Moments of Gratitude

Dear Mackenzie,

I am grateful for a lot but today, I am especially grateful for the way you suddenly slip your hand into mine when I'm not expecting it (like when we're brushing our teeth next to each other) and that when you hug me, you say things like, "I'm going to hug you forever!" I am also grateful that you always want to sit in my lap and cuddle with me. I love you so much, Kenziebear!

Love,

Mom

Out and About

Dear Mackenzie,

Baby tooth #2 is out! It was bothering you for about a week and I would tug at it here and there, but it was still pretty stuck. When I brushed your teeth tonight, it was pretty wiggly and I tugged it, but you cried "Ow!" so I let go. Then you started to say something and your tongue pushed the baby tooth out onto your lip where I caught it! Neither of us had even realized that I'd actually pulled it out, haha! And I'm always amazed when baby teeth fall out because they are sooooo tiiiiiiinyyyyyy!

Love,

Mom

Casting Call

 Dear Mackenzie,

The leg on your American Girl doll broke off and I haven't had time to fix it, but you made a cast for the doll by cutting up a piece of construction paper and wrapping it around the leg. Then you laid the doll and her leg on a book and said it was a hospital stretcher. I love how creative you are!

Love,

Mom

Mind the Gap

Dear Mackenzie,

It's out! You lost your first tooth today! When I saw you after school, the first thing you showed me was how loose your tooth was--you could practically push it all the way down. Then when I was showering you, I was worried that it might fall out then and go down the drain, so I asked you if I could try to pull it out. You said yes and with just the slightest tug, your tooth came right out! There was no blood, there were no tears--just a cute little gap in your mouth!

Love,

Mom

All You Need

Dear Mackenzie,

When I tucked you in last night, I asked you if you needed anything. You replied, "I need Mama. I don't need anything else except for Mama." My sweet girl! You always make my day and I love you so much!

And oh my goodness, the first thing you told me when you saw me this morning: "Mama! Six days until I turn 6!" It's going by way too fast!

Love,

Mom

Wiggly Jiggly

Dear Mackenzie,

You were eating cereal this morning and complained that biting the crunchy cereal hurt. When I checked your mouth, I discovered the reason: You have your first loose tooth! Your bottom baby tooth is just the teensiest bit wiggly. I can't believe you are going to lose your first tooth soon!

Love,

Mom

Noted

Dear Mackenzie,

You recently told me that you want to learn how to play piano. I said that we have a piano in the play attic. You replied, "Yeah, but someone messed up all the letters." It took me a second, but then I realized that you were talking about the note stickers we'd placed on the keys when GuhGaw took piano lessons. Oh, sweet girl! I never told you that music notes are not alphabetical! But that's one of my favorite things: seeing something I've seen hundreds of times in a new way from a little kid's perspective.

Love,

Mom