You've crocheted your very first hat!

Dear Lailah,
You have just finished crocheting your very first hat project ! I am so extremely proud of you and I don't even think you really understand. You are SUCH a beautiful and amazing little human and you make me feel so happy that I have you in my life. You're so beautiful in so many ways. You have so much patience, determination, and passion that no other 6 years olds typically have. You are so insightful and compassionate which most ADULTS even lack. I absolutely adore the person you are growing into. You're only six years old but you are the most incredible person I know at this time. You make my heart shine.

I am anxious to see the adult version of you. I hope we continue to have a strong mommy/daughter relationship. I get so teary eyed just thinking about you going off to college, moving out, getting married, and having babies of your own one day. I am SO happy right in this moment that you are just 6 years old because I am FAR from ready for any of that to happen any time soon. I want to keep you with me as long as I can. <3
I'm so proud of you Lailah and I love you more than words can describe.
Love, Mommy.

1st grade :) and some other things

Dear Lailah,,
You have started 1st grade. :) You really love school and you're doing so well! You are learning so much so quickly and I am so extremely proud of you. I've been teaching your brother sign language and you've caught on to quite a few signs yourself. :) So, you're learning bits of a second language ! You do so well in math and you're really coming alone with reading and recognizing words and how to spell them!
Your second tooth is still loose and has yet to fall out yet lol.
Your dad has moved back home - as of a couple weeks ago. You spent the week with him while I was in the hospital getting my appendix taken out and healing from the surgery. You said that you enjoyed spending that time with him. That makes me happy. I'm happy for you that he's here for you now and I hope that you both can establish a happy and healthy parent-child relationship with one another. I want that for you because I want what is best for you.
It does make me a little sad, I will admit. You've been my baby. I've taken care of you, loved you, cared for you when you were sick or hurt, kissed all your boo boos, and I've been your mommy. I know your dad was working and all but at the end of the day he wasn't the one taking care of you or helping me with you. So I guess it kind of makes me sad that I should "share" you now. I'm not really used to it. But I'm also happy for you and thankful that this is the way things are playing out for your life because you deserve your dad and your mom, you deserve us both, even though we aren't together.

<3 Keep growing my little one. I can't wait to see the absolutely amazing person you are as an adult.

Tooth Fairy

Dear Lailah,
You have finally lost your tooth, the bottom of your left right in front!! You lost your first tooth on July 8th, 2014. :) At age 6.5. :D You were so so crazy excited !!! You were running around the house shouting, "I Just lost my tooth! Eeeekkkk!! I just lost my tooth!!" You called your Memere and Papa, Mamee, and even your daddy. You showed Papa Doug and Sherry. Then when the excitement was coming down you sat and started bawling your eyes out, crying, saying, "I can't - I can't believe it fell out." LOL, So bittersweet. I think it really hit you that you're growing up! You are excited but it can be overwhelming. <3
You are just so sweet. :) ow your right bottom tooth, right next to your growing in grown up tooth, is loose!! :)
You also got upset because Sherry dropped and lost you tooth but Papa Doug found it the next morning.
The Tooth Fairy (me lol) left 2 dollars under your pillow for your tooth. :)

Finished Kindergarten!! *add pics*

Dear Lailah,
You finished kindergarten today !! I'm so proud of you. :) You're such an intelligent little girl!! You've done really well this year. I know that you will continue doing your best each year. :)
I'm going to ask you some questions and record your answers:

Me: What did you think about kindergarten when you first started?
You: Uhm, I felt happy.
Me: When you first started?
You: Yeah, because I liked being the teacher.
Me: But how about your very first day at school?
You: Exciting! I felt excited!
Me: Did you enjoy school?
You: Yes !
Me: What was your favorite part of kindergarten?
You: That's easy! Picking teachers!
Me: Did you make any friends?
You: Yes!
Me: How many friends did you make?
You: Hold on, I'm thinking. *counts on fingers* TEN! Ten friends.
Me: What were your struggles in school?
You: My struggles in school? Nothing! I didn't struggle with anything.
Me: Did you like your teacher?
You: Yes! And I want to have that teacher again, every year in that school.
Me: What did you learn?
You: I learned reading, writing, centers, and math. Recess, lunch, snack, and the first we did dinosaur week and then we did some numbers and then we did some numbers again. And then we did who's wearing red. And then we did who is wearing brown. And then we did who is wearing green. And then we did the alphabet. And then we did I know one plus one is two, tie your shoe. Two plus two is four, shut the door. Three plus three is six, pick up sticks. And then we did, I know four plus four is eight, shut the gate. And I did, I know ten plus then is 20, sing it again! After that we did the calendar. Then we did counting up to 100. Then we did A apple Ah, B ballons buh, C cat cuh, D dog duh....... then we lined up and then we went to recess. And we lined up to go to lunch. And we lined up to get a drink. And then we lined up again to go back to our classroom. And then we watched a movie today, the Magic School bus we watched. Then we watched Magic School bus again. And then we watched a movie again. Then we got our folders and then we went home! And then at 2:00 I get out of school at 2:00 and I went into school at 8:00.  And that's it!
Me: What were your dislikes about school?
You: I did not like Music.
Me: Is that it?
You: Yeah, that's it!
Me: Do you think homework helped you learn?
You: Yes!
Me: What did you feel about library?
You: Happy!
Me: Do you like reading?
You: Uhm, yes! Wait.... NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, I do not like reading!
Me: Why not?
You: I just don't!
Me: Do you like math?
You: Yes.
Me: Did you like learning about butterflies?
You: Yes.


