I was looking through Marna's baby book this morning and found this. I'd forgotten I had written it.

Dear Marna,
Your first birthday! Can it be a year already since I saw the nurse check your "vitals" and proclaim, "It's a GIRL!"??

Daddy and I were thrilled! The nurse laid you on my stomach.... what a head of black hair you had! You opened your eyes and looked at me.....dark, brown eyes (and "they" say all babies are born with blue eyes). Your hair and eyes were so much darker than anyone in the family that Daddy and I used to say we wouldn't believe you were ours had we not been in the delivery room. We later found out that your coloring comes from Grandpop Russ' (my father and your middle name sake) side of the family.

You slept through the night right from the start. In fact the first couple of days, I thought there was something wrong with you, you slept so much. I didn't know how lucky I had it. At about 3 weeks, the colic set in. Boy, you could scream and scream and scream. Naps? Forget it! But luckily you still slept well at night.

You were so miserable with the colic that you weren't too happy an infant. Friends and family would turn themselves inside out trying to make you smile and laugh. Mostly, to no avail. The only person that seemed to make you happy consistently was your big brother, Brody. You have loved him from the moment you laid eyes on him.

You were so colicky we couldn't even take you to a restaurant without you screaming throughout our meal. Then around 5 1/2 months, when you began to sit up on your own and creep around on your tummy, your entire disposition changed. You turned into a smiling, laughing, big brown-eyed, wavy haired baby.

You are so much fun to be around! You are sometimes a little wreckless....you've broken 3 knick knacks at Grandmar's when her 3 grandsons have broken none! You love chasing Casper (Rooney is smart enough to hide from you!), saying your first word, "Cat, cat!". Brody's toys seem to be more fun to play with than your own and you delight in getting in his way when he tries to draw, build with Legos, etc. I think music is special to you. You dance and squeal when people sing or when you hear music from Brody's favorite TV shows, "Sesame Street" and "Barney".

I could probably write pages as to how much you have changed....a lot has happened in between your bawling infant stage and the present walking-explorer stage. But that's not my purpose in writing this.

I want you to know that Daddy and I are so happy that you are here. From the moment we discovered we were pregnant with you, through those colic months, until now....watching you begin to walk on your own...we have been thrilled to have you be a part of our family. I can't imagine the Coyne family without you.

We dream so much for you, Marna.....a world at peace, with no hunger, want or pollution. We dream of an educational system that will provide all students with an education that will prepare them for a productive life and the opportunity to obtain a college education regardless of their family income. We dream of a world without discrimination or prejudice. Mostly, we dream for you..... health, prosperity, and most importantly a life filled with love, respect and honesty.

Love......the most important part of a person's life. Love....that's what this letter is about.....how very much Daddy and I love you, no matter where you are or what you do.

Thank you so much for making us a complete family, Marna.

I will love you always and unconditionally,
Mommy