To Beatrice, on her 4th Birthday

Dear Beatrice,

It feels like I just wrote a letter not too long ago for your last birthday, but I guess that a year has already gone by. I just can't believe that you are four years old today. A part of me is sad that you are growing up, but there is also a lot of happiness, too. Watching you grow over the last year has been amazing, as you are truly coming into your own.

The constant that has been around since you were born is your happiness. Even when you wake up in the morning, you are so happy. The other morning when I went into your room, I thought I heard you being grouchy. I asked Olivia if you were grouchy and she said that you were. So when I went in there and asked you, you started laughing and said, "No, mom. I'm never grouchy in the morning. I'm always happy!" It's so true.

One thing I noticed about you this last year is how much you love to sing. I often found you singing songs that I had never heard of. Or, we would be driving somewhere and you would see something along the way and start singing about what you saw, like trees, or a song about mommy and daddy. Not too long ago it hit me. Inside of you was something so similar to someone I once knew, your great grandfather Brown. Someone you will never meet which is unfortunate, but someone who I had the chance to know for part of my life. You're just like him, I noticed - the happy demeanor, and the breaking into song whenever the opportunity presents itself about nothing in particular. I wish you had the chance to know him because you are so much like him.

It's hard for me to not write a big, sappy sentimental letter to you, and I promised myself that I would keep this one short and sweet. However, I will note as I have in past letters how much you mean to me, and all of us. I would have never thought I could have such a happy child, someone who always lights up a room. Someone who's made me smile or laugh when I just might have wanted to cry. Beatrice, everyone that has the pleasure of knowing you or meeting you for just a brief moment is so lucky. It breaks my heart when other kids don't want to play with you at the park or somewhere else and ignore you and all you want to do is talk to them and be their friend. The life-is-full-of-heartbreaks discussion is for another time, but I will say that those kids just don't know what they're missing out on.

The song I chose for your video this year is the perfect choice. Hearing it always reminds me of you. The Music Box Dancer piece is you completely. You're the dancer, always dancing when there's light around. I imagine any child that opens up a music box, well, their eyes light up hearing the music and seeing the dancer. And that is just the reaction I get whenever I see you...

Happy birthday, dear Beatrice. I love you...so very much.

Love,
Mama



All about Bea:

Birth Story
Year 2 Video
Year 3 Video