Dear Maggie & Tori

♥ a lifetime supply of love letters, stories, and beautiful finds from Mommy ♥

[mommywrites]

Dear Maggie & Tori,

Well, this blog used to be for Maggie only, and then came Tori who has been a beautiful blessing to our family! I haven’t written in a very long time. I got pregnant (after eight years!), held full time jobs and moved to Germany and now back in the States. Four years flew by, and so much has happened.

I have a lot to write about now that I’m back to staying at home with you, my beloved daughters. It is my hope that somewhere in between virtual school/homeschool and house chores, I will be able to sit down and write away.

With all my love,

Mommy

[mommywrites]

Dear Maggie,

On November 19th, 2016, we found out that a wonderful surprise is coming our way this July! Just when we thought you’d be an only child forever, my monthly visitor didn’t show up and that blue plus sign on the pregnancy test appeared, like magic. After years of trying and nothing happened, it was initially just hard to believe. Now I am now on the second trimester and the baby is doing great… healthy and chillin’ in there. Next week we will find out whether you will have a baby brother or sister. How exciting!

Remember that Chinese restaurant where there’s a little koi pond by the entrance? Every single time we ate there, you never failed to ask for a penny to toss into the pond and make a wish, and that one wish is to have a baby brother/sister. We haven’t been back recently but your wish is finally coming true! Even when you pray at church, you don’t ask for anything else… just a baby brother/sister. And one day you said, “Ma, I don’t have anything to pray for anymore! I’m gonna be a big sister!” You silly goose. I had to remind you that thanking God is still a prayer.

With you, your Dad and I look forward to welcoming the newest member of our family! 💕

With all my love, Mommy

[mommywrites]

35th Birthday. Dear Maggie, I turned 35 today! We celebrated with frozen yogurt, a kinda fancy dinner and of course, some chocolatey dessert. I had the day off and got to watch The Secret Life of Pets with you. It had been an almost-perfect day! I say almost-perfect because your Dad's not here. The army needs him out there, and I completely understand. I have nothing but gratitude in my heart for the gift of life. It hasn't been always bright and rosy for me but the good still greatly outweighs the bad. The birthday card you got for me said, "Mom, the very best place in the world for me is right inside your hug-- that's why I love you so!" It melted my heart especially that you carefully picked it out amidst the hundreds of cards before you. I am cherishing this forever! Love, Mommy

[mommywrites]

Dear Maggie, The days are flying by. You are growing up so fast... You asked if you can have a baby bra today! I was shocked but managed to hide it. On one hand, it was funny, too. You definitely learn a lot in school. I pray though that you will enjoy your childhood a little bit more. Don't rush, okay? With all my love, Mommy

[mommywrites]

Dear Maggie,

I can’t believe my last Tumblr post was in December of last year! This just simply tells me that I badly need more time for peace and quite and reflection (as I consider writing to you a respite from my crazily busy days). It’s been hard to do that though. Working full time, taking care of our family, and doing laundry among many other things have seemingly made me forget what the word “relaxation” is. On the other hand, I am grateful that with my job, I am able to help somehow in paying the bills and getting you almost everything (reasonable) you want and need.

Last week, you received your first ever award in school. You got A’s in all your subjects, which made you get the highest award the school could give! I was in tears watching you go up on stage. Your Dad and I are so proud of you. The funny thing, however, is you asked, “Ma, what’s an award? What’s it for?” You were so clueless, haha!

You are growing up so fast. I have accepted the fact that it won’t go any slower. Earlier today, we had lunch at an Indian restaurant and you didn’t order something from the kids menu. You eagerly tried almost everything we had (except for the really spicy ones)! I looked at the babies who were seated on the high hairs in the restaurant and smiled to myself, thinking, “Not so long ago, Maggie was in one of those, too.”

I haven’t written you in a while so let me say again that I thank you for being in our lives. You are truly my joy, my inspiration and my one big love.

With all my love, Mommy

[mommywrites]

Merry Christmas! ❤️🎄🎁

[mommywrites]

Dear Maggie,

Life has been different since I started working. I don’t get to have a lot of free time now, and writing letters to you, sadly, is one of the things at the bottom of my to-do list. But I am hopeful that I’d be able to do it regularly again.

