To My Baby

Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl:

Here you are at your birthday party, moments before licking all the frosting off your cupcake. I love this picture because I can see everything I love about you, from your perfect complexion and rosy lips to your love of butterflies and all things pink. It is, of course, nearly impossible for me to believe it has already been 3 years since you entered our lives - although the time has flown by I can scarcely remember how it felt to not have you in our family. You make us laugh every single day with your funny questions and sayings. You still love to dress up and accessorize and play kitchen but all of it is becoming more sophisticated. Just today you reminded me that you need napkins, a garbage can, and a refrigerator for your little play kitchen. It made me laugh. You are happy and carefree and think everybody loves you. I hope you can hang on to that for a lot longer. You love your mommy and daddy and all your "best friends" - many of whom celebrated with us today. You are learning to color and paint and spell and read and to listen the first time mommy asks you to do something. You are growing up way too quickly and always ask mommy to stop being sad about that. I can't, baby girl, I've tried. I love you more than life itself. Happy Birthday.