Baby K,

We are more than a full month into 2009. I can't believe how fast time goes. I wish I had every second of every day to just spend playing, exploring and learning with you.
You are playing indoor soccer and loving it. I couldn't help but notice at your game last Sat. how much more mature you seem just since Spring soccer last year. You're growing into a beautiful, so incredibly intelligent girl. I went to a women's retreat last month with Aunt Mari in California and listened to a couple of the women really try to let go and find their places as their youngest children prepared to launch into adult life. I literally cried just thinking about it with them... and it was about the only thing I cried over the whole weekend. I realized my time with you at home is more than half over at this point and it hurts my heart but also makes me excited to fill the next half with incredible experiences and adventures.
My goal is to teach you true happiness through truly having and modeling it this year. I want our home to be a constant source of laughter and joy.
After all, you have brought me joy as I never would have known it otherwise.

I love you!
Mama

P.S. Last night, as we said our nightly ritual- "I love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, your my Baby."- you asked to change it a little. It meant a lot to me. You wanted to add "K" at the end so that we could say it together and though you say "mama" at the end, and I say "baby", we both end up saying "K" together. :)