Dear Maggie,

You slept through the night!!!!!!  I finally got to sing the song to you. It goes like this:

Good morning Maggie.
Good morning Maggie.
You slept the whole night through
and we're so proud of you!

Good job baby girl!

Love,
Mama

Mama's Plans

Dear Maggie,

I just rocked you to sleep. I read you a story and gave you a bottle and laid you in your crib. You started to cry. I soothed you and left your room. You cried more. I hated it. I have been trying to figure out how to help you with your sleeping and I think you need to learn to soothe yourself. But I hated to hear you cry. It didn't feel right. All day at work I missed you. I hated sending you off with Nicole today and I hated every minute I wasn't with you. And it seemed wrong that they little time we had together tonight should be spent in separate rooms, with you crying and me listening to you cry. So I decided to forget all the sleep books and do what I wanted to do. I picked you up out of your crib and rocked you. Holding you in my arms felt good. I felt miserable today thinking about how I am missing time with you because I have to work. I have plans for us, baby girl. Things haven't gone as planned so far, but I do have plans. And as I rocked you tonight I told you about all the plans mama has for you. Here are just a few. Mama plans:
to hold you, and kiss you and rock you a lot
to take you out in the snow and the rain to play
to have lots of fun birthdays, with parties and cake and balloons
to sew you cute clothes, and put cute shoes on your feet
to let you pick your own outfits
to listen to you talk
to do your hair, once you have hair I can do something with
to sing to you
to read lots of stories together
to take you to swim lessons and dance classes
to take you to story time at the library
to take you to play dates, and to have friends over at our house
to sew a tee-pee for you and your brother to play in
for you and your brother to be friends
to give you another brother or sister someday
to feed you lots of healthy food, and some food that is not so healthy but delicious to eat
to get down on the floor and play with you
to take you outside to watch the leaves fall to the ground
to love you forever, and ever, and ever, and ever

Talking about all the plans I have for you and me made me happy. It calmed my upset mood. And it must have calmed you too because you drifted to sleep in my arms listening to all the plans I have for you. Sweet dreams baby girl. I will see you in the morning (and probably the night) and I will do my best to make my plans come true.

Love,
Mama

Dear Max and Maggie,

This morning was crazy. It was crazy before your dad left for work and it just got crazier once I was on my own with the two of you. It started with a rough night. Max had a couple of nightmares, that also woke up Maggie. And Maggie had a few of her usual night wakenings, which also woke up Max. Yesterday I decided it was really time to make the binkies for Max for bed and car seat only. It went over well yesterday. But today it took more effort to enforce. And I wanted to throw in the towel, partly because it was so hard for Max on an already hard morning and partly because I am having my own emotional reaction to taking a step to turn my little man into a big boy. And I know that we need to figure out something for this sleep issue with Maggie. But between Maggie crying in her crib and Max getting his binki time in his no one really had any moments of much needed rest this morning. I did manage to get you both in a bath, at Max's request, and that part of the morning was fun. But then things went down hill again when I picked up Max's balnket to give it to him to help soothe him missing his binki only to discover that when Maggie had peed on the floor earlier in the morning she had also peed on Max's balnket. So I put it int the wash (and sad or not I really debated if that was the best option given the emotions of the day) and then for 30 minutes straight Max screamed "Blanket!" and was inconsolable while I put Maggie to sleep in her car seat because it was time to go to Nicole's house and work and she couldn't stay awake any longer to wait out the blanket washing fiascal. All moring I thought that if I had just one of you to focus on I could have done a bang up job. Surely I could get Maggie on a great sleeping routine if I wasn't also trying to help Max learn to self-soothe without a binki. And surely I could have provided good diversion for Max missing his binki if I didn't also have Maggie crying and rubbing her tired eyes at my feet. This morning was not our best moment as a threesome, but it wasn't really an exception to our normal time together. So while I know it is hard for the two of you, especially at your little ages, to not have my undivided attention I hope that it makes up for it that I gave you each other.

This Thanksgiving all my siblings and their families were able to be together except Amy and her family who we missed dearly. Together we had such a great time. We really enjoyed eachother's company. Of course we have some moments of disagreement and irritation, but we truely are all friends and very supportive of each other. And I love it. I absolutely love spending time with my siblings. I so much hope, and everythingshort of demand, that the two of you and any other siblings you may have someday are friends. Actually, I demand it. As your mother. I demand it because I want you to have the very best in life and I believe that good sibling relationships are the very best that life has to offer. Please, be kind to each other. And have fun together! Lots of it.

