Letter to My Birthday Baby Girl: 4 Years Old

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Darling Liv, 

    You came to us after a rough storm. Our rainbow baby...8 pounds 2 ounces of God's faithfulness and evidence that He keeps his promises swaddled in a pink blanket. You were the newborn baby that should have been crying, but I was the one with the tears streaming down my face while singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in that lonely NICU. I fought so hard for you...before your were even conceived, in the OR during your birth, and in the hospital bed pumping and desperately trying to get those first few drops of breast milk through your NG tube.

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Your name means "life." And interestingly, it also means peace. You have given me both. And so has the Lord. I feel like our family has been in a constant season of "hard" since your birth, and you have been the joy, the laughter, and the delight that we all needed in order to push on...me, your dad, your sister, your brothers, Nana & Papa...we all needed you the past four years. 

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Liv loves:

-make-up

-nail polish

-arts & crafts

-baby dolls

-making messes

-mermaids

-unicorns ("loonicorns")

-swimming

-all things pink

-anything sparkly

-doing hair

-face and beauty products

-her "ba ba"

-going to the park

-grilled cheese sandwiches

-strawberries

-whipped cream

-dessert or anything sweet

-dancing

-Taylor Swift

-talking to "Alexa" in the kitchen

-sprinkles

-riding her scooter ("cooter")

-Barbies

-earrings

-watching "Di Di" or Adley on YouTube

-playing with her friend Lucy

-going to tumbling

-writing her name

-coloring

-playing Donkey Kong with mommy

-taking baths

-the beach

-playing with Cece

-snuggling with Russell

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I can't stop crying because of how grateful I am, my precious baby girl. Happy 4th Birthday, my darling. I will savor every single moment of your life.

I will always love you, Mommy

Letter to My Birthday Baby Girl: 3 Years Old

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Livi Mae! You are THREE! Where in the world did the time go?! This has been one of my very favorite years with you! It's been a tough year for our family with mommy finishing up cancer treatment, but we have still had so much fun and made so many memories. The Lord has been so good to us and we have gotten closer as a family, and to the Lord. You had a "Princess Pamper Party" this year at Shawnee Beauty College and loved getting your hair done, make-up on, and nails done with all of your sweet friends. You're obsessed with make-up and painting your nails, so this was the absolutely PERFECT party for you!

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You're going to Under the Son Mother's Day Out two days a week and you are doing so well there! You love school and are getting really good at coloring! You're our little dancing girl, posing girl...our lipstick lover, mess maker, pink princess, snuggle bunny, life of the party...you are our precious JOY! You still sleep in the middle of mommy and daddy, and we haven't even put a bed in your room yet. You love spending the night with Nana and Papa, and hanging out down at the office doing "work" with Aunt Johnna.

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The Lord knew I needed you for this journey the past year, and when he gave us you He completed our precious family at the perfect time. 

I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalm 34: 4-5

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Sweet Liv, I love you so much...but please don't grow up yet!

Always and forever, Mommy