Dear Dorothy –

I really can’t believe how big you’re getting. Sometimes I look at you, and my mouth just kind of hangs open for a minute. I mean… you were just born like a week and a half ago, it seems. Then again, we can’t really remember what life was like without you. We’re complete now, the four of us. Mom, Dad, brother, sister. You were the member our team was missing!

This is such a fun time with you. You love Bill, your stuffed duck, and you cuddle up tight with him during naptime. You miss your Daddy when he’s gone, and love life best when he’s walking around holding you. Your biggest laughs are reserved for Bubbers… your favorite person, by far. You like to wear pretty clothes, but mostly just so you have something new to puke on.

You’re expressive and friendly and playful and smart and strong and perfect, and we adore you.

For this first year of your life, I’ve promised myself that we’ll celebrate each month with pictures. Don’t worry… I won’t try to do this for your entire life.

But for now, honey, the entire world is going to get to see you without a shirt on. Sorry. That’s just what you get for being born to a couple of photographers. 😉

You’re sitting up really good these days. You get a bit wobbly, and while taking these pictures, your Dad had to be ready to grab you before you toppled over. But you’re close!

Did I mention that your favorite thing is getting to ride around with your Daddy? Because that is, by far, when you’re the happiest.

You’re very cooperative with my other picture ideas, though. For this, I am very grateful. You were a bit of a stinker during sonograms and newborn portraits, and you had me scared. I think you’re probably going to be a diva, though… you seem to be loving the camera more and more these days.

You don’t know it now, but the props in this picture will be important to you later. The trunk you’re sitting in belonged to my Grandy, who’s in heaven, so you probably remember her from before you were born. The pink blanket was made by my Grandmommy, who you know, because she kisses on you all the time.

You’re not always a fan of picture time, though. Like when a grasshopper lands on your arm… you gave that bug a serious stink eye.

Remember when you were in my tummy and I promised you that I wasn’t going to be all ridiculous with the tutus and the bows?

Yeah. Honey, I’m sorry. I lied.

You’re such a lucky little girl to have Jack for a big brother. He will protect you and love on you for your entire life. Sure, he’ll also probably want to drown you when he’s in high school and you’re annoying him… but still, there will be no one who will ever look out for you the way Jack will.

Dotsy my darling, you don’t have any idea what you’ve brought to our lives, but we thank you anyway. We thank you for sleeping so well, and for waking us up bright and early ready to play. We thank you for rolling all over everywhere, so that we lose weight by trying to keep up with you. We thank you for being gorgeous, so that people stop us in grocery stores and exclaim about how wonderful you are.

Mostly, we thank you for being healthy, and for being ours.

Happy 4 months, sweet girl!

Love,

Mommy