Happy Birthday, Skylar!!!

Here are the much overdue pictures of Sklar's birthday party. As you can see she wasn't too sure about the cake at first, but once she figured it out, "WOW!" She also had some great help opening her presents.

Thank you to everyone who could come. It means so much to have such a great "villiage" helping us raise our kiddos.

Each year on their birthday, or very soon after, I write each of the kids a letter. I hope one day they will look back at them and enjoy my thoughts on their childhoods and futures. The following is my letter to Skylar. Feel free to read and comment if you have any thoughts on her first year you would like to share with her.




Dear Skylar,

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! This is your birthday letter from Mommy. I hope one day you can look back, read this and get a sense of how very much you are loved.

Just 12 short months ago, I could feel you moving around in my tummy. I knew you then, what time you slept each day, when you liked to play, if you had the hiccups and what foods you really didn't like to eat, but what I didn't know yet is who you were. Then one beautiful day in January I got to meet you for the first time. Right from the start you were the best baby. I know every mother thinks that, but you really were. The nurses at the hospital even commented on what a content little angel you were.

As the months have passed, it has been incredible to watch you grow and change into a real little person. You remain the happiest baby I think I have ever seen. There is always the brightest smile on your face and you love it when people giggle with you. Laughter and snuggles seem to be your favorite things. Grammy can often be heard telling people how you are the "smiliest little thing". I know there will be days where you don't feel like smiling and being happy. Those days are good as well. You will learn as you get older, I hope, to appreciate the times that are rough because they help you to see and really appreciate the good times. One of my wishes for you is that the laughter and the light that is within you naturally will be with you always and will become something you come to see as one of your gifts to the world.

Let me tell you some things about who you are and what you like right now. First of all, you love your brother and sister. Often in the morning I can hear you when you first wake up calling from your crib for Abby. She usually comes in when she doesn't have school and plays in your room with you. I can hear you two in there just giggling and playing together. Sometimes I stand at the door where you guys can't see me and just watch. Having a sibling you can count on is so important. You guys will argue and probably hate each other at least for moments as you grow older. Another wish I have for you is that you will always know the true love and friendship of your siblings and that you will return that love and friendship unconditionally. There is no greater gift than a family that loves and supports you.

Right now you also love music and dancing. Whenever music comes on you usually start bobbing up and down with a big grin on your face. Doesn't matter what kind of music, but you did have a huge giggle fit this morning when Weston sang "Itsy Bitsy Spider" to you.

You also have yet to meet a food you don't like. I am not sure how you are staying such a tiny little thing, because most of the time I have to take the food away from you. I love it that you will try anything we put in front of you . Another wish for you is that you never lose that curiosity about the world and the willingness to try new things. Your life will only be as good as you make it. Each day you are going to have to wake up and make a choice about how your day will be. Make choices that lead you to adventure and happiness. Believe me some days it will be difficult to choose to be happy, but if you do nothing will bring you down.

I am a little late writing this letter to you because Abby has been sick and I wanted to write when I could really focus on what I wanted to say to you. It is just a couple of weeks after your actual birthday now, but wow how much has changed in just the last two days. This time three days ago you were just taking a few little steps here and there. Over the last couple of days you have taken off. Tonight you were even preferring to walk and not crawl. Seeing you up on your feet ready to take on the world is amazing! Oh the things you will accomplish now! I also wish for you that you come to know how blessed you are to be born into the world you were born into. You live in the greatest country in the world. You will have every opportunity and can become anything you want to be if you work hard and believe in yourself. Never take that for granted. There are still places in the world where young females don't have near the opportunities you have. Don't waste the freedoms you have been given.

I could ramble on and on but you hopefully will come to know the rest over the course of your life. My final wish for you on your first birthday is that you always know the love and support of your family. No matter what choices you make or how you decide to live your life, carry our love with you wherever you go, because it will always be there. We are the kind of family that sticks together. I hope Daddy and I will raise you in such a way that you will always know that love and understanding. There will come times when you don't understand us and we probably won't understand you. Teach us and trust us to teach you. Know that every decision we make, every rule we enforce, every good time we make available and every day that goes by your happiness, health and security are our first priority.

So there you go, Baby. May your second year be as wondrous as your first. May you continue to grow and learn your place in this world.

We love you and will be here for the whole journey!

Happy Birthday!