Dear Leah

January 11, 2012

My baby girl Leah,

I love you so much.  You and your father have made my life complete.

Around 3 months you started recognizing me when I went in to get you up in the morning.  I would turn on the lights, you would squint and rub your eyes as if you were thinking, “Who the heck would turn on the lights and wake me up!”  Then you’d look up and see my smiling face staring back at you saying, “Good morning, baby.”  And you’d get the biggest grin on your face.  Your whole face would light up and you’d start frantically kicking your legs as if you couldn’t wait for me to pick you up and start the day.  It was the most wonderful experience for me – to start my day with this little person who had so much joy in her little body simply from seeing her mommy looking back at her.  You don’t really do that anymore.  Now when I turn on the lights, I’m lucky if I get a sleepy smile out of you.  You are growing up. 

You are the most adorable baby I’ve ever met.  You are sitting up now and that makes you so proud.  And you smile all the time.  You have so much energy.  The bath is my favorite example.  You kick your chubby legs so hard, water going everywhere, in your eyes and all over your face, and you don’t care.  You love it.  By the end of your bath, you’ve kicked up so much water that your daddy and I are wet.  It never gets old; for you or me. 

When I sneak in late at night to give you your pacifier, and I put it in your mouth, you shake your head back and forth rapidly like you are a little pit bull terrier shaking a chew toy.  It’s adorable and I love it.  It’s one of your little quirks that make you, you.

I love to watch you sleep.  You look so peaceful, your face all scrunched up and your lips pooched out.  It reminds me of the few fuzzy images I got of your face on the ultrasound.  When you fall asleep with the pacifier, and the pacifier falls out of your mouth, you continue making sucking movements with your little mouth.  You are in a moment of peace and I am overjoyed.  Sometimes, you will fall asleep in my arms.  I whisper into your ear that I love you and that you are fresh from heaven.  

I look at you and I am absolutely amazed at how you got here.  One day, you just started growing, and then almost 9 months later you were born.  And now 6 months into your life on earth, you have started to become the little person that you will be.  And I couldn’t love you more. 

Mom

My beautiful girl at 6 months!