LOL Tomboy Birthday Wishes for LOL Tomboy aka; Tayler. Photoshopped by Stacy 2006

A Letter from Mom:
Dear Tayler~

You’re 13 years old today, and I can remember like it was yesterday, the day you were born. Amid much excitement and many relatives you came into the world screaming. A normal occurrence with a newborn; little did I know that very loud and incessant screaming would continue for two and half months, nearly 20 hours a day. I remember being numb, going through the motions of walking the floors while you screamed inconsolably. I remember not allowing myself to feel the heartbreak of not being able to successfully comfort my newborn baby girl. I had a job to do, and allowing myself any emotions other than caring for you would have been counterproductive.

I do remember one night around 3:00 AM praying, asking for God’s help and begging for some relief for you, when a warm assurance came over me. An assurance that you would come out of colic and thrive. I look at you today Tayler, and I know deep within me, that was God’s promise to me that dark cold night, that you would indeed grow into the beautiful young lady you are today. I thank Him daily, for giving you to me.

Tayler, you have been a supreme blessing in my life, and I take the job of raising you seriously. But even with the job of being a good parent weighing on my mind, I am overwhelmed by the absolute Blessing you are to everyone who knows you.

As you enter into the angst-filled teenage years, I want you to know you have me in your corner, cheering for you each and everyday. I’m here Tayler, watching over you and adoring you. Doing my best to give you the room to grow, learn and take steps towards being an independent young adult. And always filled with the pride of knowing I got to be your Mom.

I know we laugh now, whenever I reminisce about those first few months of your life, and I thank you for your patience. Each time I tell the story, you listen intently and with the same wonder in your eyes, as if it was the first time you have heard it. You truly are a kind and caring young lady, and I will always be proud of you Tayler.

I know that you know how much I love you. But what I want you to know this very special day, is that I genuinely like you. I enjoy spending time with you and appreciate all of your wonderful and many attributes. I admire who you are, and celebrate all of the special qualities that make you Tayler.

My greatest wish for you today, is that you experience the feeling of knowing you are completely loved by all that call you daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend.

Today is your day Tayler, and I wish you happiness, fun and dreams that come true.

All my love always,

Mom

Happy Birthday Wishes from; and photoshopped by Stacy 2006

A Letter from Tayler’s Stepdad:
Dear Tayler:

I like to look at those birthdays that mark milestones in life, the ones that signal the beginning or the end of a critical period in our life.
And becoming a teenager is one of them.

It will bring many changes, so many your head will spin. And by the time you are ready to hit that next big milestone--21--how you handle the next 8 years will pretty much determine how well you will handle adulthood.

You’ll have no small share of happy times and sad ones, but mostly confusing ones. You should count yourself lucky that you have a mom you love and trust and can turn to when things get too confusing for you to handle yourself.

Most kids don’t have a parent like that. And the fact that it’s your mom is even better because as a teenaged girl herself once, she can use the foundation of love and trust and confiding that you two share, to pass along her wisdom and her own experience in an effort to help keep you from making at least some of the mistakes that she might have made, and that all teenagers at one time or another might make.

I know the changes brought on by your parents divorce and your mom’s marriage to me have not been easy to get through. But what has impressed me is the way you have handled those changes.

You also have demonstrated an unusually warm and protective relationship with your younger brother, something you will hopefully maintain throughout your life. Yes, I know there are squabbles from time to time, but your gentleness and care for him will have an impact on him that you won’t even realize for years if not decades to come.

As you begin teenagehood, I just wanted to wish you all the best, and to tell you how glad I am that you are my stepdaughter. Marrying your mom was a blessing, and I look at you and Riley as bonuses.

With all the trials and tribulations that the teens bring, just remember that you have your mom, your dad, me and, most of all, God to turn to for guidance. You will have to work hard in school to help prepare you for adulthood, but then, all of life is hard work.
Your mom, your dad, and I can help you get through those tough times, and God is always there to give you His guiding hand.

I hope your birthday not only is a happy one, but that you will find your teens mostly enjoyable, extremely productive, and always surrounded by love.
I love you,

Paul