I've been dreading this day all year

Happy birthday, Li'l G! You're four today, and I can't say I've been looking forward it. I hate that my baby is all grown up. I want time to stop so you can be with us, just as you are right now, forever. But I think that no matter how old you are, you'll still love Ball, ice cubes, and giving your babies the business. I can live with that.

Snuggling with Cubby and Gopher

You started off last year with a bang, having your right dewclaw removed in September. We were both pretty miserable about it, and I was worried you'd never play ball again. But you're just fine now, One-Thumb Gracie, and you've relearned how to hold your bone without that dewclaw. Daddy called you "Lieutenant Dan" to make me laugh ("Lieutenant Dan, you ain't got no thumbs!"), and you loved going to the vet's office to get your bandages changed (even when you pretended you couldn't walk once they were taken off). You're a trooper, kid.

You're also a really good snuggler, and you and I had plenty of opportunties to nap together during the winter months while I was waiting for work to pop up.

I'm not supposed to be here right now.You kept my spirits up and brought me your babies when I was sad. There's nothing quite like waking up covered in spit-stiff stuffed toys, and I thank you for that. In fact, as I write this, you're working over the stuffed baby moose I gave you an hour ago. You are both sitting in front of the vent, unaware that the air conditioning is off and the windows are open. I'm wondering which one of you is going to figure it out first. My money's on the moose.

Happy birthday, little one. You're the best thing that ever happened to us.

October 2006

Love,

Mama