Dear Mary,

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl!! One year ago today, and at this very minute, you were brought into this world and into our lives. Our world changed forever at that moment for you are a child who knows what she wants and is not afraid to let everyone know. You were born screaming and I still smile when I remember hearing your little voice for the first time. I was lying there listening to you cry and your Dada was telling me how big you were and that you had a head full of hair. Finally, they brought you over to me and, even though you were screaming, I was able to give you a kiss. A couple of hours later, after you had your bath, I was able to hold you and smell you and look at your little head and feet and hands. You were so tiny and you had a head full of brown hair. I loved you so much!

One year later you are still a child who knows what she wants. I lovingly call you my little Diva because you can be so demanding at times. However, I love this about you and I hope that you always know what you want and you always go after it the way you do now. Its has taken some getting used to because your big brother was so laid back when he was a baby. Speaking of your big brother, he adores you. If I could have you remember one thing it would be the way he kisses and loves on you all the time. He gives you the sweetest little kisses and speaks to you in the sweetest little voice. However, sometimes you do like to play with his toys and he doesn't really like that. I will often hear, "Baby!" coming from his room and when I go in there you have one of his hot wheels in your hand and you are shaking it in the air and laughing at him. I can't wait to see the two of you grow up together. I hope you are always close and that you always depend on each other for support and friendship.

Mary, right now you have brown curly hair and the brightest blue eyes I have ever seen. You are always getting compliments from strangers on how beautiful you are. Sometimes I look at you and I think you look just like your Dada. Other times I think you look like me. I have even looked at you and seen your cousin Lucas smiling back at me. The other day a complete stranger saw you sitting next to Tyrus and they said that the two of you looked identical. I thought that was really cool because that means that you are starting to look more like me! :)

There is no question that you are our favorite little girl in the whole world. Your Dada is so in love with you. He gets a little upset when you look at him and say, "Mama". I remember when we were still in the hospital I woke up in the middle of the night and your Dada was asleep on the couch. I didn't see you in your little bed so I got up and walked over to the couch where he was sleeping and there you were. You were all tucked in right next to him on the couch and you were both sleeping so good. It was a really sweet moment for me to see the two of you bonding and I love still seeing it a year later. He is still the best person at getting you to sleep. He is patient with you and treats you like a princess.

What do I want for you? I want for you to be close to your family. I hope that you always love coming home. I want you to always remember that you can always count on Mama and Dada for anything. There are going to be times that we don't get along or we may have a disagreement about something. Those moments are unavoidable, but I hope that you remember that the moment will pass and what will always last is how much we love you. Please keep your strength and your hunger for life that you already posses. I am so excited to see what you do with it!

Mary, I love you so much. I love you from your toenails to the tips of your pretty brown curls. I can't tell you that enough. Every time I see you my heart just smiles. You have this way about you, this light in your eyes, that just makes people smile. I love that about you.

I don't know how old you'll be when you are able to read this yourself, but I do know that you are an amazing little girl with a family that loves her very much!

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl!!

Love,
Mama