Dear Britt,

In just more than 2 weeks it will be your birthday. I wanted to write your letter early this year, since I failed to write it last year, and I suspect life will be even crazier for a time after your brothers arrive. You have grown so much that 12 years seems like both a very long time and a very short time since you were born.

You have become a very determined boy, with wild ideas all your own, and a great drive to explore and tinker. You are still enamored with nature, something that has been the case ever since you could walk. Between your rock collection and your ability to find a perfect stick wherever you go, I don’t know that will ever change. You are also fascinated these days with the idea of mechanics and inventing machines. You don’t have the technical knowledge yet to make those ideas come to life, but science and robotics interests you more and more these days. Your love for Nintendo and the challenge the games present have not dulled for your at all. You sometimes talk about learning to design your own game. You certainly have many story ideas that you could pursue. Along with a love of stories, your ability to read and enjoy it continues to grow, and of course you still really enjoy history with me. I am glad to be able to share both the stories of history and the world of the imagination with you. It is one of the ways that you remind me of myself.

You most remind me of your Daddy in your love for the Church. You think a lot about spiritual things, and want to please God, but you struggle with impatience and frustration, much like your Daddy did as a boy. He says in time you will learn to channel it and control it, and he keeps challenging you to help you grow. We continue to hope that as you mature and become a young man, that the love you feel for the Lord and His Church will help you to put aside selfish desires and strive for something better.

One of your very best qualities remains your care for your siblings and others. You still insist on including them when you play with the boys in the neighborhood. You take time to offer to cuddle Kate when she is upset. You find a way to include Rebecca in games, even when she isn’t as skilled as you and Ruth are. You are quick to encourage Ruth in her artistic endeavors. And as you like to share with people you prayed for “brothers” (plural) before we became pregnant, after we told you that you had all the siblings that you were going to get, and God answered those prayers. You wanted to get your and Ruth’s OT teacher a Christmas gift without me even suggesting it. You are quick to share Pokémon cards with a friend you just met at the library.

You are looking forward to being a big brother to brothers this time. You can’t wait to be their hero that they look up to and teach them all the things you think they need to know. You have offered to get up with them at night and change diapers. I can’t wait to see what wonderful things the future has in store for your Britt.

We love you very much,
Momma and Daddy