You are a delightful, imaginative, sensitive, curious and generous little human being. I think your favorite thing in the world right now is giving people gifts that you've chosen especially for them. The other day you and Grandma Jeanne went shopping and you were overjoyed when she let you choose a gift for Daddy, Jalen and I. You even chose special wrapping paper for each of us. You're getting a little braver about some things -- you're not quite the daredevil your brother is (which is FINE with me!) Your curiosity is more about ideas, feelings, how things work and why people do what they do. Music has helped to ease the slight fear of nighttime you had. I put in a soothing yoga CD every night and press "repeat" so it'll play all night long. (If you wake up and don't hear it, you come and let us know!) You rarely wake up, though. You play hard all day long -- constantly imagining, asking us to pretend to be this or that queen, stepsister, princess or villain. You're completely devoted to your brother. You call him J-Boy or Tooty. When we wake up in the morning, you're already in his room reading him books and entertaining him. You love to play Granny's Trunk in the car and with your excellent memory, you're good at it! You've become, to our surprise, a barefoot summer girl. Papa pointed it out when we were visiting Marysville recently and you were running all over the yard, just like Mommy used to. You used to hate letting your feet touch the grass and just last week i watched you running through the sprinkler with the kids in our yard during a neighborhood block party -- loving every moment. You've become quite social -- Miss Natalie says you love to "mother hen" the kids at school -- especially Miss Natalie's grandson Rory and your twin best friends Isabelle and Sophi. You're beyond excited for your birthday party, which we're planning to have at the park down the street. You can't decide if you want the boys to be princes or pirates. The girls, of course, will be invited to be princesses. You've been calling it your "Princess Birthday Surprise Tea Party." Last night Izabella and Isaiah Morris came over to play and as you all ran to the park, i watched you trying to keep up with the older kids. Your little legs were going so fast. You'd stop and pant for a few moments and keep going. I knew you'd get there eventually, but my heart just ached as I watched you try so hard to catch up and feel like you were as fast as the others. I wanted so much to pick you up and run with you and save you from feeling "less than" anyone. I know this isn't for me to do. There are things you'll have to figure out for yourself in your life (and as your daddy reminds me, you'll be all the stronger for it!) There will be things you're great at -- and other things you'll have to let go of. It is pure joy watching you grow and discover the gifts God has given you. Hopefully, Daddy and I are like gardeners. We'll help give you plenty of sunlight and water, but you'll do the growing. Even now, we're learning to stand back and marvel at the beauty as your life unfolds.