Also at Thanksgiving my siblings and I talked about how our parents are getting old and it is hard to see them struggling medically and how sad it is to know that they won't be with us on Earth forever. Sometimes when I am busy taking care of the two of you I think about how my mom did the same thing for me and my siblings not so very long ago. And now that phase of her life is past. I believe she loved it. I believe she always wanted to be a mom and loved taking care of all of her kids. I love it too. Even on crazy days like this morning, I love it with all my heart. And I am so grateful I get to experience it. And I know it won't last forever so I try my best to cherish each moment. Even the crying and the pee blankets and the no sleep moments. Dear Max and Maggie, I hope you always know that having you in my life is the best part of my life and I love every moment of it.

Love,

Mom 

Dear Maggie,

I love you. And I just wanted to say it.

Love,

Mom

9 Month Check-Up

Dear Maggie,

Today I took you to see Dr Fox for your 9 month check up. You are growing! Today you weigh 17.5 pounds and are 26.75 inches tall. That means you are in the 20th percentile for weight and the 16th percentile for length. I think you are just perfect! You were very busy during your appointment. You are always very busy. It made Dr Fox smile to see how much you move. He also said that he is a sucker for big blue eyes like yours. Dr Fox has a daughter they call Maggie who shares your Birthday so all around he is pretty taken in by you. It is not hard to do - be taken in by you. You are so smiley. And you give good cuddles. My heart melts when you lean your sweet little body into mine. I really do love you so much! And I feel so happy when I take you places like I did today and I get to carry you around as you smile and coo and bring smiles to the faces around you. The only issue we had to discuss was that you aren't the best sleeper. But it is okay, we will figure it out. I'm so grateful that you are a healthy little girl. And I am so, so grateful that you are mine!

Love,
Mom

Dear Maggie,

I just listened to you cry yourself to sleep. You don't make it easy on your mama's heart. You have so many good qualities. Being a good sleeper is not one of them. I finally let you cry yourself to sleep because you refused to soothe any other way. You only slept a total of on hour today, and you are just a little baby. You need more sleep. Now, finally, you are resting. Sleep well my sweet petite. I love you.

Mama

Dear Maggie,

You are a ray of sunshine. Your smile could warm the coldest day. I am so lucky to have you in my life. Thank you for being a part of our family.

Love,

Mom

Dear Maggie,

I have I told you lately that you have the best smile in the world! Your smile lights up your whole face. And it lights up the face of everyone around you. People adore you - it is impossible not to. Today we were together with family for Calvin's blessing and I loved watching how everyone wanted to hold you and melted when you smiled. (On a side note, you did some crying today too - pretty much any time I was further than two feet from you. You have turned into a huge Mama's girl. I of course am not complaining one bit! I love that you love me. Because I love you. One of my favorite things about you crawling is that you can crawl towards me. It warms my heart when I sit on the floor and you crawl my way and climb into my lap. What an honor to be your mama!) Your toothless smile is so adorable. And when you giggle it just pushes the sweetness over the top.

Today I was holding you and kissing you and admiring you and I said, to everyone and no one, "I just don't understand how people can not completely adore their children". My mom responded, "I never could understand that either". Sweet Maggie, you come from a long line of love. And all the generations are passing their love down to you. I hope you will always feel how loved you are.

I love you baby girl!

Love,
Mama

A conversation, in the kitchen, while doing the dishes:

Mom: My little Maggie was so tired tonight.
Dad: That's because she sleeps like Max.
Mom: You mean she sleeps on the same schedule as Max?
Dad: Yes! She sleeps a little in the morning and then when he sleeps in the afternoon. And that's it!
Mom: Are you saying you think she doesn't know that she is only 8 months old?
Dad: Yes. And she never stops moving. Always moving! When you change her diaper. Trying to dress her.  
         Feeding her. She never stops.
Mom: Sweet Maggie. I love her.
Dad: (sigh of exhaustion)

Dear Maggie,

Have I told you before that you are a mover and a shaker?! On Friday you pulled yourself to standing for the first time. I wish I could have seen it. I laid you down for a nap and a few minutes later I heard you making happy noises. I told your dad that I didn't think you were going to sleep so we went to get you out of your bed and there you were, standing holding on to the side, and so happy. Now it is three days later and you have almost perfected pulling to stand. You just want to move, always trying to be one step ahead. As I have told you before, you don't need to go so fast. You are just little. Take your time. That said, I do really love watching you learn new things. Last night I didn't want to put you to bed or sleep myself because I just wanted to watch you stand again and again and again. Watching you makes me happy.

