Dear Samantha (42 Month Update)

Dear Samantha,

Happy 1/2 birthday! It's hard to believe that just six months ago we were sitting in the sunshine and the heat celebrating your birthday at Nanny's house. We've had so much fun since then haven't we? Thinking of warm weather makes me want Spring to arrive soon!

So, we just celebrated your 4th Christmas and this year you were quite excited over the things that you received underneath the tree. Namely your slippers and your ice skates. Daddy and I are very excited to take you out for your first skating lesson. You've been practicing your skating quite nicely on the kitchen floor in your socks. In fact, I know Angelina Ballerina would be quite impressed with your pirouettes.

You received some other great Christmas gifts this year, such as the Brain Quest flash cards from Nanny. You've already gone through one stack. According to the box of cards, it's ages 4-5, but every time Mommy and Daddy show you the cards, you just fly right on through and answer the questions. It's great to see you actually think before you say the answer. Some of them you need help on, but really the majority you answer all by yourself.

You continue to be independent on many of your daily tasks. We love the fact that you enjoy helping Mommy and Daddy around the house by cleaning. I know you're not going to enjoy that in a few years, so Mommy is enjoying this time and hope it lasts a long time! Your Uncle Chris gave you a toy broom and mop set and you are just so considerate to clean my kitchen floor all the time. We also love the fact that when you wake in the morning, if Sarah is still sleeping, you sneak downstairs to play with your toys until Mommy and Sarah wake up. That's quite the treat for Mommy.

You're teaching a lot to Sarah these days not too mention that you're doing a great job being the big sister. I think you're responsible for a lot of Sarah's new vocabulary these days. I know she drives you crazy most days, but I say this all the time...it's ok to share your toys with your sister and it's ok to play by yourself. You don't always have to play together.

Thank you for continuing to entertain us; thank you for continuing to show us to be better parents and thank you for continuing to show us that it truly is the little things in life that are worth getting excited over like a pair of slippers underneath the Christmas tree.

I should also point out that it was this day 4 years ago that your Daddy and I realized that we were pregnant with you. I'll never forget the day when I went to my OBGYN's office to see what was going on with me. I was so exhausted and tired all the time...I thought I had mono. (Plus, I was never regular, so that came as no shock.) Expecting to hear that there's nothing wrong and just make sure you go to bed early, nope. Then that's when they told me that we were pregnant and they shoo'd me down to the ultrasound room seeing that I was 13 weeks along. The Ultra Sound tech told me that you were perfect and everything looked great!

We love you and always will love you. Love always, Mommy & Daddy

This is what you looked like 1 year ago in January 2010

Here's what you look like today in January 2011