Dear Zoey, [12.23.2014 | 8:30am]

Sometimes, life can be confusing.

It's good to be positive, unless you're at the doctor and they're running tests. Then, positive is bad. Whenever I'm really stressed out, I have dreams where all my teeth fall out. Which makes me very stressed when I wake up, in turn adding to the already intense amount of stress circling my brain.

There's a lot in this world that may not make sense. You're going to get good surprises and bad ones. You'll get the job of your dreams and people will try to bring you down. You'll make good choices, do the right thing, and still struggle. But that's okay.

I don't ever want you to doubt yourself. Don't let the confusing things in life hold you back from going out and getting yourself the absolute best you can, and then some. People will say they love you, people will promise they will support you, and then they'll undermine you pretty fast. That's okay, Zoey, you're better than the words of people around you.

It took me almost 23 years to figure it out, but I've finally got it down:
What people say about you says more about them than it does about you.

It's not going to be easy. It's not going to make sense all of the time. But then, in the middle of your hardest time when you don't know if you can keep going, you'll get a green light. Good things come to those who wait, but greater things come to those who do.

Roughly 3 months, Zoey, and you'll be arriving! I can't wait to meet you face to face.

Love always,
Aunt Laura

Dear Zoey, [11.20.2014 | 8:00pm]

There's a lot of bad in this world. A guy took a gun onto a college campus today and people died. I wish I could say that was the first time anything like this ever happened. But it isn't. People do bad things. That's nothing new.

But, and this is the important thing to remember: There are a lot of good people in the world, too. Sure, there are nice people and helpful people. But there are genuinely Good People out there. If you are lucky, you'll stumble across them when you need it most.

I'm having a tough time lately. It's hard to get excited about things right now. I have moments, yeah, but overall I feel very numb. Tonight, I was rushing through the grocery store trying to pick things up and get home early. Someone cut me off and stopped, and then another person on my left came to a stop, too. I was pinned. I was also very annoyed.

But in the middle of my annoyance, I glanced to my right, searching for a way out. There was a woman who had just asked a man, obviously a stranger, if he'd be willing to help her. She explained that she was legally blind and couldn't read the soup labels on the cans in front of her. She could see well enough to get around, of course, but she wanted to know if he would help her find the right soup. Right there, Zoey, in the middle of Walmart at 7pm on a Thursday, I saw a Good Person. That man agreed to help her, and then he proceeded to offer to help her with the rest of her list. I don't know if she said yes or no, though, because I was suddenly released from my impromptu prison and made my way to the check out. But I saw the look on her face and I can tell you that she nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Zoey, I hope you are a Good Person. I know you'll be kind. Your mom is one of the nicest people I know. Your dad would do just about anything for the people he loves. It's in your genes, but that doesn't mean it's natural. This world is going to try to scare you into thinking people are dangerous or bad. There are crooks, thieves, and Bad People lurking in lots of dark places. But there are also Good People in the world. So do me a favor, okay? Be a Good Person. Don't force it, but don't fight it.

And Zoey? If the news ever gets too bleak, turn it off. Find some flowers and take a good, long look at them. Watch a child laugh. Surround yourself with good things and leave good things in your wake.

Love always,

Aunt Laura

Dear Zoey, [11.14.2014 | 9:30pm]

You're a girl!!!!

Mom and Dad had a party tonight to discover your gender and share it with us all. While we waited, you could see a lovely mix of people all present to support your mom and dad, as well as celebrate you.

I hope you know just how loved you are, Zoey. There is already a giant group of people waiting to love on you, and I am so lucky to be one of them.

I can't wait to be a part of your life. Years from now, I hope that I'm the kind of aunt you can come to with anything. I hope you cherish our relationship and I hope you look up to me. Granted, I make mistakes. We all do. But I promise to love you through yours, and I ask you to do the same for me. If you ever need help with anything, I hope I'm someone you can count on. 


You would be really proud of the people in your family. There's a lot of history that you'll learn about someday, but they're making a real effort to be better people for you. All the bad blood and discomfort from the past is being put aside, Zoey, all for you. 


It's a scary world sometimes, kid. Don't lose sight of the good. If you start to worry that things are too bad, just take a moment to stop and smell the roses. I'll do my best to help you remember to do that.


I love you and I can't wait to meet you!

Love always,
Aunt Laura

Dear Baby Wolf, [11.14.2014 | 4:00pm]

Wow.

In just three hours, we'll find out whether you're a boy or a girl. Ever since my birthday dinner, when your parents first told us about you, I've been dying to know your gender. Either is fine with me, honestly. Grandma and Grandpa are siding with your dad in hopes of you being a boy. Which makes sense, because you would be the first of your generation on the Wolf side that can carry on the last name. But your mom is hoping for a girl, and I would have to say I wouldn't mind that either. I want to have all boys, so having a niece to spoil would be wonderful.

Ultimately, though, I just want you to be healthy. You're already so loved, even though we don't know what your gender is. I can't wait to go shopping for you! Or to finally know your name. Mom and Dad have a couple picked out, but I think once they know the gender, they'll really settle on one. A lot of planning goes into having a baby, but I'm sure it will all be worth it once you are born and we can finally meet you.

I still remember when they told me about you. (I knew before Grandma, so technically, I've loved you longer!) At the time, I was looking for jobs out of state and hoping to move soon. As soon I heard you were coming, Baby Wolf, I had a decision to make. There's a lot of big moments in that first year that I don't want to miss, and because of that, I chose to stay here for a while. I'm not giving up my dreams or anything, so don't you worry about that. I'm just choosing to put them on hold for a while so I can experience your first couple of years of life first-hand.

I won't be leaving you forever, Baby Wolf, don't fret. I'll come back to Oklahoma someday. I just need to go off and have adventures for a bit. Then, I'll move back home. But that's still a way off, we don't need to worry about that now.

I can't wait to know, Baby Wolf. I'll start buying things to spoil you in no time!

Love always,
Aunt Laura