I love you baby girl.

Love,
Mom

Dear Maggie,

All you want is to hold our hand and play with our fingers every minute of every day, especially when you sleep. It is very sweet. But not very practical. I'm trying to find the balance between helping you learn to sleep with out holding my hand and cherishing every second of it. I know that I need to help you sleep independently, for your sake and for mine. But I also know that you won't want to hold my hand forever and I want to enjoy it while I can. Sometimes I look down and see your chubby little hand holding my finger and my heart melts completely. Dear Maggie, you are the sweetest little thing, the perfect blend of sugar and spice. And I hope that you will always want to hold my hand......... just not every second of every day.

I love you baby girl.

Mom

My Daughter

Dear Maggie,

Sometimes I am struck by the pronouns I use with you in the house. Sometimes I realize the magnitude of what I am saying when I say "she" or "her". You are a girl. You are my daughter. It is so simple and yet it is so hard for me to really wrap my head around. You are the daughter I always wished I would have. You are the baby girl that I will watch grow up into a little girl and then a teenager and then a woman. You are the daughter I have imagined all my life. And yet even now I can't imagine what you will be because I want to leave it up to you to decide that. But I can't wait to see it! I hope you make good choices. I hope you are happy. I hope you choose to love and explore and be kind and smart. But I can't get much more specific than that. I want to say that I hope you will have children of your own someday. But I know that not everyone has that opportunity and I don't want you to feel any less important if you don't. I want to say that I hope you explore the world because I love it so much, but I know not everyone does and if you are just as happy to stay home and read books I will love to watch you do it. I want to say that I hope you go to college because I believe in education and I love school so much, but I know you might not love it like I do and I know that if you don't that is okay. I hope (and this is the truest hope I have for you) that whatever you do you will let me be a part of it. Because the thing I have always wanted to much in a daughter is just to be able to love her and watch her grow.

Love,

Mom
 

Dear Maggie,

I love picking you up from Nicole's house after work. I love seeing you and holding you after a long day of being apart. Sometimes I wonder what sense you make of who I am. I wonder if you understand that I am your mom, and the role I play in your life, since you spend so much time away from me. I wonder what you think when I come to take you home at the end of the day. I hope it is something to the effect of, "I love this lady! I don't know exactly who she is but she adores me and I love that about her!"

I love you Maggie girl!

Love,
Mom

Dear Maggie,

I think you get cuter every day! I am so completely in love with you. I love everything about you! Here are a few things that I especially love right now:

* The way you suck on your bottom lip. It is adorable! It reminds me of your aunt Darsha.
* When you are falling asleep you make this mumbling, humming sound to sooth yourself. Adorable! You were doing it in the car tonight on our way home and your dad and I couldn't stop smiling about it. Even your little big brother sometimes can't help but to smile and giggle when he hears you do it.
* You love to move. You roll all over and turn in circles. You are a very restless sleeper. You mostly prefer your side. When I lay you down the first thing you do is turn on your side and crank your neck back. I love the predictability of it.
*You sit up now. You want to sit all the time. When you were just a couple days old you wanted to hold your head up. I told you that you were just born and you didn't need to hold your own head up yet, but you insisted on doing it anyway. I knew then you would be an on-the-move baby. (Actually, I knew when you were still inside me - you moved so much!) Now when I lay you down you want to sit up. You try so hard to do it yourself! You still need a little help getting to the sitting position but once there you can sit all by yourself. I love it. I love that it makes you happy. But seriously girl, you can slow down. You are only 5 months old. You don't have to do it all by yourself yet.
*You giggle. With out being tickled. You laugh and giggle when you see things you think are funny. You also giggle when I kiss your cheeks. And you think it is funny when I tell you "Good day!" with a nod of my head. You seriously laugh every time. I don't know why it is so funny to you but I love that it is.

Dear baby girl, you are pure sweetness. You are a sweetheart! I adore you. Lately you look cuter than ever to me. You are round and pink and healthy and usually sucking on your bottom lip or smiling and I love everything about you. Sometimes your daddy will carry you around the house and every time I look up and see you I will exclaim that you are so cute! Every time it is like I am seeing you for the first time.

