Midnight Snack with 18 month old Julia

The Christmas of 1998 (Julia was 1 1/2) she received an Anne Geddes "Down in the Garden" journal in which her mother made entries for her.  The first entry is dated Wed. March 10, 1999.

Dear Julia, When Daddy and I got home tonight at 10:30 you came running to greet us.  You were wearing a tutu with a pink flower skirt over it and a red flower skirt around your neck. (Note: these flower skirts were made by me, mom, and were literally flower skirts with red petals and a bit of green around the waist over the petals with all attached to a green elastic waist band.) You still like to nurse (even though you don't need to). After nursing I changed your diaper. I put some socks on to go downstairs to have a snack. You insisted on putting on a pair of socks too (the same color as mine -- purple).  Daddy and I had a brownie with ice cream and so did you. You do a good job of feeding yourself with your left hand. Here it is midnight and you are wide awake. Your sisters tell me you went on a walk today accompanying them to Petersons', about five blocks away. You walked and ran the entire way (without holding anyone's hand or being carried). They said you were tired when you got home and asked for a drink first thing.

A Note from a 12-Year-Old Daughter

I found this note in a stack of my paper rubble.  Lest I lose it again, I'm recording it here.  It is dated January 8th, 2010, 4:55 p.m. (which means I was at work and she was alone at home).

Mom, I love you so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so much!!
you are one of the most amazing people in the world!
I miss the time when we went to the Trolly and spent time together.
I miss the time when you read those silly fantasys outloud.
I miss the time when you held me in your arms and you hugged me and lisened to all I had to say.
I miss the time when we went on all those walks in the mountains.
I miss you.
I hope you will be able to go places with me and hug me and listen to me and read aloud to me and go places with me again.
I want you to go on the author tours with me.
I love you, and even if you don't do all those things, you'll still be the best mom ever!