To Claire: A letter from your mother.

Dear Claire,

As your Dad and I sent you to your room for the 5th time today, I started thinking a lot about you and who you are. Claire you are a very strong willed, independent person. You remind me very much of your father....he really likes that about you. I always say we should have named you Thomasina. You two know you're right and there is hardly a person who can change your mind. That's a good attribute to have....well most of the time, except for when you are arguing with me. Your sense of 'right' will take you a long way. You will always being proud to stand for what you believe in and who you are. You are very determined and at the young age of 6 and a half you've accomplished much for your little body and mind. Your dad and I are very proud of you.

When you were born, one of the things dad blessed you with was the ability to be physical. That you are my little girl, at the mere age of 2 1/2 or 3 you were doing flips on the trampoline! You even mastered a back flip but you got hurt a bit, and it scared you (and me) and so you don't do that so much now...that's okay with me. You like to skid out on your bike right now, and in the past two weeks you have come inside with skinned up elbows, and yet you only come in to get bandaged up and then you're right back outside doing your sweet bike tricks. You love to be outside and doing anything physical whether it be climbing a tree or kicking a soccer ball you love to move.

You were such a cute happy baby, when you were just 1 you became a big sister and I felt very guilty about that, I felt like you had to grow up too quick and that you and Ainsley got the short end of the stick. But I don't think you mind, you and Ainsley are great friends and you play so well together, well most of the time, until she disagrees with you. :) You love playing with both of your sisters and prefer to be with one of them most of the time. One of your favorite things to do is to jump on the trampoline with them. You can spend a whole day out there with them if they'd agree to stay there with you.

When you were 2 the dentist convinced me to take away your pacifier. That's when your strong will came through. You would cry and cry at your bedroom door when it was bed time. I felt so bad, I still feel so bad about that. Looking back I wish I would have caved and just given you your pacifier back, why did it matter so much? You would fall asleep at the door and we would have to shove it open to put you in your bed. Your face would be red and have a little line on it from having it so close to the bottom of the door. I'm sorry Claire.

I'd like to say that you're a perfectionist...when you put your mind to it, you can clean just about as good as I can. You love it when I tell you that you're the best at something, and you are. In this house you are the best at cleaning your bathroom and at putting away the dishes, you do that in a very organized fashion arranging them according to size so they fit just right, the other two girls don't do that. You take pride in your work. You do very well at school also because of this, you follow the rules to the 'T' there and do excellent work.

That's another thing I can say about you Claire, you are very smart. At the beginning of this year when you were starting first grade you told me you wanted to read a book by your self...I didn't think you could do it, but you stunned me when you picked up that book and read it word for word....I had no clue you could read, let alone read that well. You write amazing stories for a first grader, and have an excellent memory (just like your dad). Most of the time you remember quite a few things I wish you would forget :).

Claire you are an absolutely beautiful girl. You have beautiful blond hair, and sparkling 'see through' blue eyes, and even with most of your teeth missing right now, you have a beautiful smile. I love you Claire, I love your laugh that rings through out the whole house and I love your beautiful sense of humor. You are such a beautiful child and your father and I are so thankful for you and all of the joy you bring into our family's life. Thank you Claire Bear.

Love,

Mom