To my sweet Sofia...

Sweet girl,
I just wanted to write you a short letter to mark this special day. Your Dad is the newest doctor at a private practice that has three locations along the "North Shore". I am so proud of him and I know you are too. He worked so hard for the past four years and even during college to get to this point. Today was your Dad's first day of work. I have to tell you how hard it was for him to leave your sweet face today, we have had so much fun playing together as a family the past month.

I've been very lucky to have you all to myself for a few days while your Dad was interviewing or taking care of business related to his job and I must say that I feel like the luckiest Mom alive to spend the entire day with you. You like to wake up early but you realize how tired I am being so pregnant with your brothers and you are quite content to snuggle for a little while and sing or just sweetly talk to me. You are one affectionate little girl. Not only do you sing and talk sweetly, you snuggled your brothers in my belly this morning, gave me lots of kisses (the traditional kind) as well as eskimo and butterfly kisses. I don't know where you learned how to give butterfly kisses but you certainly melted my heart. I know you are ready to get moving when you jump on me and laugh hysterically.

You don't eat breakfast right away, you like to walk around the house and inspect things, you sure notice a lot because you talk a mile a minute about what you see. Around 7 or 7:30 I make breakfast for the two of us. Your favorite breakfast is scrambled eggs, you also like waffles and pancakes. Lately you have been very interested in finishing my cereal, your Dad's or even your Grandma's cereal when she has a later start time at work. On the days more people are around you love to walk around and wake everyone up with a big smile and hug.

After breakfast we usually read some stories in our pajamas or your Dad, Granddad or Grandma Rainey take you on a run or walk. You love being outside, whether it's swinging, playing with rocks, helping hang up diapers or just running around you are definitely very happy to be outside. I would expect nothing less since your Dad and I love the outdoors so much. Most days we take you to the library for Puppy Club or Baby Garden, two different reading programs you are in. You LOVE the library, you've had a strong love for books since you first used them for tummy time.

Today we turned on your Spanish music CD with children's songs. We sang almost every song twice and danced and danced and danced :) . You even acted out some of the actions for the different songs. You are so sweet, not only do you laugh, sing and dance but you always clap at the end of the song. I swear you said "Bravo" at the end of one song too. You are just a little knowledge sponge lately, you surprise me with all of the new words you say and things you know how to do.

Your Dad and I are a little nervous for all of the big changes coming our way because you are so well adjusted to our current situation, you love having family around all the time. It's also a big adjustment for your Dad from being a student to working full time. I think I get the best deal, after 5 years of teaching I'm taking a year off to be home with you and your brothers. I'm sure we'll have our days where things are a little tough, especially when your brothers both need something at the same time but I think we are headed towards a lot of amazing days as well. However, you are a strong little lady and I know you are going to be such a great big sister. And the great thing is that we will still be in the state of Wisconsin so you will be able to see your family so much more than we saw them when we lived in Tennessee.

Sofia, I could go on and on but I just wanted to make sure you know how much I love you and how much I have enjoyed getting to spend so much time with you.