2009 - A Year of Firsts

Molly -

Happy New Year! We had a wonderful Christmas vacation -- off almost 2-1/2 weeks! -- with lots of playdates, relaxing at home, and even your first sleepover at our house.

And that got me thinking, as I often do, about all the firsts that happened in 2008:

- Your first ballet recital

- Your first sleepover at a friend's house, even if it was accidental...

- You learned to sing the National Anthem

- Your first Presidental election

- Your first ear of corn on the cob

- Your first rock concerts

- Your first movies at the theater -- "Horton" and "Madagascar 2"

Then all the firsts that will happen this year:

- You just started whistling! So cool!

- Daddy and I register you for Kindergarten in two weeks... Kindergarten. Our first on that, for sure.

- You'll start Kindergarten. (Hand Mommy the Kleenex...)

- You'll turn five.

- You'll pick your third winner of "American Idol..."

- You'll learn so many things to make you even more self-sufficient: you've tackled zipping your coat by yourself. Now on to tying shoes and brushing your teeth. (Mommy still does that for you - but there's a l o n g story there.)

Daddy and I are so amazed at you - and what a big girl you are. Everyone told us when we were pregnant and right after you were born how quickly time would fly. It's not that we didn't believe them -- it's just that we didn't know how true that was. We blinked and you went from a baby to a little person. We're afraid to blink again -- because you'll be driving, heading off to college, striking out on your own...

Love you, peanut.