Dear Maggie,

Today was your little sister's blessing day. It was a beautiful day and this day even more than I always do I have felt so fortunate to be the mother of three beautiful kids. I love you so much Maggie! I love everything about you! I love your smile and the way you talk. I love that you are so sweet and at the same time so feisty. I love that you love me. I love that you love that I love you. I love the spirit that you bring to our home and family just by being a part of it.

You have been such a good big sister. I know it hasn't been easy on you because I haven't been able to hold you and snuggle you as much and that it was you thrive on. It breaks my heart that you and I are missing out on snuggle time. But I think we are both doing a pretty good job of adjusting and we both realize that as hard as it is to share our time with a new baby she is so worth it. I am so grateful that I have been able to give you a sister. One day, when Stella was a little over a week old, you asked to hold her. I looked down at the two of you and suddenly realized something so amazing: I made sisters! I'm so grateful that you two will have each other and I hope that you will be good friends and enjoy the beauty of sisters that I have enjoyed with my own sisters. You loved Stella from the moment you saw her. When she was an hour old you came into the delivery room and climbed right up on the bed next to me and cooed at her. You uncovered her from the blanket and inspected her whole body. You patted her and talked to her in such a sweet voice. When she was in my tummy she always moved the most when you were around. I suspected a sweet connection between the two of you and it was one of the few things that made me think maybe I was having a girl and not a boy baby. I hope that you will always love her and be as great a sister to her as you are to her right now.

Speaking of being a good sister, a funny thing happened a few days ago. Meg was over with Lucy and Nora. Nora took something that belonged to Max and he started to cry. Just a few minutes earlier Max was not being so nice to you and the two of you were fed up with each other. But in that moment you looked at Max and the distress Nora was causing him, marched over to Nora, pried the toy out of her hands and marched it over to Max. I felt bad about the way this affected Nora, but I was so proud of you for being such a good sister to your brother. I loved seeing that at the core, even though you and Max irritate each other sometimes, you love him and your instinct is to protect him and help him. The two of you are best friends right now. Max saw a picture of you on my phone the other day and showed it to you and said, "Here is a picture of you Maggie. Maggie, you are my best friend." I worried about having a third baby because I didn't want to interfere with what the two of you have going right now. I hope that you will add Stella to your posse and love her as much as you love each other.

I'm so grateful you are mine Maggie! I love watching you as you move through each day and interact with the world around you. I love the spirit I feel when I am near you. I love, love, love that you are mine and that I get to stare at a caress your sweet, beautiful face each day. You make my heart happy.

Love,
Mama

Dear Maggie,

Yesterday morning you were snuggling on the bed with me and you said, "I three". I said, "No, you are two." You giggled and said, "No, I four." As I said "no" each time you continued on, "I five", "I six". Dear Maggie, please slow down! I know that I will love you as a three year old and a four year old and every age you will ever be. But right now you are two and I love you so much as a two year old. People often complain about two year olds (The Terrible Twos) but I find you to be so delightful and fun and loving. You are a sweetheart! I will love you however you are in the future, but right now I love you just as you are now.

Love,
Mama

Dear Maggie,

You say the funniest things these days. Here are two of my favorites from the last week.

I found a movie that I thought you and Max would be really excited about when I was at the store. I came home and announced that I had brought home a surprise and asked if you could guess what it was. You perked right up and asked, "Is it cheese?"

You climbed on the table and I told you to get off the table. I took your hand and helped you step down from the table and back on to the chair. You exclaimed, "I did it! I did it! I did it all by myself. Mama helped me."

Also, you are very protective of your brother. And your brother is very sensitive right now and often telling him no results in crying and running to his room. When this happens you often scold me and Tata and say, "You made my brother mad!"

I love you baby girl! You truly are sugar and spice and everything nice.

Love,
Mama

Irresistible

Dear Maggie,

Last night you were all wound up and wouldn't go to sleep. After letting you chat it out in your bed for an hour your daddy decided to set you free. I was watching TV and working on some projects and your dad had dished me up a bowl of ice cream that I was about to eat. You snuggled with me for a bit and watched my TV show with me. I love having one on one time with you. Then you requested to watch a movie and you picked Lorax. You were laying on the couch watching it, not needing anything from us. I went to my ice cream and took two bites. Then I put it in the fridge and asked you if I could snuggle with you on the couch. You said yes and took my hand in yours and dug under my fingernails as you love to do. Your daddy looked at me and said, "You just can't resist her can you?" Nope. I can't. There were so many things I could have done, but I just wanted to be with you. You are irresistible. I adore everything about you. You are growing so fast and I just want to savor everything about you at this age. You talk like crazy. You copy your brother constantly. You are snuggly and loving. You want to do everything by yourself. You are fearless and I have to watch you like a hawk at the park because you climb everything. You give cheesy smiles and sweet, slobbery kisses. And I adore it all!!!

I love you baby girl!

Love,
Mama