to my favorite 2 year old

My darling Ro,

Girlfriend, you are the coolest chick! just adore you and truly consider you to be one of my best friends.  You and I get to hang out all of the time... We paint nails, curl our hair (and sometimes put on make up) and often watch chick flicks like Dora and Dumbo.

You have grown up so quickly over the past few months.  You have always been miss independent, but it's seems like you matured overnight in your language and ability to do everything on your own.  You are definitely a little mama not only to your baby dolls, but to your big brothers too.  The other night, I took you on a walk with Simon riding his bike ahead of us.  You said over and over in the sweetest little mama voice, "Simon, don't crash into the cars, please."  He didn't hear a word you said (and would have done what he wanted anyway) but you kept instructing him as though you were going to save his life.  Everything you say nowadays is in full sentences and you're picking up on silly phrases like, "just a minute", "hey wait for me!" and "just kidding."

You are a lover of all animals and are slightly obsessed with our pets.  Sunny is such a great friend to you.  You will play outside with her all day, if I let you.  The two of you will lay together and you will giggle as though she's telling you all sorts of secret stories.  You also adore our rat (kitty-ratty) and Luke's snake and any other animal that crosses your path.  The pet store is one of your favorite places to visit!

You take great care of your baby dolls and carry them around the house and push them in your stroller every where you go.  You love to wrap them up in blankets and towels and sing them sweet songs.  A few days ago, I watched you cuddle Zack's Yoda stuffed animal.  You rocked it and then said, "Oh, Yoda!  You so so cute!" and then kissed his furry face.  It was darling and so... you.

You sleep so well in your big girl bed and love to explain that cribs and diapers are for babies.  Watching you run around in your pink panties just warms my heart!  Most of your days are spent in underwear only, with an occasional necklace or bracelet and sometimes your Dora backpack filled to the brim with little trinkets you've collected around the house.  You are not big into causing choas like your brothers, which has been such a blessing for me!  If Simon dumps something out or creates disaster, you will run and tattle on him, "Oh no!  Simon made a big mess.  Him havva get in trouble."  You do love to make a mess with hair products... mostly lotion.  You love to rub it on your skin and hair.. and last month when Aunt Lori and her kids were visiting, you put an entire glass jar of candle wax all over your head.  It was such a big job to get it out!  (the candle was this amazing baby powder candle given to me at one of your showers.  It smelled amazing and for some reason after burning it for two years, never depleted.  It was a full jar, but the wax was soft and easy to dip your finger into... so you scraped it ALL out and put it in your hair.  We eventually got all of the wax out with coconut oil!)

You love going to nursery and playing with your friends although your teacher says you will only talk in whispers.  I think it's cute that you are a little shy around strangers.  Lately you've been putting your hand in your mouth when someone talks to you and you don't have the courage to respond.  And all of the sudden, you have wanted to be held by me... like when I'm making dinner.  This is SO not typical of you so I am pretty sure you know what's coming, although I really don't think you'll have a hard time not being the baby because it's been so long since you have been!

Roma-- I wrote most of this letter yesterday and I am finishing it up with a BIG update.  Your little sister Eden was born today.  You were at the hospital for the delivery and waited outside with your brothers. Before she was born, you came into my room and saw my hand bandaged and felt so bad.  You kept saying, "Mommy, you so nice.  You can get better."  I gave you a big hug and kiss and you went back out to play during the delivery. Once Eden was cleaned a little, you came in with your big sister shirt on and looked so shocked!  You didn't know what to do with her for the first 10 minutes or so. (you had both hands in your mouth!)  Once she sneezed, you realized she was real... and you giggled so much and just couldn't keep your eyes off of her.  You followed her around the room and sat next to whoever was holding her.  You touched her feet and hands and kept saying, "My new baby is so cute!"  She is SO cute and so sweet.  I am looking forward to the two of you becoming best friends and the three of us doing all kinds of girly things together!  We are so very blessed.

I don't think you'll understand how much you mean to me until you become a mother yourself and hold that innocent baby in your arms.  It's such a sacrifice to be pregnant and to breast feed and to stay up all hours of the night caring for your children, but there is nothing more rewarding or honorable.  I am so grateful for you and your siblings.  You have brought me so much fulfillment and happiness.

I adore you,

Mom