Well, lol. I guess that is that.
Oh and I crocheted your teacher an afghan, she really loved it!
Your tooth has yet to fall out but you really really want it to lol.
You've finished softball. And you hit the ball for the very first time when practicing having it pitched. Then you hit it many times after that :)

You're amazing.

Dear Lailah,
The end of your Kindergarten year is creeping up on us! I can't believe you're going to be heading into 1st grade! I feel like I just had you not too long ago and here you are this tiny, beautiful, intelligent, amazing little human.
You just had your first field trip! I chaperoned and brought your brother with me. You got to ride on the bus and you really liked that. :) We went to the New Dawn Earth center or something like that haha, it was this nature walk thing. There was a pond and hills and woods. You were able to use a net down by the pond and try to catch some animals that live in the water. You actually ended up catching a freshly born dragonfly who had just left the water! She dried her wings and flew away! I bet you really helped give her a great start in life by protecting her from other animals and the other children as you set her down with the net away from everyone else. :) You had so much fun. I really got to glimpse into your school year for a day and see how much you love playing with your friends.
You're certainly a little leader. lol. At one point you led everybody up the hill and you started organizing a group run down haha. You wanted everyone to run down the hill all at once when you said to. But it didn't work out as planned hahaha! But you kept calm and eventually got a few of your best buddies to run down with you after you shouted go! :)
You also have your VERY FIRST loose tooth! The bottom left (your left) one! It will be falling out soon! You are so excited about losing it! I'm excited too. <3
I want to add that you are the very best and sweetest sissy ever! You love Noel so much. You get so concerned about him when he cries or if he gets hurt. You even sometimes cry more than he does when he gets hurt or if he seems as if he's not okay. <3 You are so amazing Lailah.
One day you are going to grow up to be the very best version of yourself. Beautiful, intelligent, smart, educated, and just the very best person that anyone could ever have the pleasure of meeting. And how do I know this? Why do I believe this? Because this is already who you are. At your core and in your purest spirit form you are the gentlest and most kind hearted and loving person I have ever known. <3 I am proud to be your mommy.

Mothers day, I thank you.

Dear Lailah,
Tomorrow is Mothers day and I have you to thank for me being allowed to celebrate. You have made me so much more than just a mother though. You have helped me become an adult, mature, more loving and kind, you've made me become everything I am today - this woman who doesn't give up no matter how badly she wants to. You give me strength.
You're an amazing child. You frustrate me and sometimes drive me to my wits end but you're an amazing child. I sometimes lack the patience I should have and I am working on it so I could be a better mother to you and Noel.
You have your first loose tooth ! It's not super  wiggly yet but it's getting there ! It's so exciting. Although, I can't believe my baby is really growing up on me! I wish I could just keep you little together so that you can lay on my lap talking to me about school and silly things as I stroke your hair and listen to your stories. Can't we just keep doing that forever? Please?
I guess not huh? LOL, You're going to keep growing up whether I like it or not. I hope to be the best mom I can be for you so that we will always have a strong relationship. I want you to know that I love you so tremendously much and that I will be here for you through everything there is in your life.  Through all of your ups and downs, seek me and I will be there for you. I love you, more than you'll ever know - or at least until you have a tiny little life of your own in your grown arms one day. Then maybe then you'll know my love for you, maybe. :)

I love you my beautiful girl !

Dear Lailah,
I love you. Goodness, I love you. I don't think you know how much I do, but I love you more than almost anything in the world. You have been my light and my life for so long. Lately, I fear that you feel as if I care more for your brother than you and that isn't is. Even if it may feel that way. Your brother is still just a baby and like you when you were a baby - he needs attention and care. He needs his cries and fusses answered so he can grow up and be just as amazing as his big sister!
This summer I promise I will try my best to spend a lot of time with you! The beach, the park, the zoo. All of your favorite things to do. <3 Oh and Icecream! Ice cream trips!! <3

Your report card came home this week and I am SO proud of you!! You have done so well and I couldn't be a prouder mommy ! You are so bright and smart and just wonderful. You said to me, "I try really hard to do really well in school and stay in green." :) <3

This shows what the number gradings mean.
4 is Exceeding Grade level.
3 is Meeting Grade level.
2 is Working towards grade level.
and 1 is Working Below grade level.

Look at all those 4s and 3s !! You are working Above Grade level in all of your math! <3 

And look at all those E's which stand for Excellant !! <3

1st Trimester, "Lailah is fun to have in class. She enjoys participating and is eager to learn."

2nd Trimester, "Lailah is making nice improvements. She is bright and excited about learning."

 I love you my beautiful girl. <3