Last night I was reading a book called Down Came the Rain by Brooke Shields. It is her story of post-partum depression. She said she was struck by the contrast of her emotions. During her depression she contemplated taking her own life and once it was past she realized she would willingly give her life if it was for the benefit of her daughter. I thought she was being a little dramatic. But then I thought about you and I was struck by the realization that it is absolutely the truth: I would give my life it would save yours. My only regret would be that I wouldn't be able to be around to watch you and your brother live your lives. I love you both so much! Yesterday at work I talked to a dad whose 3 week old son had just been very badly hurt and it was unknown if he would survive or not. He had two older boys and talked to me about how much he loved his kids. He told me that he thought he loved his wife and his family but he realized that he never knew true love until he became a dad. It's true: the love a parent has for a child is completely different than any other kind of love. It is bigger than anything else in the world. And I love you that way.

Thank you for being my little girl! I love you so much! Every day I love you more.

Love,
Mom

Dear Maggie,

I love you so much! I feel like I can't stop kissing you. When I hold you I cannot stop my lips from moving to your head and your cheeks and your forehead and your hands and your chin and every little bit of skin that I see showing on you. I honestly feel like the love I have for you is a force that is so much bigger than myself and it manifests itself in ways like my inability to stop kissing you!

Thank you for being my daughter.

I love you!

Love,
Mom

Dear Maggie,

The other day I was putting clothes away in your closet and I caught a glimpse of a little pink dress of yours and it struck me that I have a baby girl. And I am so happy to have a baby girl. And I am so happy that the baby girl I have is you.

Love,
Mom

Smiles and Giggles

Dear Maggie,

You are really coming to life! Sometimes I still think you are a newborn, but then when I take a good look at you I realize you are growing up! You are now playing with toys that I hang from the crib gym. You grab on to them and move them. And you kick and get so excited. I love it! You are such a happy baby. You giggle. Real giggles. It is adorable! And when you smile your whole face lights up. When I was pregnant with you I had the feeling that you were going to be a spunky girl. I guess only time will tell, but I see a little bit of what may be spunk in your giggles. Also, you are a talker! You babble and coo and I love every word of it. I can't wait until you put actual words to your "talking". If you talk as much when you are older as you do now I think I will always know what you are thinking and how you are doing and I really like that idea. I think I will always love to hear what you have to say.

I had a really good weekend with you. I am working again so I don't get to see you so much. And even when I am with you your brother is usually around too and at 19 months he is pretty demanding of attention. But this weekend, with your dad home too, and your brother sleeping well for naps and at nights, I got to spend some really good time with you. And in that time I fell even more in love with you. You are such an easy girl to love!

Today I was set apart for a church calling (Visiting Teaching Supervisor). My friend Krista held you while I was set apart. I looked over at you in her arms and almost forgetting you were mine I thought, "What a cute baby!" And you really, really are. In the blessing they talked a lot about my family being blessed if I served faithfully in my calling. In the end they said that God would grant my heart's desire. Right now my hearts desire is to stay home with you and your brother. I was also blessed that my children, watching me fulfill my calling, would have a strengthened testimony of their own. I think you are a little too young now, but I hope that you will have a strong testimony of the gospel and that I can be a good example to you.

Today we also blessed you again and gave you the name Magdalena. I think your daddy and I were both sad to see Abigail go, but we feel good about Maggie too. And I really loved the feeling in the room. It was just our little family and the bishop and it I felt so peaceful and happy with my little family and the Spirit in the room. And you looked adorable in your pale pink dress (you really are so pretty in pink!). And you were calm and happy this time, which made me feel calm and happy.

Thank you for coming to our family. I am so happy that I get to be your mommy!

I love you baby girl!

Love,
Mom

Dear Maggie,

Yesterday I had a really bad day at work. I came home angry and sad. And exhausted. I was full of emotions and couldn't settle. You were sleeping soundly in your crib but I missed you and I wanted to be close to you. So I gently lifted you from your bed and laid you on mine. Then I laid down next to you and watched you sleep. It was like magic. Watching you made me feel calm. And even a little bit happy at the end of a rotten day.

I love having you in my life.

