You Oughtta Know

Layla, here are some things that you oughtta know:

--You make everybody smile. You are beaming. Full of joy.

--You have an incredibly high pain tolerance. I worry a little when I see that you aren't crying after Campbell has tried to sit on you like you're a horse, or when you fall and hit your head--to be quite honest. But you seem to learn from your mistakes still, so I think you are just cut from some tough cloth!

--Like your sister before you, your thighs are not to be missed. Nobody can resists giving them a good squeeze.

--You love Cadence's soccer games because you like to cheer and clap along with us all.

--You give the best hugs. Not all babies your age hug, you know.

--You have a special place in this family and Dad and I can't imagine what we would do without you.

--You have show-stopper eyes. People tell me that your face is so cute that you don't even need hair. I tell them, "oh, this is my baby with hair!"

--Your older sisters both have the "what's in your mouth"-finger-swipe down like they are pro's. They use it on you a lot. So do I. Something is always in your mouth.

--You still growl.

--Your laugh is strong and contageous.

Campbell, here are some things YOU oughtta know:

--You are pretty dang sweet, even for a two-year-old. I really thought I was in big trouble with you at age two since you are such a fire-cracker. But you are so loveable and agreeable!

--You love to climb. Still.

--You think that anytime you have lipgloss or chapstick applied, you must kiss Mama's lips.

--You have this thing with backs. You just must climb onto one if it is before you. Mine, Layla's, other kids in the nursery... it often doesn't end well and yet you still see it as a gift just for you if somebody's back is in front of you.

--You still eat sand, dirt, and rocks.

--You are a joy to be with and you light up everybody's day, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. You are always catching people's attention and they just love to watch you.

--You've started potty training yourself, in spite of the fact that I'm not ready for it yet.

--You still love to greet and bid farewell to anyone and everyone in a very gregacious manner.

Cadence, some things you oughtta know:

--You are really a little mother to your sisters a lot of the time. I count on you to be the eyes in the back of my head, and you will almost always let me know if one of your sisters is into something she shouldn't be. You help me set the table, you can get Campbell's shoes on and off and buckle and unbuckle her carseat, etc.

--You have this way of smiling at me that just makes my heart skip a beat. Your eyes shine and your smile is so true. Your dad has a similar thing going on. This one smile that is more genuine and true than other smiles...and it brightens my entire day.

--Your prayers are great. Here are some of my favorite things that you've prayed for recently:

-"thank you that Mom won't be like this all day.."(that was this morning, actually.)

-"Thank you for uncle John's birthday and please bless him to save some cake for me."

and now I'm drawing a blank on some of the other great prayers you've said lately....

--You have pretty good style, I have to admit. I let you dress yourself quite a bit, partially because I just love the adorable outfits you put together. You truly express yourself through your clothes and I love to see those expressions. So if you are a teenager now and are mad at me for letting you go out in public like that, just remember that I just couldn't get enough of how much it showed that sparkling personality. Also if you are a teenager now, just remember that I've been letting you dress yourself from the time you were two, so now it's time to back off and let me have a turn....

--You are still so dang smart. You amaze me with how your mind works and the things you are capable of understanding.

--You love the gospel and have a personal relationship with Jesus. Wherein he teaches you all sorts of things that I never even knew, like that you are allowed to never eat bechtables, and other things of a sci-fi nature.