A Letter to Keke

Dear Keke,

Today is your 4^th Birthday, so Happy Birthday! I had this thought of writing you and Effy letters each on your birthdays... I let “business” steal that time for last year, but I won’t this year. I am sorry I didn’t, I deeply regret it because I know you will one day look back and wonder why did I start writing you letters at the age of 4 and not 3, or 2, or best 1. While I have tried to do my best to display my love for you in photo books, I know that a letter to reflect upon when you are older may be the sweetest gift I could ever give. So here I begin my yearly letters to you, know though that I have always loved you, from the day I knew you were in my womb to eternity.

It’s your 4^th Birthday and I am seeing a remarkable little girl. You love everything pretty and princess. Your favorite color is pink (most days), hair bows are becoming another way to display your love for girly things.

You truly are a beautiful girl and you certainly know it! Your eyes are turning green, some days they are bright blue and other days they are almost aqua, it amazes me at how they can change from moment to moment. You have my pink lips, high cheek bones, big round eyes, and possibly the cutest nose and ears a girl could ever have (I don’t think you got them from me though). While you are still small and young, you are growing taller than I had expected.

Your mind is open to learning, you make daddy and I so proud, we think you are gifted in reading. Though you don’t yet read you are very interested in books and can remember one after a few times of me reading to you. Your memory is fascinating; a few weeks ago we went for a walk and you remembered from 2 years ago our talk about not stepping on worms! Yes, when you were only a year ½ we would go for lots of walks and we would tell daddy to not walk on the worms because they are good for the earth! You pick up on sign language and other foreign languages so easily and can remember more than me!

You love to paint, though I don’t let you do this as much as you would like, I think you could be quite the artist. You enjoy playing with play-dough, coloring with markers, you received stamps for your birthday and have enjoyed it very much as well. You are a Very multi-talented young lady!

You display such dramatic character, acting out parts in a video or pretending to be mommy and caring for a baby. Put a pretty dress on and you become alive with a whole new character. Grandma and Grandpa Cameron bought you a crown for your birthday and you decided that you are now “queen”!

You certainly no longer take naps, though I think daddy and I agree that you could use them. Instead you have “quiet time”, most days you don’t stay in your room for it, you’d rather be entertained by mommy or daddy, it’s sweet really but we do appreciate some down time. You are very high maintenance indeed! I pray that you will find a husband that will love you unconditionally and accept your dramatics and high maintenances’- I think it’s endearing after all!

I also pray that you will be a girl after God’s heart, sold out to serving Him and will stand blameless before Him. There have been nights where I have prayed psalm 92 over you, to which you stand in agreement with me, you like to pray! Often times daddy will fold his hands and you will ask him to pray, even though that wasn’t what he was intending by it. It’s very sweet.

You have enjoyed preschool very much; you really like your teachers and the other students. Every morning you ask if you have preschool today and then get very excited when I say “yes”! It’s wonderful to see you flourish in a social environment, I was a bit afraid you might be too much for them, but as it turns out you aren’t and they love your high spirited nature and care for people. Everyday you come home with a different craft or project you have made.

You are very gifted when it comes to people. You like to talk to anyone and are quick to display your affections upon them. Anyone who comes into contact with you leaves feeling accepted and appreciated -moreover loved. You have a soft spot for Grandma, Grandpa, Robin, Uncle Duncan, Amy, and I’m sure there are more!

You have many sayings: “Forever!” -and are catching onto what I say, “nothing is forever, only God”. “With birthday cakes!” -“I’m so excited!” – “I love you so much.” – “You’re my best friend” – this seems to be for anyone!

You like to twirl, dance, and sing. You enjoy helping me cook, especially sweets! You are wiling to help me in fetching diapers, toys, or other items I need to calm a fussy child. You love hugs and kisses and other displays of affection.

There are some things that aren’t so nice about you, but they are expected in a growing child. I love you in spite of your tantrums or fits, which are lessening each day. There is a new sense of maturity taking place, you seem to understand better and listen. You’ve been asking permission for things and have been obliging when I need to say “no”. You follow directions well and help Effy to do the same. Sometimes you like to act like you haven’t heard me... but I keep pressing by calling your name till you respond, and usually I get a “what?” It’s funny really.

I love you so much and think you are special and wonderful daughter. Though you keep me on my toes and are challenging, your love for life and your energy are wonderful. These are the things I love about you. I hope and pray that you know how much I care, but that even I can make mistakes and I’m sorry if I’ve ever hurt you. May God fill those places in your heart and bring you peace where I couldn’t.

All my love,

Mommy xoxoxoxo