You turned five two months ago! We celebrated with a watermelon-themed party. Lots of friends came and we all had fun. Your Dad was really happy to be there (after missing your third and fourth birthdays).

Kindergarten has been great for you so far. You don’t look forward to weekends as much as we do because you miss school, your classmates and teachers! And we are so proud that you have been included in the gifted program. Your reading skills at this very young age are amazing. You started joining the first grade reading class a few weeks ago. It initially made you cry to adjust with the “bigger” kids, but you’re loving it now. You get more challenged and excited.

Your Dad and I are doing great, too! Sometimes though, I can’t help thinking that your baby brother/sister could’ve been two months old by now. I wonder what he’s/she’s been up to somewhere out there.

Anyways, it’s time for me to get out of bed and make breakfast. I got to go. Till next time!

With all my love, Mommy

[mommywrites]

Thirty Three

Dear Maggie,

It has been a really long time since I wrote to you. I'm sorry I am not so diligent in keeping this blog alive anymore. Probably because of the fact that you are starting Kindergarten tomorrow, I just felt that I had to devote all of my time with you. Plus, since it's summer, there's the swimming pool, the splash parks, the road trips, the barbecue parties, and so on that we couldn't ignore.

Today I turn 33! It is a quiet birthday. I disabled the "post on timeline" option on my Facebook wall so not a lot of people know about it. I appreciate those who sent me private messages because they did remember; they're actually my favorite people so that has already made the day special. I have nothing but love and gratitude in my heart for having another year to live and cherish!

Your Dad's first ever birthday gift to me was a really simple card. I was 19. I didn't get anything from him today, but three weeks ago (he couldn't wait for today), he surprised us with a new car! I guess that'll also be this year's Christmas gift! Haha! 

Life is beautiful, Maggie. It really is.

With all my love,

Mommy

[mommywrites]

Maggie wouldn't take off these tap shoes! They came in the mail with a bunch of colorful dresses, which we all love. Big thanks to her Tumblr fairy godmother! 💓

[mommywrites]

Enjoying the remaining days of summer with this soon-to-be kindergartener 😊

[mommywrites]

Our KitKat cookies turned out really good! We followed this recipe, except that we used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour. 

Sometimes, occasionally, it's okay to have cookies and milk for lunch, right? Haha! 

[mommywrites]

making flowers with a fork and a finger 😊

[mommywrites]

There is no better way to eat raspberries than off your fingers! 

Maggie hasn't watched Amelie so I was quite surprised when she decided to eat raspberries this way. I definitely had to take pictures then. My Sunday morning is all happy smiles so far! 

[mommywrites]

Maggie's surprise for her Dad is all ready! So far, she hasn't mentioned to him that she made a card. I told her not to say anything about these gifts, too. We're keeping secrets until tomorrow. She replied, "I will just say later 'I am glad you're home, Daddy!' Is that correct, Ma?" She is just so funny. 😊

[mommywrites]

DONSA

By 5:15AM this morning, Maggie and I were up to drive her Dad to work (so we could use the car later and visit her friends). When we got to the gate, the soldier who scanned our IDs asked Maggie’s Dad, “You’re going to PT on a DONSA?”

I googled what it means and it’s Day of No Scheduled Activities. We learned that most of the people in Fort Carson are having a four-day weekend. Maggie’s Dad is still on a training so no weekends for him still. Pffft!

Maggie, on the other hand, is such a wonderful girl. She didn’t get cranky when we disturbed her and woke her up earlier. Now she’s back in her bed, soundly asleep. I just admire her ability to adjust well to changes in her routines. 😊

[mommywrites]

Father's Day present #1 done! Maggie's answers are both funny and heartwarming. Her Dad will definitely love them! Now I hope the little girl can keep a secret until Sunday! 😄 Thanks to Martha Stewart for the template. 😊

[mommywrites]

This all started with those neglected necklaces from St. Patrick’s Day. I initially intended it to be just a cutting exercise but we’ve gone beyond that! Now Maggie is on a cutting/pasting spree! It also really tickles her that she gets to be like a make-up artist or a fashion designer. 😄 She says, “I want her to look perfect, Ma!”