Miss Jojo,
You are the most amazing little girl. I love that you know who you are, and I hope that you carry that with you for the rest of your life. You are my baby girl and you will always be so, so special to me. Even though you are now four and you tell me that you are no longer a baby, you will always be that to me. Trust me, I know that you are growing into quite the little girl and I have been seeing that coming for a long time. It pulls at my heart as I am sure this is the feeling every mother gets every time they realize their "babies" do not need their help as much anymore. You still need me, I know this. I also know you are growing more independent every day. You have really grown from the fiery two year old that I used to know into now not just a little sister but also a big sister. You love your brothers so much and I really could not ask for more.
Some of my last memories of you before your baby brother was born are of you and I playing in the bathtub together making "birthday cakes" out of the bubbles. My innocent baby girl. And in less than 24 hours later, you were a big sister. I really just wish that I could bottle up those moments that I spent with you as my "baby" and carry them with me forever. But the truth is, those memories will fade as time goes by which is why I am writing this to you now. Because I just want you to know.
I just want you to know how excited you were to be a big sister from the first moment you knew. I just want you to know that the same day I found out that I was pregnant, I photographed you stuffing your shirt with a "baby", and you didn't even know it yet. I just want you to know how happy it makes me that you and your big brother are so close and care for each other. I just want you to know that while I was pregnant you found an old receiving blanket and decided that it would be used for baby Max. I just want you to know that even in the hardest moments when I almost lost your baby brother, how much I loved my time with you while Daddy was at work and Tyler was at school. I just want you to know that I snuck a kiss from you while you were sleeping right before I slipped out the door on the path to the hospital the night I went to have your baby brother. I just want you to know how proud I am of you and of how good of a big sister you have been. And most of all, I just want you to know how loved you are, just for being you.
xoxo,
Mama
