Dear Pumpkin –
Happy Birthday sweetness. I have set this post to publish at 5:53 a.m., the exact time of your arrival here four years ago. I cannot believe how quickly four years has gone by, and I cannot believe there was a life that existed before you and your sister.
You are a morning person. You wake up insanely early and there are days when I say to myself, “OHHHHHH! If she would JUST GO BACK TO SLEEP!!!” But, from the get go you were an early bird. Starting from the day you were born, waking me up at 2:30 in the morning with contractions… then less than four hours later, you were in my arms crying and snorting (I loved how you would snort when you’d cry).
You are a cuddle bug – and it has been such a blessing to me, because you seem to sense when I need a hug or a kiss. You just sense when people need some loving and you give it. You’ll wrap your arms tightly around my neck and give me an enthusiastic squeeze, pull back and then say to me, “Are you happy? Now you’re happy, right?” And I am. How could I not be?
You worship your older sister, you want to be like her – you want to be included when she plays, you want to listen to the music she does, play with the kids she does, and if she’s rolling around on the floor with her feet on her head (your sister is a little gymnastics nut), darned if you aren’t going to try too.
And that’s awesome. I love that you love her. I love that you want to be with her. I hope that someday you guys become really good friends, and that even on days when you feel you can’t turn to me, you’ll turn to each other and find strength in your sisterhood. I want that for you guys because you both are so amazing – together, you’ll be unstoppable.
(Though, please use your powers for good, okay Pumpkin? If you guys gang up on me, I am in TROUBLE).
You love singing along to Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana. You love dancing. Yesterday you proudly showed me how you hop on one foot. The other day, you were checking out a science book and correctly identified four different kinds of worms – kiddo, I can’t even do that! You have a pure laugh that rings loudly and takes away hurt. It’s infectious and it warms even the worst of moods. Someday, I hope to find a way to bottle that up and sell it.
You’ll start preschool again in the fall, and you’ll take them by storm with your smarts and your attitude. I can’t wait to watch you learn things and watch you seeing new things with fresh eyes. Your wonder is my wonder.
I am so blessed and grateful every day that I am your mother. I love you with my whole heart. I love you lots and lots of tater tots, and bunches and bunches and bunches of lunches .
Love,
Mom
You made me cry, just like the birthday letter to M back in May. Happy happy birthday little Pumpkin!
Beautiful letter! Thanks for making me cry.