Dear Faith Ann (Love, Hunter and Trent)

Dear Faith Ann,

The moment mom told us that she was pregnant, we were overjoyed. We talked to mommy's tummy everyday, sang songs, read books. We were dying to get to see you! We didn't know if you were a boy (Griffin) or girl (Faith)...so we called you "Griff-Faith." We said prayers for Griff-Faith every night. Then, it was the big day! Hunter was BEAMING at school. We rushed to the hospital to meet you, and it was over from there. You had us wrapped tight around your finger. We couldn't take our eyes off of you!

 

We were in a constant state of happiness! A constant state of wanting to hold you, kiss you, read to you. Faith Ann, you took our hearts to a new level of love. How could it be possible for us to love you any more than we did in those first few weeks?? Well, somehow our love only grew deeper and deeper for you. You got more attention and love than any baby in the whole wide world, and you deserved every bit of it.

 

As you got older, we got to know you better. This is when our friendship started. Our love was there from day one, but now we were ready to play and become friends...become a trio! We started really interacting with you, and wanting to include you in everything we did! You experienced a lot, and we were so eager to show you more and do more with you! 

 

You have never gone a day...shoot, you have never gone an hour without being covered in hugs and attention. You are our neutral ground. You see, we can be fighting over a ball then you just look at us and we both rush to give you the ball. No questions asked, Faith Ann wants it...all bets are off, Faith Ann gets it! Mommy sometimes thinks you want space from us, but we totally disagree. We know that you savored every tight squeeze and every huddle hug we gave you! 

 

You have made our life so much more fun! Even Christmas was more fun with you. We were so eager to show you Santa Claus and tell you all about the holidays. We wanted to help you open every single gift. We were just too excited to share those moments with you. They were special moments, unforgettable moments. It's not just the holidays, you make everyday more fun! We love to help you go down slides, show you how to use all your toys, and inspect your food to make sure its okay for you to eat! We are involved with every single aspect of your life, EVERY. SINGLE.ONE! 

 

Faith Ann, we have loved being your brothers. You make our days brighter. You bring so much laughter and joy. You are our little sister that we will always honor! Now, mommy wants to write about our individual relationships because you are so special to each of us! 

Hunter is your protector! He has been my helper with you from day one. He took you under his wing the moment he laid eyes on you. He has genuinely loved you from the start. He was immediately drawn to you. He held you for hours and hours when you were a newborn, then he started entertaining you as you got older. He is always trying to make you smile, make you happy. He is always doing something for you...getting the toy you like, feeding you, making a pallet for you, drawing a picture for you, wiping your face, pushing your stroller. There are no boundaries in what Hunter will do for you!! He doesn't take his eye off of you. You have a loyal friend in Hunter that will always put you first and foremost!

Then your gentle big brother, Trent. He is our lover. He is tough as nails with the most tender heart! He isn't as interested in being your helper, he just wants to be your friend! From day one, Trent has been your bud! He is your right hand man. Trent is more quiet in his approach to loving you. He has this subtle way of always being there for you. When you cry, he gently pats your head and kisses you or holds your hand. He is steady in his love for you, it never fails that Trent will be there. You and Trent have spent this year together, side by side. Yall had a lot of bonding time while Hunter was in school 3 days a week, and you sure established a deep bond! And oh my goodness do yall look alike or what?! You have an unconditional friend in Trent. You can always count on Trent through thick and thin, he will simply just be there for you!  

Faith Ann, you are 'THEIR baby', and they have no problem telling the world that. They hold you on a pedestal and always watching to make sure nothing, and I mean nothing happens to you! They play with you hard, they love you hard. We joke that Hunter will hammer your boyfriend with questions and know everything about your date, while Trent just punches him in the face if his eyes wander! While I hope no punching is involved, I sure am proud to say that these boys will always have your back.

Hunter and Trent  were chosen to be your big brothers for a reason. There will be times that yall don't get along, but there will be even more times of joy! Know that you have forever friends in Hunter and Trent. They were SO proud of your first roll over, your first word, the first time you fed yourself. They have been deeply proud of you from the beginning...and that will never change! These two will be your proud big brothers for the rest of your life!

Love, 

Hunter and Trent

Dear Faith Ann (Love, Daddy)

Dear Faith Ann,

My precious little baby girl. I never had any idea how much I could love you. You have a very special place in my heart and you always will. I was so excited when mommy and I found out we had a precious little girl, I was so happy! Truly, I did not know how special you were going to be. This year has gone by so fast and with each day that goes by I love you more and more. You truly brighten up my day each and every time I see you. When I look at you – you get this huge smile and start shaking with excitement, I love it!

Some of my most beloved memories over this year have been holding you in the rocking until you fall asleep. You make me feel so relaxed; in fact sometimes you make me feel so relaxed that I start to fall asleep while holding you. When you fall asleep, I just sit there and stare at you and say prayers over you. I love every minute of it. I also love how when I walk around the house to get dressed for work in the mornings, you crawl around behind me and follow me around the house. You are my little princess.

You have learned how to wave hello/goodbye over the course of this 1^st year, and ohh boy how you love to wave. You wave at everybody! The other day, we were in the mall eating lunch, and I was pushing you in the stroller while you were just waving at strangers. They would laugh and wave back to you. You are such a fun and beautiful little girl. You capture everyone’s heart from first sight.

