Dear Baby Paluchs,

You. are. so. cute. Back when you were born (so long ago now, June 26th, yeesh you're like full grown babies now) your parents were so flippin' strong. You should have seen how brave and calm your mother was the week you were set to be born. She was asking me to smuggle a lighter into the hospital so that she could keep the ribbon legs of the spider she was stitching for you from fraying. Those mobiles in your room were made using a lighter I snuck into a hospital room. She's a rebel bug lover, that sweet mother of yours. And your dad, he held it together, gals. He was patient and attentive to your mom and didn't ask for much, ever. He still made time to have lunch with me and be funny. And let me talk exclusively about myself. Typical. It would have been easy to be scared and nervous (which I'm sure they were) but they were so strong. (So flippin strong)

And thanks to advances in medical care, you were here, early and healthy. The three of you collectively weighing less than 12 pounds. (Author's note: I was a giant fat head baby. At birth I weighed 10lbs. My body finally caught up to my head. At age 9.) I got to see you the following day and you were like teeny versions of babies. Mini ears and fingernails, a nurse buzzing around you while your little bellies puffed up and heart monitors beeped. A couple weeks later you were outta the baby boxes and squirming. I even got to hold your bitty hands. Your mom and dad were still peppy, but [no offense] visibly tired. Their faces glowed though. That kind of glow that you only have with a sweet baby in your life. With all kinds of new parents around me I notice these things more often. Your parents, they are already so proud of you.

These are four girls. My sisters. They are so wonderful.

Three of you. Can you even imagine? As one of four girls who weren't all born on the same day, I can tell you having sisters is totally awesome. (Although I can't tell you what it's like to be a triplet. That's going to be an exciting adventure you'll experience on your own.) You'll go through phases where you will fight about who gets to use the hair dryer first, or what television show you'll be watching that night, fuss over where you have to sit at the dinner table or complain about a bunch other insignificant things. But eventually, after all the silly spoon throwing fights stop and you're past puberty you'll see how much your sisters made your life bigger and richer and a big mess of fun. You will eventually want sit next to each other at dinner, karaoke together and look forward to Christmas every single year. You'll eventually want to see them everyday, send group texts full of emojis about important days and be so grateful that you have strong, patient, loving parents. You've got a beautiful life ahead of you. I can't wait to watch you grow.

Amazing right? I'm still smiling about it.

Today I held all three of you at once. Thanks for letting me do that. We crossed off #16 today, together. Aunt Laura loved it. So proud of your mom and dad. They will make you so proud, too.

xo-LP

52 Letters: #8

#WYnot prep for the Big West.

90 days into 30: it's basically the end-o-summer