To Ryleigh and Avery

Dear Girls,

I just wanted to take a moment and write to tell you how incredibly special you two are. Each in your own unique way, you light up my every moment of every day. You are not only the most beautiful little girls, but your boundless energy and cleverness lifts me up and makes me feel whole in this world. I made you, with daddy's help of course, but I carried you, I delivered you and now I stay home and take care of you. It's all been lots of hard work but when I see you Ryleigh read your books to me and show me all then numbers you can add and when I see you Avery say a new word and do your little dance in the living room I KNOW that I have brought two very special and awesome new beings into the world.

Ryleigh, you are doing so well in Kindergarten. You are one of the most compassionate kids in your class. The teacher always sits the new kids with you because she knows that you will make them feel welcome and of course, tell them exactly how things work in your classroom. You are still a very picky eater, but I'm starting to see signs of improvement in this area. Your hair is finally starting to grow longer and get thicker, much to your delight. I don't think it's going to be down to butt anytime soon, but I can at least pull it back into a ponytail from time to time. You have started making your bed everyday, many days without prompting. You are also starting to grasp the idea of money and very soon you will be starting to get an allowance, in exchange for a few household chores. This isn't a problem though because you are my little helper, always eager to please. You are very gentle with your sister and I can see your own little heart break when she is in any sort of pain. The flip side of this characteristic is that she runs you. I'm sure at some point you will learn that she will not break and that asserting your authority with her is okay. She is after all the little sister, and as such must be taught that you are her elder and should be respected as such. Just ask your Aunt Becca, she understands this concept perfectly well. You are growing so quickly and here recently have started protesting your sister's silly cartoons since you prefer Hannah Montanna. Avery got you a new Wii game for Christmas and so you have taken to the Wii and run straight for it after school. It's just almost unbearable to see how tall you are getting. Long gone is my first baby and quickly emerging is my very big, brave, gorgeous and smart "little" girl.

Avery, you are my little sidekick. You tag along with me through all of the day's activities so effortlessley. I never worry about how you behave when we go anywhere because I'm my book you are pretty much perfect. Even when you run away from me in Wal-Mart, and I mean run-a-way. More than once I have had to abandon my cart, grab my purse and dart across the store to catch up with you. You like to run away from me at home too and most recently you have realized that you can run around the couch faster than I can and so you just keep changing directions until I figure out how to get over the couch fast enough to catch you. I laugh the whole time. I just love it all because someday you won't want to go to the store with me because you need to talk on the phone to someone or catch some show on television. And someday I won't be able to get you up off the couch so I gladly let you run around it now. Our house is your playground, another thing I don't mind one bit. During the day we play kitchen, color, play dolls and other little activities all over the house. Your favorite shows right now are Micky Mouse Clubhouse and Dora the Explorer. I don't know what I'm going to do when you start going to preschool let alone Kindergarten. Okay, so maybe I'll get more pedicures and spend less time at the grocery store, but I know that without you by my side all day every day things are definitely going to be a whole let less exciting.

I feel so blessed to have you both. I feel even more blessed to be able to stay home and make your care the number one priority in my life. The sand in the ol' hourglass seems to drop more quickly every day, reinforcing my life's mantra to make each and every second count. And I couldn't ask for a better family to make me want to make each second count. Love to you both...and daddy too...Family Kisses! Family Kisses!!