Mommy and Zsa Zsa had a special mother – daughter bond together. With knowing how much she loves you, I am confident you and mommy will share that special bond as well – forever! The same goes for Hunter and Trent. They both love you so much and they are both very protective of you.  You will always have a family that loves you so much and so many people to protect through all walks of life.

You are my little angel. I think you are gorgeous, and I am looking forward to creating so many memories together as you get older. I am excited to help teach you things as you grow, and I am sure there are going to be many things that you will teach me. I just hope that I can be a good role model for you and learn from any mistakes that I make along our journey together. I have such big dreams for you, and I pray that God will guide you and protect you through life, and I pray that I will be the best dad and friend for you.

God has genuinely blessed me with such a great family. You fit so wonderfully into our family puzzle. And what a perfect “puzzle piece” you are. I love you more than words can describe. I love everything about you. You are perfect!

Love “Dadda”!

Dear Faith Ann (Love, Mommy)

Dear Faith Ann,

Oh my, where do I start? I have butterflies in my tummy as I write this letter because of all the emotions I feel. I am sad that you are growing so fast, anxious to see you become your own person, happy to be enjoying every moment, and heartbroken that my mom isn't here to see any of it! My mom wrote me a letter the night before I went off to college, I read it often. I think about the emotions she felt writing that letter, and I feel those same emotions as I write this letter to you! The love behind this letter is immeasurable! Here's a picture of me holding you at 12 months old, and a pic of my mom with me around the same age. She used to always tell me that I was more than she ever deserved. And I totally get that now!! You were sent to me as my little angel of a blessing...with a bow!

When I pictured having 3 kids, I couldn't have ever imagined anything better than you and your brothers. You all balance each other out so wonderfully. God pieced yall together long ago. He knew the exact dynamics that our family needed. Hunter is my joyful spirit, Trent is my calming soul, and you are my peaceful heart! You all have other sides to you, haha! However, your overall auras exude these traits.

I have to go to the beginning. You had me hooked from the start. My mom held onto her "Faith" coin during her sickness because she found that it brought her peace. Well, you immediately delivered that same gift to me! I thought of my mom while holding you..."this is what mom felt while holding that coin!" That coin inspired my mom to fully trust the Lord with her mind, body and soul during her journey with pancreatic cancer. You were named after that coin because of the power, peace, and comfort it gave my mom. And your name delivered that same blessing to me! I can't help but think that God had that planned when he placed that "Faith" coin in my mom's hands during the hardest part of her life. Mom's saying during her sickness was "Keeping the Faith." She held on tight to faith, and I am holding on tight to you! 

Then came along Ann. Mom's middle name was Ann. The second you were born, I knew you were more than Faith. There was just something about you that had a little too much spunk for the name Faith alone! You were Faith Ann! It flowed, it fit, it was just you...Faith Ann! I think of mom many times a day as I say your name. To this day, your name lightens my heart and brings me happiness! 

Speaking of happiness, you have made me feel like the happiest person on Earth! You are infectious. You are truly something else...magical! You are funny and spunky yet subtle. The "growl" that you do is hilarious! You do this deep voice, and it stops people in their tracks. You are so beautiful, so girly, so inviting...then you growl in a Darth Vador voice! It's so unexpected and the funniest thing I have ever heard from a baby! 

I have loved our girl time. Daddy tends to take over the boys while you and I bond away. We have spent many hours alone, just being with each other, just being in each others presence, just enjoying each other. You are a momma's girl for sure! You were attached to me from the start, and I certainly embraced you with an open heart! Your brothers filled my heart, how in the heck did you find a spot to fill? You did, and you have your own special spot. 

You don't know a stranger. Everyone gravitates to you! Everyone smiles, comments, waves and talks to you everywhere we go! You love the attention and enjoy the spotlight. You wave, blow kisses, dance and make everyone feel special. What a gift! You were born making people feel special. Everyone feels like they are your favorite person! 

Your stunning blue eyes, your curvy tooshie, your rolls, light hair, sun kissed skin, button nose...every single thing about you is perfection! You are beautiful beyond words. You are beautiful from the inside out. Your inner beauty pours out of you.  You are a force to be reckoned with! Get ready world! I am honored to be your mother!!

 

Watching you with your daddy has completely melted me. He is such a gentle soul, and you have him wrapped around every single finger! You are his little princess, and you have no clue how blessed you are to have him as your dad! Obviously, we are beyond blessed to have you as our daughter. Don't even get me started on your brothers. I will have to dedicate an entire letter to you on their behalf. Those boys have admired your every breath, every milestone, every smile, every moment of your life!  

Faith Ann, we have a connection that I pray you will always hold close to your heart. I know this connection will only grow deeper. We have many memories ahead. We have many hurdles ahead. Most of all, we have many joys ahead! We have a lifetime ahead of us. 

A friendship has just begun. I look forward to sharing the journey of friendship with you. I will always be your mom, but as you age, you will be my best friend! There will be times that you won't consider me a friend, but that is just part of my job as your mom. But believe me...I will always be your truest, most loving, unwavering and most loyal friend in the world. I love you more than words. I love you more than you will ever know..or at least until you have your own daughter! Only then will you know the depth of the love that sits behind this letter! 

Love, 

Momma!