Dear Hayden,

In the last week, you have fallen in love with your little brother! We have all taken to calling him “Bubby” and you have embraced that name for him the most! You are having a lot of fun holding him, helping feed him and loving on him in general. You are a great big sister. You even say things like, “I love my little Bubby more than anything in the whole world!” Sometimes your hugs look a little painful, so we ask you to be gentle — you are such a sweet sister!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today was Pajama Day at school. You wore your “bones” pajamas and took Lovey with you for the day! You were very excited and had a fantastic time with your class.

Love you,
Mama

Dear Owen,

Today a special gift arrived in the mail for you! My friend Sarah sent you a hand-painted train! It is absolutely adorable! It is painted with such precise detail and it matches your room perfectly! Your sister has a train like this, too!

Love you,
Mama

Your Choo Choo:

Dear Owen,

You are showing the world your first smiles!

Love you,
Mama

Dear H and O,

We have had some good family time while Dad has been home from work for the holidays. We have a good time hanging out in our pajamas and enjoying “Good Morning Time” as you call it, Hayden.

Love you,
Mama

Dear H and O,

It’s midnight and I can’t sleep. I’m up thinking of you… praying for you… hoping for you. Thinking about the moments when all of this came together, praying for God’s presence and provision in your lives, hoping you will always know how very loved you are. I have no words for how honored I feel to be your mom. Nothing could have prepared me for the flood of pure joy and unconditional  love I feel for you. You’ll always have a refuge here.

Love you,
Mama

Dear H and O,

We had some great celebrations over the last two days with friends and family! On Christmas Eve, we went to Nana and Papa’s for dinner and then we went to church. Hayden, you were an angel in the nativity skit in the first service, and Owen, you were baby Jesus and I was Mary in the skit in the second service. Christmas morning was fun, too! You opened gifts from Santa and everyone else, and then Ken and Marcia came up from Tucson to join us for Christmas dinner. We had an amazing time — you two make everything seem like magic. Yes. Pure magic.

Love you,
Mama

Dear Owen,

Tonight we dressed you in a little Santa suit we have on loan from a friend from church. You make a really cute Santa!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today, you got your first haircut! You are three years old, so it’s long overdue, but I kept putting it off because I feel like it’s the last of the “baby” firsts. You already had your other little firsts: smile, laugh, crawl, walk, talk. I was hanging on to this one because it made you still seem so little to me. Anyway, the time came that we just had to do it, so today was the day. They gave you a little trim, you had a great time, and your hair looks beautiful.

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

You had a lot of Christmas fun at school today! This morning, your class had a Christmas party — you built gingerbread houses, had a dance party, had a book exchange and played Christmas Bingo. This evening, all of the kids in your school put on a Christmas program. Dad, Owen, Nana, Papa and I were all there to see you sing!

Love you,
Mama

Gingerbread Houses:

Dance Party:

Book Exchange:

Christmas Bingo:

Christmas Program: