Samantha,

The next time I see you, you will be three. That thought crossed my mind as I kissed your sleeping head and rosy cheeks before I left the house to travel to Oregon. You will be three years old. How did that happen?
 

 
The next time I see you, will your chubby feet and toes be bigger? It would be impossible for them to be more delicious than they were when you were two, right?
 

 
The next time I see you, will your hair be curlier or longer? Rebecca says we should turn you upside down and mop the kitchen floor. She says you are the only kid who would giggle while we mopped. It would be impossible that I could love your ringlets more at three than at two, right?
 

 
The next time I see you, will you still be opinionated about what you wear? I love that you wear mismatched bathing suit pieces and often wear your shoes purposefully on the wrong feet. It would be impossible for that Punky Brewster spirit to ever wane, right?
 

 
The next time I see you, will you be sky diving? I love your sense of adventure with bungie jumping at 2 years old. You work so hard to keep up with your siblings. It would be impossible that you aren’t going to be a world traveler, right?
 

 
The next time I see you, will you still reserve most of your affection for Hank and Sandy? I’m continuously amazed at your unspoken connection with animals. It would be impossible that you will ever dislike furry creatures of any sort, right?
 

 
The next time I see you, will you still be following Emily? You look up to your nine year old sister and adore her. It would be impossible for that strong bond to ever diminish despite your age difference, right?
 

 
The next time I see you, will you still know how much I love you? It would be impossible for you to not realize how much of a miracle you are, right?

Samantha Lou, I do love you. I always have and I always will. I’m on my way.

Happy 3rd Birthday – Mom