.

Mama