A Letter To Mila On Her Fourth Birthday
ONE - TWO - THREE - FOUR!
Dear Mila,
How are you already four years old?! Since the day you were born you’ve been a wild gust of fresh air that our family desperately needed. Immediately breathing life back into your dad and I. As well as somehow, magically, making your brother Ryan’s spirit more apparent and colorful within our family. For the last four years it has just been us four learning and adventuring through life. Making the most of all our days. Your pure zest for life inspires me and keeps me going full steam ahead following your lead. I adore how hard you love and how hard you live. You show me new things daily and remind me to look deeper into things to find the true meaning. Just a simple walk outside with you turns into a scene from ‘Mila In Wonderland’ where low hanging trees become dark tunnels, tall flowers are microphones to be sung into. Sweet songs of random words smashed together with a booming voice demanding to be heard. Everyone in our family as been witness to your song and dance. Offering up enough appulause to fill you with pride. When your face beams with pride it shines so bright. You most definitely march to the beat of your own drum my darling, as you should. I pray daily that no one and no thing will take away your outgoing look on all that surrounds you.
My most favorite thing is hearing you wake up and patter into my bedroom. You wake up with a smile every morning and it jolts me more than caffeine. That is just the impression you make on people, a positive jump that gets them going and thinking of how to enjoy every moment. You love to sing and dance. Dressing up is your favorite and tuning into you hop from princess, to pirate, to a beloved rockstar whose air guitar skills rock the house is my favorite. You know girl, ever since you could walk you’ve been showcasing your talent. Our entire family is thrilled as you begin your first real ballet class this year. My four year old growing up fast before me. I don’t dare tell you how sad I am that time has simply gone by too fast. No, I share photos and memories of you when you were a baby and tell you how happy and excited I am that you are growing older. Together we list the things we can’t wait for you to experience this year; ballet, a new school, being a big sister. Your eyes wide with excitement. When you are older and have children of your own I’ll let on how bittersweet it was watching you get older. It feels as though time steals our days together away and I am so grateful you force me to enjoy every last waking moment.
Four years have passed with you by my side. We have cemented our traditions yet continue to add to our ever growing list of favorite things to do. We keep them safe by continuing to do them together. Even though as you turn four you have been faced with the most difficult task yet of becoming a big sister. You are learning the ropes brilliantly and soon little sis will join in on our adventures. But don’t worry, we’ll keep a few for just us. Being your mother is something I’m beyond proud of. And although I’d love to keep you this age forever, I also can not wait to watch you bloom. I feel with every fiber of my body you will evolve into quiet an incredible woman. How lucky am I to have a front row seat.
Fired up with fierce attitude, not afraid to tell it like it is. You quiet literally float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Keeping your dad and I on our toes. As I mentioned before, you aren’t afraid to love hard. Every friend you have at school is your best friend. Every cousin is your best cousin. Every family member is your favorite. (Though we all know that Uncle Matt reigns supreme in your eyes) Little lady, you have quiet a deserving fan club whom you adore with all your might. As you take your first steps forward into four we are all in awe.
Forever in awe,
Mom
A few things I never want to forget …
- Watching you walk into my bedroom with the most delicious bed head and giant smile.
- Your wild attitude. You take my breath away most days with the things you say and sometimes I can’t handle it. It can be difficult to deal with but I hope it stays with you forever. Helping you move mountains in your favor down the road.
- When we are walking side by side and you quietly slip your hand into mine. Recently you did this while on a walk as I carried your little sister. It made my heart jump out of chest and reminded me that you and I will always be. Even if things come between us, I hope we can always get back.
- Frustratingly enough you only eat about five or six things right now. And in a few months you’ll change your mind once again. You just recently started to eggs again after last years declaration of distaste for them. Quesadillas, hot dogs, blackberries are among your top choices. I still love that you will eat apples and carrots while grocery shopping, just plucking them from the stands yourself.
- Everything you drink is a latte “Like you mom!” You call anything you drink a latte and I think it is adorable. Also scary how much you watch me and my every move.
- How much you LOVE clothes and dressing up in general. You are becoming more particular about what you wear and seeing your sense of style develop is exciting.
- You are obsessed with the human body and doctors. You loved coming with me to my pregnancy blood work appointments and seeing how it all worked. At your four year physical you became enamored with shots and immediately at home we all became your patients. Dr. M is what you want to be called.
- Seeing you and your little sister meet for the first time. I can not truly describe it but it was beautiful and somehow felt oddly familiar. As if you two were meant to be.
- Anything Disney is life to you. When we are at Disneyland I follow your lead and when we are at home you endlessly plan your next Disneyland trip.
- When you wear sunglasses an alter ego emerges who you named Korea. Don’t ask me where you came up with that. It is hilarious though.
- Your laugh that is both tiny and loud at the same time. As well as infectious.
- Your favorite game is hide and seek.
- The way you look at me to check and see if what you are doing is ok. The way you smile when you realize you’ve been caught.
- When describing things from the past you always refer to everything as happening “Lasterday” (yesterday)