A letter to Layla

Our new horse neighbor

Dear Layla,

How did you get so big? You are so close to 2 it is scary to me. I feel like the past 2 years have slipped through my hands. I wish we could stay here forever. I wonder if I held you enough... if I kissed you enough. I know for this for sure... I love you enough. You have brought perspective into my life. I now know what is important. I want to thank you for making my life wonderful, I wouldn't want you any other way. I want you to be able to look back at this and see what a fun life you lived when you were this sweet age. I also want to remember every little thing that brightens my day.

Your fake laugh is my favorite part of the day. It is a full belly chuckle that is completely forced. I think you might be trying to intimidate my loud laugh... it is great.

You love to help me in the kitchen. You insist on cutting things up with spoons, tasting every spice in the cupboard and making the biggest messes possible. You also can't leave the kitchen without a snack out of the snack cupboard.

Your daddy is the love of your life. You scream at the top of your lungs when you hear the garage door open, because you know he is going to walk in the door and swing you around. The first thing you say when you wake up in the morning is, "Wherd daddy go?"

The little farm set is your very favorite. You love playing with it and pretending the farmer is putting the animals away in the coral. You ask me if I would like to play with you... I always do.

Before you go to bed each night, you have to kiss everyone in the family. Ollie... Bubby, Daddy, Mommy. Then you insist on a group hug and you force mommy and daddies heads together for a kiss over and over until we say enough!

I am trying to help you with your colors... you love blue. Everything is the color blue to you! You are very good at counting everything and you are beginning to be quite the singer... I wonder if you will take after your mommy? We listen to nursery rhyme songs in the car and your favorite is "Do your ears hang low?" (Secret: it is my favorite too!) You sing the abc's and it melts my heart...

I guess it is inevitable that you will grow up... but slow down please. I love you mae mae and I always will.

Love,
Mommy