William

I love this boy.

I love your sweet, generous nature.

I love how excited you were to find out you would have a sister.

"Mom, now we'll have 3 girls in our family!"

(me, Amelia, and the cat)

I love how caring and protective you are towards her.

(But please come and get me next time she wakes up.

Instead of bringing her down the stairs to me.)

I love your independence.

Independence you show in almost all facets of your life.

Like wanting to decorate your own birthday cake.

You did a fantastic job of it.

I love your intensity for life.

And your newly found passion for soccer.

Goal!

I love how you lead your team in cheers when you're not playing.

And they follow you.

Even though they really have no idea what you're doing.

I love how you adore your Daddy.

And want to go with him everywhere.

Even if you're just going to watch him play basket ball at the church.

And I'm sure the stake patriarch,

who was playing ball with Daddy,

and who was also very good at the game,

didn't mind your comments,

and realized you were very sincere in your feedback,

when you told him,

"Good game for getting old."

I love your curiosity.

Though sometimes it brings mixed results.

Like the time I was standing at the sink and you hurried in from outside

to cautiously tell me

"Oh, Oh, Mom, I just had an accident. I dropped a match on Joseph's pants and it was on fire.

And then it fell on the deck."

Or the time you toured the house with a measuring tape,

filling your little mind with numbers and amounts,

and you came up behind me and so helpfully offered,

"Here Mom, I'll measure your bum."

I love the absolute confidence you have in your older brother.

So that when he steps forward gesturing to your wiggly tooth and says,

"Here, let a professional do it"

and you ask calmly

"Will it hurt?"

and he responds with a kurt

"No"

you open your mouth with all the trust in the world.

And you both come away 5 seconds later with beaming grins.

You with a new gaping smile.

Him with a slimy pink trinket.

And I love your forgiveness.

So when I have to hurriedly grab your soccer socks out of the laundry bin

you look at me with understanding and say

"It just happens.

People just forget to wash kids clothes.

It's okay, it doesn't matter. You just made a little mistake.

It just happens. It's alright."

And I look at you and think

I love you.