Love,
Mom

Blessing (April 8)

Easter
My Abigail
My testimony: middle name Joy - mom taught me more about being a mom than school and work - my mom has many Christ like qualities, including the way she loves children
grateful for support of family and friends
gratitude to Christ for atonement that allows us to be happy, makes life worth it

Back to Work (add snuggling in bed that morning)

Dear Magibail,

Magibail, that is what I call you now that I can't decide whether to call you Maggie or Abigail. Today was my first day back at work. I knew my maternity leave would come to an end, but I didn't really want to believe it. I spent most of the day watching pictures of you and your brother and thinking about how much better it is to spend my days with the two of you than at work. It made me so sad last night thinking about how someone else would see your smiles and hear your coos and not me. And I hate the thought that someone else might witness one of your firsts, like rolling over.  I was so happy to leave work and pick you up. I couldn't believe how nice it was to hear even your cry after missing you all day. Your daddy and I are working on a plan so that I can spend lots more time with you and lots less time at work. I love you my little Magibail and I want to spend all the time I can with you. Especially because I know how fast you will grow.

I love you baby girl.

Love,
Mom

Dear Maggie,

I think you are such an adorable baby. I want to raise you as a strong girl. I want you to be kind and smart and confident. I hope you wont think that looks are everything. Having said that, I just want to say that I think you are stunning. You are so beautiful. And it's not just me. Today I took you to a friends house for a play group and you started crying while I was downstairs with Max. My friends got you out of your car seat and I could hear them admiring you. They kept saying how beautiful you are. I thought maybe it was just my mama pride thinking it, but now I know it's not just me who sees it. I love you my beautiful little girl.

Love,
Mom

2 month check-up

Dear Maggie,

Today you had your 2 month check-up with Dr Fox. You weighed 10 lbs 6 oz and are about 21.5 inches long. That means you are about 50% for weight and 25% for height. Ever since you were born you have not been able to breath through your nose. I read that all newborns have congestion so we have been patiently waiting for it to go away. But it should have gone away by 4-6 weeks and you are 8 weeks. And it is so sad because you can't breath very well and you are so noisy and never seem comfortable. So I asked Dr Fox about it and it turns out you have an infection in your nose. The good news is that we can give you medicine and hopefully in a few days you will be able to breath through your nose! And maybe if you can breath better you can sleep better. Fingers crossed! Dr Fox had to take a culture swap of your nose, which you hated! And then you got three needles for immunizations. It broke my heart to take you to the doctor knowing you would have to get shots. I never want to see you sad. It is so hard to know that you will have to experience hard things. Dear baby girl, you are really working your way deep in to my heart. I love you so much!

Love,
Mom

Text Message from me to daddy:

March 20, 2012 @ 1:47pm

(Picture)

Our daughter is so sweet. She is tired now but we just spent some time talking. I loved it. Isn't she so cute? I think she is ready for a nap now.

Smiles!

Dear Maggie,

In the last week it is like you have suddenly become a little person. You smile now, which is the sweetest thing! Your whole face lights up and it makes my heart sing. I love holding your tiny little body against my chest. When I do I can feel my heart flutter. I am overcome by emotion when I hold you, or see you smile, and think about how lucky I am to be your mom. There are so many things I love about you. I love your chubby little legs and your round body. I love the way you smile with your whole face. I love the little sounds you are starting to make -"Gooah" is my favorite. I love your gorgeous blue eyes. I love the way you stretch when you wake up, and after you eat. But most of all, I love that you are mine.

Love,
Mom

Dear Baby Girl,

You still don't have a name, and I'm so sorry. I'm working on it. Right now I am thinking about Rosie, Amalia, or Maggie. And your dad really likes Alexandra.

I was watching a show on TV the other day and it showed paintings from the 18th century and I was thinking about the people who the paintings were of, how they lived so long ago and they had their lives in that time and now their lives are past. And then I thought of you, so brand new, lying on my chest, and how this is your time. Your life is just starting, and it's so exciting. It is all stretched ahead of you. And I can't wait to watch it and be a part of it.

I love you baby girl!

Love,
Mom

1 week old

Dear Baby Girl,

Happy one week birthday! It seems like it has been more than a week since you were born. But at the same time I can't believe that one week of your life has already passed. I am falling more and more in love with you every day. There are many things I am loving about you, but I am especially loving the way you stretch after you eat, the faces you make, your cry that sounds like a bob cat, the way you are already working so hard to hold you head up, how firey you can be when you are really upset about something, and your eyes....on the rare occasion that I can see them. I was holding you today and thinking about you and trying to imagine you grown up. And I was thinking about what it will be like to be your mom. Dear baby girl, I don't know what life has in store for you, but I promise you that as your mom I will always do my best to help you to see and be your very best self.

