CJ

I used to write my babies love letters all the time, and it's been way too long. Shame on me!!!

Dear CJ,
You funny, funny kid. I have been blessed since the second I was pregnant with you. Do you remember the fun stories I have about your pregnancy? The way that Connie across the street came running over to tell me that Ronnie had a "dream" and that the "fairies" told her that I get a baby for Christmas? And here I was pregnant and I hadn't told her yet.
Or how about when I was 8 weeks and in the bathroom, getting ready for a shower, begging, begging, begging for this one to stick? And clear as day, as if someone were standing next to me, I hear "No. No more begging. it's time to have faith." and I knew then that this baby was staying.
You are such a calm force to have around. I love when we see one of the other kids do something funny and you look at me and we laugh about it together. I love how you take care of them even when I don't ask you to. That cracked me up the other day when Julia was whining about that barely there cut, and I blew her off trying to make her see that she was making a mountain of a molehill, when you stepped in. Rolling your eyes at me blowing her off, while you babied the hell out of her.
I had to learn how to deal with you. You are so sensitive, but you are never out of bounds with what you ask for or want to do. I probably expected too much out of you, in the way of your siblings. Expecting that you would remember to remind them to not be so loud and rowdy, instead of expecting you to be a kid and that I'd have to keep on you guys to not wake your dad up in the mornings or what have you. I watch you guys and take one day at a time and be thankful that right now, you are all friends. Wonderful friends, forming unbreakable bonds. That's why I let it go when any of you "undermines" me in order to baby or take care of another one. Because that bond that you're forming is going to carry you for the rest of your life. If I'm one of the luckiest people to live, you will all outlive me and you'll grow up to love hanging out with eachother, and the families you'll grow.
Thank you for being such a good friend to your friends. Your teacher this year is just fantastic- she leads by the same values that we share and she saw right away that you are a soft hearted, fun loving kid. I don't know what tomorrow or next month or next year will bring but today I am so thankful for how you are, who you are and the fact that you are here with me. I can't wait to walk through life with you and find out what color the sky is in your eyes. I love you. Thank you for the numerous gifts you give to the world just by being you!