I still remember the first time I laid eyes on you. You were still in my tummy, and the ultrasound technician had told me the most wonderful news I’ve ever heard: It’s a girl. I was really going to have a little girl. You.
The day you appeared into the world was magical. I remember nuzzling you close, breathing in your sweet baby smell, and just as I did with your brother, I fell instantly, head-over-heels in love with you.
But as I look at you now – a chatty, curious and incredibly sweet little girl – those days seem like a long time ago because you have grown so much since then! This transformation from tiny little newborn to confident toddler happened in a blink of an eye and I have to stop myself from calling you “the baby” because you are most definitely not a baby anymore (you’re a “big girl,” as you like to remind me).
As soon as you could babble and crawl, you have wanted to help us. “Mommy’s little helper,” I still call you. I’ve never seen a child so excited to help us empty the dishwasher or pick up an item I dropped or empty my shopping bags from the grocery store.
You want to help Mommy cook and put the laundry in the dryer and put water in Raven’s bowl. I often shake my head and think, Where in the world did you come from?
It’s incredible to watch you with Raven. It’s like you two have known each other forever. You have always been so sweet and gentle with her – even as a baby – and, in fact, “doggie” was one of your first words. As soon as you could speak in phrases and sentences, you were saying, “Good girl, Ray-Ray,” and giving her hugs and kisses and snuggles … and she let you (unlike with your brother). You still do that today and it makes Mommy smile.
Your language has blossomed this past year. Although I think “blossom” is an understatement. People remark all the time about your vocabulary and how you do such a remarkable job communicating for a barely-two-year-old. However, you still say some cute toddler phrases in that high pitched little girl voice (a sound I hope I’ll always be able to remember.) Things like: pankins (pancakes, which you are obsessed with), o-tay (okay), rainbow coat (rain coat), ice cream (sunscreen), bagel (big girl). I love how you insist all flowers are “butterflies” and how you call your brother’s superheroes “bad guys” and prefer to drink your milk from one of his “bad guy cups.”
Right now, you’re very attached to your Minnie Mouse doll that Santa brought you for Christmas; we even took her to Disney World with us, where you got to meet and hug the real Minnie – something you still talk about today. You refuse to fall asleep at night without both her and a tiny plush doggie you got for free last month at our town’s annual festival.
You also love Ariel (the Little Mermaid), the show “Bubble Guppies,” Elmo and playing outside – especially on the swings. And bubbles. You can’t get enough of bubbles.
You have always been interested in music and sing all the time; in the mornings, we’ll hear you belting out the ABC song or Baby Beluga from your crib. You’re also starting to count and recognize colors and you like to study Mommy and copy the things I do, like putting on jewelry and your sunhat and sunglasses. You love to carry around the little plastic “purse” that I keep the sunscreen in, calling it your “ice cream bag.” It’s such a privilege to watch you try to figure out this big, complicated world around you.
Part of me wishes I could freeze time and keep you this little forever, but I know I can’t. Instead I will cherish and hold on to every single second of right now, of the time when you can still fit in my lap and I can tickle your pudgy tummy and you squeeze my cheeks and say, “I love you, momma.” I cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for you and all the wonderful things you will learn and experience on your journey to becoming the amazing, kind and caring girl I know you will be. You and your brother are – without question – my greatest accomplishment and the biggest source of joy and light in my life. I love you to the moon and back.
Happy birthday!
Love,
Mommy
Sharon - MomGenerations.com says
So beautiful… the greatest Mama love embedded in each word, each photo, each moment with such JOY. This Love Letter will be read a million times over. Thank you for sharing your great Joy, Love and Beauty – your daughter!
Jessica says
Thanks so much, Sharon! That means a lot, coming from such a fantastic mom like you!!
Sarah B says
Such a sweet, loving post! And what precious photos, she’s adorable!!
Jennifer says
wow, she is going to love reading this someday!
sheri says
Awe what a sweet post! Happy birthday to one absolute cutie.
Carla says
What a beautiful letter! Such a gift for her one day. ps. Your dog is a beauty! What breed is it? We’re on the hunt =) pps. Belated happy day to your girl! And a big high five on two magical years of being a mama to a daughter =)
Jessica says
Thank you, Carla! She is a black lab/Australian cattle dog mix we adopted – wow – 9 years ago now?? She’s such a sweet girl and playful like a lab, but definitely attached to my husband and I, a characteristic of cattle dogs. She also used to “herd” people when she was a puppy 🙂