Marielle (2 years, 8 months)

Dear Marielle,

In the words of your dear cousin Ryan, you are now a "little girl, not a toddler". But it wasn't very long ago, though, that you were just my baby. And we often still refer to you and Genevieve as "the babies". (You know you'll always be my baby.) But alas, you remind me many times a day that you like to do things the "big girl" way. You sleep in a "big-girl bed", drink from a "big-girl cup", and sit on a "big-girl potty"now. And though I think that you relish your self-proclaimed big-girl status, you still very much enjoy being cuddled, sung to, and rocked. And, your unbridled affection for your mom brings me unparalled joy. I often feel unworthy of such passionate loyalty and single minded devotion, but you bestow it upon me freely all throughout the day. Thank you for loving your mom so much.

So how do you pass your days now? Well, in your opinion, it definitely needs to begin with a good breakfast....In fact, all your meals bring you much happiness and pleasure! When I come into your room to get you up in the morning, often the first thing out of your mouth is that you would like "oatmeal with applesauce and blueberries"; or if Daddy is home you know that a request for pancakes in in order. (Because no father can deny his daughter anything on a Saturday morning.)

After a hearty breakfast, you usually enjoy chasing Buck around the backyard for a good bit, hiding with him behind bushes, picking flowers, and finding rocks and sticks to give to him, and just some good-quality sky-gazing. You also enjoy throwing tea parties for your dolls, kittens, or really anyone who will participate. You love love, love helping Mom make "bread-dough", though you havent quite gotten it down yet that we cant eat it until its cooked.

I'm realizing lately just what a hard-worker you are. When you are put to a task, Marielle, you do it, and you do it well. Just last week you spilled a good bit of flour on the kitchen floor, and insisted upon cleaning it up yourself. Unfortunately, the rag you chose to use was dry, and so you cleaned and cleaned and cleaned up that flour for a good 10 minutes, but to no avail. When I suggested that we wet the rag, you would have none of that, but continued working happily and diligently (until I finally intervened with a wet rag).

You are a driven and passionate little girly, Marielle, and we wouldnt want you any other way. You bring life and excitement (and just a little drama) to our house, and we are amazed to see how God is at work already in your life, especially how you love to pray and read your Bible!

You are our heart!

Much love,

Mommy and Daddy