Twelve!

Dear Pierce,

I have to resist the urge to ask where the time has gone. MUST. RESIST. 

You are now, TWELVE.

As your mom, I just don't think of you that age.

You know I imagine when you leave for college, when you get married, when you venture off into adulthood, I will still be all like, WHERE'S MY BABY BOY GOING?

You are getting SO independent.

I guess being in sixth grade that's a good thing, I mean this is your last year of elementary school. Which by the way, you are still doing so well in school. Sometimes you think all the work and effort is stupid, which I get. However, you never quit. You always work hard and get the grades, mom and dad appreciate that about you.

That independence thing that you are getting so good at? Well, sometimes it stings for a mom.

You know what else can sting?

Your pre-teen attitude.

In your favor though, you ALWAYS apologize, which is a pretty awesome quality.

Something else I think is awesome? You still want to spend time with us.

I always hear of kids taking friends to the beach with them, and I'm sure one day you'll want that too, but for now you still think mom and dad are fun to be with.

You and Hope still fight a lot, but then you also take good care of her. Just the other night she was sick and I heard you telling her, "it's okay Hopie, you'll be okay." I just need us to remember those moments...

I think your past year of life has been filled with some pretty great moments, and yes, even some rough moments. Together we will always get through it though.

Like I've told you many times this last year: you are more than your grades, you are more than sports, you are more than our son, you are a child of God.

Wherever year TWELVE takes you, remember that.

Oh, and you'll always be my baby.

Here's to year TWELVE!

Love,

Mommy

Nine!

Hope,

You've entered your last single digit age. NINE. Next year will be a big one, what with entering double digits and all. 

You know I get all tore up about you growing up, but it's also really fun experiencing it. 

I just love how much you enjoy talking! I can always count on you to jump into the car after school and fill me in on who did what and why. Everyone says those days are numbered so trust me I savor how much scoop you give me.

Your wit and comedic timing have really emerged this last year. Just the other day as we were sitting together on the couch you said "I have something to ask you mom, I think you will say no, but I say go big or go home, so here goes..."

You know if I'd let you, you'd wear a full face of makeup and high heels to school. You are all about fashion and being girly. Of course I don't let you, but I get it, I was just like that.

And it slays how much you enjoy shopping and not just for yourself. You will spend hours looking for something you think looks good on me. I mean it's just in your DNA.

You think about others, especially your brother. If we are together and you ask for a pack of gum, you always tell me to pick one up for Pierce too. If you take money to school for the sweet shop, you always leave back some to get some candy for Pierce. Just the other day you picked up an extra cookie, wrapped it in some tissue paper and had me hold it for nearly a day, just so you could give it to your brother.

You are also very protective of your friends. One day when filling me in on some school scoop, you let me know you told a certain someone that you would not put up with her unkind words about your friend. Even when she apologized, "that's not gonna cut it." Yeah, we had to discuss accepting an apology, but I couldn't help but be impressed at how quickly and fiercely you stood up for your friend.

You've even decided to keep sticking with running, even though you hate it. Why? YOUR FRIENDS ARE THERE.

You just have a way to make most everyone feel like your friend, me included. I mean I know you and I aren't supposed to really be friends, but sometimes we are buddies.

You laugh big

You love well

And you are just plain fun.

Happy Birthday to the girl who completed our family NINE years ago.

Love,

Momma

Eleven!

Pierce,

Today you turn ELEVEN! So I guess that makes you an official "tween?" I was talking to Tracey the other day and I said, "he just doesn't act like a tween, you know?" And maybe all that angst and teen stuff is still to come, but I can honestly say you are a dream. 

You know what trips mommy out?

You don't have much time left in elementary school.

You do so very well in school, so I'm sure Junior High won't be a problem for you.

But it will be a problem for me.

So your tenth year of life was pretty awesome, wasn't it?

A new house, straight A honor roll, baseball, running, friends...

But most important, your decision to accept Christ and follow in baptism.

Do you know sometimes I still watch you sleep?

And sometimes I will see a glimpse of you when you were a baby.

Eleven years ago when you came along I thought you would be a baby forever

Funny how quick it goes.

But let me tell you something

If I could have custom ordered a son, I would have ordered one just like you.

I always wondered what you would be like at this age, and you are so much more than I could have dreamt of.

I just want you to know how much I appreciate you.

And that I love you, for just being you.

I have no idea what I did to deserve you, but I'm so glad God gave me you.


Love, Mommy.

Eight!

Hope Elizabeth,

You are now officially EIGHT! Well, at 2:12 this afternoon to be exact.

Baby girl, you have changed so much this last year.

Probably the most obvious change to me is your physical appearance. You've really "shot up" as I say, and you've lost that baby look.

But besides your looks changing a lot, you've emotionally changed.

You went to your first friend sleepover this year and when I walked in to pick you up, you burst into tears because I was there. I think you would have stayed for days if I would have let you!

I remember when we could never be apart, but now you want your independence. With a little mommy on the side.

Your opinion on clothing slays me. 

Sometimes we have words about all that, because you are sure I don't know what looks best. 

I'm learning to let some things go, I guess we will keep figuring it out together.

You are still my avid reader. Many times I won't see you and once I go looking for you I will find you hiding out with a book. Then you will tell me all about how Junie B Jones got herself into trouble again!

You are still my sidekick. Even if I'm just running to Kroger to grab some groceries, you always ask to tag along.

I think it's pretty sweet how you will play almost any game your brother asks, just so you can play with him. X-box, basketball, whatever it may be, you give it a go. Yes, you usually end up in a fight, but I know you really just want to be his buddy.

And that's the thing about you, you just want friendships. You are a relational person and I think that's such a great quality.

But that's just it, your daddy and I think you are full of so many great qualities. You are our Hopie-poo, our daughter, our joy.

I'm grateful for another year with you, and I can't wait to see how year EIGHT unfolds.

Love you,

Momma

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17