Dear Kyla,

I can’t hardly believe that today is your 5th birthday!  It sure doesn’t seem like that long ago that I got a call from your Grandma and Grandpa telling me you were born.  I was away at college working on a crummy digital photography project and the news sure brightened my day.  You were the first of the four rugrats in our family to be born and you had so many people excited to finally meet you.  I remember the first night I rocked you to sleep when I came to visit you.  I stood in the play room rocking you back and forth in my arms,  I sang you songs (sorry if that has scarred you for life) and you were so precious that I couldn’t stop crying.  People say that you cannot prepare for what your heart feels when you have your own kids, but I am pretty sure I have a good idea.  You, your brother and cousins have filled my heart with so much joy.  You never cease to crack me up with your silly ways, sweet spirit and matter of fact maturity…you are difinately five going on seventeen!  I love you so much Kyla Peak and I miss you every day!  I’m sorry that I can’t be there this year to celebrate with you.  I hope you like your new princess bike.  Take lots of pictures for me and save me a piece of cake!

Much Love,

Aunt Nikki

Since I didn’t have this blog until recently, I decided to dig up a bunch of old photos of Kyla to show how she has grown.  I got a little weepy today when I realized how big she has gotten.  Like many photographers I am really bad at printing out my own personal photos, so a lot of these I haven’t looked at for years.  I must get better at this!  I hope you all enjoy these as much as I do.

As you can tell this was her first birthday party.  The first shot cracks me up…”cake, give me my caaaaake!”.

This is my favorite photo I have ever taken.  It captures such an innocence.  One look at this photo and her eyes melt my heart.

She’s so beautiful (and such a little poser).

I have SO many pictures of Kyla and I.  I tried to pick a few of my favorites.  Love you girl!