CJ's Birthday Letter

Note: It seems the only time now I am updating this blog is for birthday letters.  Sorry about that, things have been crazy.  But this is the best place for me to keep these letters to the kids.  Guess what!  CJ's 6 today!

Dear CJ,
I cannot believe you are six years old!  You have been looking forward to this day for a while though.  So here we are.  Six whole years old.  What can I say?  You make me laugh and smile every single day.  Don't ever lose that sense of humor or imagination.

I have watched you overcome so much in your short life.  You have always done it with a great deal of determination.  It really should never come as a surprise to me what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it.  But it does every time.  So Kindergarten wasn't your thing last year, but this year you are killing it.  You have made up your mind to do certain things and have just done it.  I love that so much about you.

I worried that this was going to be a difficult year for you socially having to watch your friends all go forward without you.  But you have embraced it and made new friends while still managing to hold onto the old ones.  You really are an inspiration.

I couldn't imagine my life without you in it brightening it up.  Every day I wonder what is he going to say to make me laugh today?  What a wonderful gift you have been.  I love and cherish you always and wish you the best 6th birthday any little boy has ever had.  I hope all your dreams and wishes come true now and forever.

I love you CJ guy more than you'll ever know.  Happy 6th Birthday!

Love,
Mommy

Letter To Natalie

Dear Natalie,
My first born.  We get all of our firsts together.  That's pretty special you know.  And you are going through a very exciting time in your life right now.  I'm loving watching you make decisions for your future.  The next four years are going to be ultra important as you know.  Everyone keeps telling you that.

But there's something I don't think anyone has told you yet, not even me.  The next four years are important for us and our relationship.  We only have this short time together and we need to make it good and memorable.  Now don't get me wrong, I will still be telling you what to do.  You will not be getting away with anything.  But I will try my hardest to remember that time is fleeting and we have to make the most of it and have fun.

I need your help though.  I need you to come to me when you think I'm getting too distracted with everything else and you need me the most.  Sometimes other things can get in the way, but if you need time with just me let me know, we will schedule it.  Please be patient though.

I also want you to do something else.  I want you to stop being so afraid to try something new.  I want you to experience things.  I want you to go on dates with boys, to go to the park with your girlfriends, and to try new things.  This is the only time in your life you really get to throw caution to the wind.  Do it!  Don't look back and think; where did that time go?  You don't know if you like something until you try.  So get yourself out there and explore new things and have fun.  Don't worry so much about what other people do and think.  They aren't important.  You are!

That's the best advice I can give you at this time my beautiful girl.  You are already a huge success in my eyes.  Keep up the hard work.  The skies the limit for you.  I love you.  Thanks for giving me the gift of motherhood 14 years ago today.  Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mom

Happy 4 Year Due Date-iversary Angel Celeste Alia

Today marks 4 years since I was due with Celeste.  It's also of course Natalie's 14th birthday so you get two blog posts from me on here today.  Come back oh around 11:17 p.m. tonight to read Natalie's letter (I always schedule them for the time when they were born).

Normally I would write a letter to Celeste like the rest of the kids, but I'm going to do something a little different this year.  Back in December on Monica's Mom Musings I introduced Celeste to the world, but I never officially did it here.  So I want to give you all an opportunity to meet her.

Now I'm hesitant about doing this here because when I shared Celeste's story I had an anonymous commenter come and question the validity of Celeste's existence.  Accused me of playing things up for drama.  I almost shared her picture then, but the time wasn't right.  I wasn't going to be doing it for the right reasons.  It was simply going to be to prove a point to some anonymous person and I didn't need her validation if she didn't even have the courage to give me her real name.  So I kept it to myself for the most part.

I am in a good place now with my grief.  Not a day goes by that I do not think of Celeste and obviously some days more than others.  But the experience has taught me a lot and it has given me some truly wonderful friends along the way and shown me who my true friends are.  I came out with her picture because I realized that not sharing her like I do the rest of my children wasn't doing anything for her or my family.  People forget.  I don't want Celeste to be forgotten because she is so much a part of me.  To know her is to know me.  And to know her you have to see that she is real. 

She might be gone, but she is not forgotten.  So without further ado please say hello to my angel baby Celeste Alia.  Born sleeping on December 6, 2008.  Due date April 22, 2009.

 

Don't forget to come back later for Natalie's birthday letter.

Happy 11th Birthday Kaitlyn

Dear Kaitlyn,
Boy oh boy, where do I start?  You're 11 years old!  It feels like just yesterday you joined our family, but here you are growing and changing and turning into this amazingly smart and independent young lady.

I know you are hesitant about going to this new school next year, but I really think you are going to love it.  I admire that you can give me a year to try it without much objection.  I know you will give it your all and I really can't wait to see what you will try out there.

You haven't shied away from a challenge yet so whatever you do, don't start now.  This is your time.  Your chance to try out new things that we could only dream of for you and you're going to do great and shine like the star that you are.

I am really looking forward to what this next year is going to bring for you and watch you really come into your own.  It has been an amazing 11 years with you and you are growing and maturing every day.  I can only imagine what the next 11 years will bring for you, but you know the skies the limit for you and no matter what you do or where you are you will be a success and you will be loved.

So happy birthday to you Katie Kittles.  I love you!

Love,
Mom

Happy 2nd Birthday Alyssa

Dear Alyssa,
I can't believe you are 2 already.  It feels like just yesterday I was pregnant with you.  Now here you are growing more and more independent by the day.  This is a little bittersweet for me as you're my last baby.

I love watching you grow and learn new things, but at the same time it's all going too fast.

You are such a sweet loving little girl.  You are also very particular about things.  If things aren't just the way you want them, then you definitely let us know.

You are fiercely smart.  Figuring out your shape sorters in record time.  You might even be better at cleaning things up and following instructions (when you want to that is) than your siblings.

I know you want to keep up with your older siblings, but please slow down.  You don't need to do everything they are doing.  There will be plenty of time for that.

I want you to know baby girl, that you will always be my baby.  And I might hold onto you a little tighter than the rest, but it's only because I never want it to end.  Having you be a part of our family for the past two years has been a complete blessing and I am grateful every day to have you in my life.

I hope you had tons of fun for your birthday.  Thank you for bringing tons of laughs and smiles to us all.  I love you baby girl.

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Love,
Mommy