Happy 4th Birthday Tyler!

Dear Tyler,

Today was your big day! We started the day with donuts. Then we had an awesome swim party with pizza and popsicles and drinks to share. You had a blast swimming with your friends for three hours! Jake even tried to swim without a floatie (on accident) and scared mom to death. We ended the night with In n Out burgers and milk shakes- one of your favorites.

I can't believe it's been four years since your dad and I walked into that hospital and became a family of three. It has been wonderful, difficult, overwhelming, and more than I could have imagined. You have learned a lot in the last year from going to preschool. You know all your letters, you can point them out on anything, and you can (almost always) tell me the right sound for the right letter. You are loving that you are a big brother again and you are so good with Adam. You love to hold him and you get the best smiles out of him.

You are learning a lot around the house and you proved that you would probably be just fine without me when I was in the hospital with Adam. You told all of your grandparents what our routine is, where things were, and how to do things (and you didn't make up too much of it). You are becoming so independent that you sometimes get yourself in trouble. You STINK at listening right now and you test boundaries all the time. You keep me on my toes and you drive me crazy- but you wouldn't be a 4-year-old if you didn't. Grandma Denos said I threw some great tantrums at 4 so I have a lot to look forward to. You sang the cutest Mother's day songs to me and gave me one of the most wonderful smiles I've seen in a long time. You made it worth it all over again. You still refuse to sleep in the top bunk, you still want hot chocolate every night, and you still fall asleep best if I'm singing you songs.

You have so much more to you and I can't wait to see what the next year will bring. We love you so much. I am so glad that you're mine.