SECOND BEST FRIEND

Dear Brooklyn,

A million apologies to you because it's been forever since I have written my sweet baby a letter.

First and foremost: I love you, I love you, I love you.

Second: I want to tell you that you are my second best friend (right after your daddy, of course).

I love hanging out with you all day long. You follow me around the house while I get stuff done. We read books, sing and dance, eat, and play games.

Today you learned how to play peek-a-boo with your hands. Before you would put a blanket over your head, pull it down, and I would say "Peek-a-boo!" Now you put your hands over your eyes to play. For some reason it is so much cuter. Especially when you will peek to make sure I'm looking before you pull your hands down.

You are so adorable.

Again I have to say I love you, I love you, I love you.

Sincerely, Mom

EARLY MORNING THOUGHTS

Dear Kurt,

It is six o' clock on a Saturday Morning.

I just filled you up with eggs and bacon and sent you off to your favorite fishing hole with Jedd.

A kiss, a couple "I love you"s, and a few reminders: Don't fall in. Have fun. Leave your phone in the car. Don't bring any fish home.

And then you were off.

Usually I would be in bed right now, enjoying the fact that my baby usually sleeps till nine or ten, but lately I haven't been sleeping well. So instead of getting my hair even more tangled and matted from the tossing and turning that accompanies me most of the night lately, I am sitting on our couch in the dark writing to you.

I don't particularly like waking up early. Early mornings sometimes fill me with worries. Am I raising my daughter ok? Am I being a good wife? Am I doing all I can do to stay close to the Lord? Will we continue to be blessed in this economic recession?

While it is the "big picture" things that mostly worry me, it is the small things that make me happy. Why is that? Today I am excited for Brooklyn to follow me around the house, for fresh veggies, for listening about your fishing trip, for listening to the rain, and for curling up on the couch with you.

Well, have fun fishing. I hope you don't get skunked. I love you.

Sincerely, Lori

GOOD OL' UTAH

Dear Kurt,

A quick trip to Utah for work reasons turned into mostly eating, swimming, and shopping with our good friends Jedd, Jill and their little one, Jaxton.

I like taking trips with you. Even though we had a few "musts" to take care of, the trip still felt carefree and fun.

Sometimes it's nice to have a planned trip but there is something to be said about spontaneity. Doing whatever we feel like doing at that moment. Eating whatever sounds good at the moment. Stopping if someplace looks interesting while driving down the road.

My favorites from this trip: swimming with Brooklyn for the first time, eating at Rumbi Island Grill, surfing, and snuggling with you in our freezing hotel room.

Sincerely, Lori

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTNEY

Dear Brittney,

Happy Golden Birthday!!!

I hope it was great. You deserve it.

I love you.

Sincerely, Lori

SNIP SNIP

Dear Kurt,

I accidentally messed up when I cut the back of your hair tonight.

Well, maybe I messed up on purpose, you know, cause I like it longer and if I mess it up then you won't want to cut it next time.

But I wouldn't do something like that.

Mostly because I didn't think of it until after I already messed it up.

But the idea is brilliant. Why didn't I think of this before?

So next time you go about thinking it is time to chop off those precious locks of yours, you better think twice, because I'm thinking it would be cool to shave my name in your hair....

Sincerely, your sweet and never mischievous, Lori

LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN

Dear Brooklyn,

It was late. Way past your bedtime.

But we were out watching a movie with friends and you were trying so hard to be good.

So you just leaned over and put your head on your dads lap.

You never do this. You like to be up and alert, watching everything around you. But you were tired and you love your dad.

We both looked down at you then looked at each other and smiled.

We are so in love with you. Everything you do is amazing, cute, or funny to us.

Thanks for being an amazing baby.

And thanks for cuddling with us.

Sincerely, Lori

FIRST CAMPOUT OF THE SEASON

Dear Kurt,

A wonderful weekend is coming to a close.

Our first campout of the season was wonderful. Oh, how I love camping.

There is just something about being surrounded by nature and family and friends and cooking your food on a fire and throwing frisbeesand slathering babies with sunscreen every twenty minutes and not having a care in the world.

It was also a bunch of firsts for our little one.

It was Brooklyn's first camping trip, her first four-wheel ride, her first fire, her first spending a night in the same crib with another baby, her first time being rubbed down with sunscreen...

Less then two weeks before the next camping trip. Can we sleep in a tent this time?

Sincerely, Lori

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT

Dear Scott,

Happy Brithday!!

Sincerely, Lori

MY FAVORITE HALF HOUR

Dear Kurt,

Today I held our little baby in my arms and slowly rocked her to sleep.

And all at once I was overcome with a million emotions.

For one nano second I was sad. Sad because these moments that I get to rock my baby to sleep are numbered.

But for the rest of the half hour that I sat in her dark bedroom, in your grandma's old rocking chair, I was oh so grateful.

I am mother. A mother to a beautiful, pure little baby.

How could my life possibly get any better?

Sincerely, Lori

FLOUR LOVE

Dear Kurt,

I love surprises.

Even little ones.

Like love notes written in last nights bread flour.

Thank you and I love you too.

Sincerely, Lori