I love you my sweet baby one week old girl!

Love,
Mom

Happy Due Date

Dear Baby Girl,

Happy Due Date! Today is the day that has been very special in my mind since my first dr's appointment with you back in June. However, now I will have a new date in my heart and that is January 27. That, my little lady, is your Birthday. I really didn't want to induce labor. I wanted to wait until you were ready and let you choose your Birthday. But Dr Macy told me that because you had a single artery cord it made it risky the longer we waited and she would like to induce as soon as 39 weeks and before your due date. She said that you had done so well she didn't want to risk anything. That I had to agree with. So we decided that January 27th would be your birthday. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day - very unusual for January in Utah. I was nervous about being induced but it turned out to be a really good labor and delivery. I thought as I was laboring about how someday you might be doing the same thing with your own children. You were born less than 6 hours after induction, which seemed really quick to me. Grandma and Grandpa had come to be there for your birth but I told them to take a break and come back later because I thought we had plenty of time, but you came faster than I expected. I got an epidural right before the pushing stage so I was able to be very comfortable and relaxed and enjoy watching you be born. There were oohs and awes in the delivery room when your head appeared. First everyone commented on all your hair, and I was so happy because I always wanted babies with hair and I never thought I would have them since I myself was so bald. Your brother had a lot of hair which raised my hopes for you, but I was still prepared for a bald girl so I was delighted to see a full, dark head of hair. Everyone thought your face was very cute as well. And they commented on your beautiful eyelashes. I think its amazing that your eyelashes would be so noticeable that people would comment on them on that stage of the delivery. When you came out I thought you looked so little. You weighed 7 pounds 4 oz. You were 20 inches long. And you were so quiet. It worried me a little that you were so quiet but everything was just fine, and you got plenty loud and upset when they took you from me to weigh you and give you your medicine. You don't have a name yet. I have such a hard time picking names. I went in thinking you were going to be Amilia, or maybe Maggie. Now we are thinking Charolette or Alexandra. I wish you could have a say in this decision, but I promise you that I will do my best to pick a good name for you. Dear baby girl, I am falling more and more in love with you every day. You are adorable. It has been overwhelming for me to have another baby when your brother is still so little himself. But I want you to know that while the adjustment has been hard you are still wanted and loved. And I know that it will grow stronger and stronger every day. Actually, every minute. Yesterday you were sleeping on my chest (which is pretty much the only way you will sleep for more than a few minutes at a time) and it acured to me that you were the heart beat I had been hearing at every doctors appointment. You are the baby I saw in the ultrasound pictures. You are the movement we monitored every week during my non-stress tests. You are the movements I felt inside of me. You are the tiny little baby that I first felt move inside of me 25 weeks ago. And now you are here. I am so glad that finally I can see you and touch you and really get to know my baby girl. I love you sweet thing.

Love,
Mom

Dear Baby Girl,

When are you going to come join our family? Every day I think that today might be the day. But so far its not. My due date for you is January 31, and because of the 2 vessel cord Dr Macy says that she does not want me to go past my due date. In fact, she would like to induce me at 39 weeks, which is in 3 days, but she said I can wait a little longer if I want. I hope that you will decide to come on your own before that, but I guess either way I will see you in 10 days. Can't wait to meet you baby girl.

Love,
Mom

Dear Baby Girl,

Today I went to a doctor appointment to make sure that mu uterus still has enough fluid and I that I am still providing a good home for you to grow in. Everything looked good. When I came home your dad and brother had just gotten back from a walk and they were playing in the hall. Daddy was chasing Max and Max was giggling and shrieking with delight. I was filled with joy as I watched them play. It crossed my mind that you are going to come to a good home where you will be loved and hopefully have some fun. I could imagine you there with us, and it felt right, complete. In my mind you are already a part of our family and I am so excited to actually have you there to see for reals, and not in my tummy and in my mind.

Love,
Mom

Dear Baby Girl,
It is now less than two weeks until your due date. I wonder every day, all day, if today is the day you will come. I worry so much about you. Every time you move I say thank you because it comforts me to know that you are still doing okay inside me. I am still in shock that I am about to have a daughter. For so long I just thought it would never happen and now I am about to meet you and hold you in my arms. I'm so excited to see you and make you a part of my days. I know that life will never be the same once you are here and I will wonder how the world ever existed without you in it.

I love you baby girl! I can't wait to meet you!

Love,
Mom