Dear Noah

Since we added you to our brood, it has been major chaos. Not because you have been difficult or challenging, but because having three children is hard. Since the day you were born, you have been nothing but an absolute joy. It makes me sad that I don’t feel that we have always celebrated how grateful we are for you the way we should since the underlining (most days overshadowing) craziness of our life.

Your siblings were evicted from the crib around the age of two. We had no choice, their role of baby in the house had to graduate because their was another baby on the horizon. There have been many things that I feel like you’ve been short changed by being the third. Luckily you will not be booted from the crib because you get to maintain permanent residence as the baby of this house – the baby of my heart.

Every day you seem to lose more of your babyish ways. As much as it saddens me because I want to hold on to every stage of my last baby longer, it is also so exciting to see you develop into a person. I joke that you are becoming a fellow crazy (like the other two), but that really just means that you are evolving into a child
who is silly and energetic. I pray that you always have a special relationship with those crazies even if it means I’m being overrun by little crazy people.

I now know from experience that this is really the last year of true baby for you. You will start year two more like a little person who clings to your mommy and end the year a person with thoughts, feelings and wants. As sad as I am to give up the baby I have so enjoyed, I’m thrilled to see the little person you are becoming. I always tell the others that they will always be my baby but in your case it’s forever true. So I enjoy your constant desire for “uppy” more, I laugh when you are scared of your own shadow (or an itty bitty kitten) and let you “lay keppie,” and I hold your little hand tighter.

Happy birthday to be eternal baby!!!