My baby,

We talked about you a lot today. At Gma’s house, Elijah started asking how old “human Bella” was. He then asked how old she was when we first met Miss Whitney. I started laughing and going off on your relationship with Bella. I told Elijah how you constantly “stole her B” at the park and then you brought it into preschool with you where you stole her spot on the “B” on the carpet. You to really were like siblings and that’s probably because I think you saw each other every single day.

If it wasn’t at preschool, we saw them at playgroups, we went to the park together, you two were on sports teams together, and we would always go to that random little play set inside the community center in Missouri. We also went to holiday events together, like the Fall Festival thing that nobody went to. When I say “nobody”, I mean we were about the only people there. You guys went through their “haunted hallway” like ten times. Miss Whitney and I laughed at what a dud the event was, but we still made memories. Miss Catherine was actually there, too. She was the only other person there, but we hadn’t talked at that point so we just kind of did our own thing.

I think some of my best days with you guys were spent in Missouri. I always say “I miss it so much, but I would never want to go back”. The people made Missouri what it was. Missouri is where we met both Miss Whitney and Miss Brittany. Missouri is where I started to make this “tribe” and for the first time in our military life, didn’t feel alone.

You guys would always beg for Mr. Corey to throw you up in the air and I was always with Miss Marita as you guys caused chaos. I’m also pretty sure your first crush was at Missouri, Peyton. You never came out and said it, but I’m pretty sure you did.

The days in Missouri were during some of the most chaotic parts of my life. I had four kids in five years and at some points I was barely hanging on. I’m so thankful for those years there and the people that it brought into our lives. As crazy as the military life was, I’m glad it happened. We got to see so many places, meet so many people, and make memories that we never would have had a chance to make.

I know how much you loved Missouri and still have the pictures on my phone that you took of the yard so you “wouldn’t forget it”. You had your own room at first, where you would only let me lay in your bed at night, you made daddy lay on the floor. Then you and Ellie got so excited and shared a room with the bunk beds, then you with Lucas.

I feel like I’m just going off and reminiscing about those times because I would do anything to go back. I would do anything to be with you in that house, pushing you on the swing, or going down to the river.

I love you more than anything, my baby. Goodnight and sweet dreams.