September 3rd, 2020

\ Dearest Rylee Lorraine, It's been a long time and you're growing up so fast. I want to start writing to you again. You've always been a little artist, but you're really starting to take off with your sketching skills. It's insane and I love it! Yesterday you drew our whole family as animals. I think I'm going to frame it and use it as our family portrait. You have grown into the sweetest, most compassionate, empathetic, beautiful soul I've ever met in my life. You care so deeply for others and it's just innate.. you are so special. I just wanted to drop in and say hi. I love you forever baby girl, Mom

June 28th, 2018

Dearest Rylee Lorraine,

It's almost your birthday! Well, not before you lose your first tooth and get your next belt!! (That's lion belt by the way..)

You're growing up so, so, so fast.

You have the most sensitive baby bird heart..

Yesterday you told me, "you are the best mom ever. Thank you so, so much for giving us all this stuff.. like food, and PlayStation.. and for making this place look so nice. Tell dad, okay? What I just told you? Tell him." 😍

You are perfect, and I'll love you forever,

Mom

June 6th, 2017

Dearest Rylee Lorraine,

Hello my princess baby princess girl.

You're growing up so fast. In August you'll be five, and starting kindeegarten. You'll ride the bus to school with Damen.

Recently you've been playing Minecraft and Terraria with Damen, and loving on our new puppy Baxter.

I love you so much honey, forever.

Mommy

March 7th, 2016

Dearest Rylee Lorraine,

I yelled at you today, a lot. 

I am so, so sorry. 

You and your brothers have been sick this whole last week, so that's a nightmare. This morning I decided to take you to the zoo to cure that cabin fever. 

You were our map reader.

We saw some goats. You got your head stuck in the fence. Normal everyday stuff. 

We got home too late and you ended up ripping shit apart in your room for two hours, unbeknownst to me at the time. 

Why do you have to rip up EVERYTHING?! You ripped apart the blinds on the window! Then when you got up you did the opposite of what I asked all the way until bedtime. 

I got so, so mad. I need to relax, I know. But also, you need to take a nap so you don't turn into hell spawn every afternoon. For real though. 

I am sorry I yelled. I'm laying in bed beating myself up. We ended the day on a happy note. We read a book and sang twinkle twinkle little star. I hope you aren't traumatized from me losing my patience. I hope you remember our goodnight kisses and songs instead of the cranky, scary mommy that emerges sometimes after a long ass day. 

I love you forver baby girl,

Mommy 

February 16th, 2016

Dearest Rylee Lorraine,

We had a fun day. 

You are such a princess. You happily ran errands with me, and had a blast at the park and Papa's birthday party.

At the end, you were most definitely pooped.

I love you forever baby girl,

Mommy

January 19th, 2016

Dearest Rylee Lorraine,

Hi hambone. 

You are a video game master. Your new favorite movie is Lego Batman. You are an amazing big sister. 

You're intelligence and excitement for life blow me out of the water every single day. 

We've been going in circles recently because you've got a knack for ripping things into tiny little pieces. Everything!!

I cherish your destructiveness though, because in six months you'll be in preschool. You'll thrive there and impress all your teachers. You'll make friends and your amazing mind will flourish. But 😢.

The thing that really makes me smile recently is our bedtime routine. We have dinner and a bath, and read a story with our brothers of course. Then, after I tuck the boys in it never fails.

"I need a kiss and hug mom!"

Then..

"I need twinkle twinkle little star!"

This is our special time, and I will sing you twinkle twinkle for as long as you'd like me to, and probably even beyond that. 

You are such a force in the universe, and I am so thankful we have you. You rock, little girl. 

I love you forever,

Mommy

August 18th, 2015

Dearest Rylee Lorraine,

Today you got your glasses!

You're sitting further back from the TV than you ever have in your three years of life.

When you first put them on you looked around quietly at how different everything was.

So. Sweet. 

I love you forever baby girl,

Mommy