For my daughter

Dear Kaelah,

For your first birthday I want to be able to give you something special to know how much you mean to me and your dad. But no toy or material object would ever express that. I don't think even this simple letter will do.


I loved you from the moment I Knew you were going to be in our life. I didn't care what you looked like or if you were a boy or a girl. You were ours, and that was all that mattered. I was excited, and also a little scared that I wouldn't be all that you wanted me to be. We found out you were going to be a girl and my heart jumped with joy! It was a princess that would be joining our family! And I knew the perfect name for you. I picked Kaelah because I love your Nana and Aunt Katie so much and wanted you to share something special between them. I picked Elizabeth because I wanted you to share something so special between my side of the family that has been passed on to each daughter.


Feeling you kick and move inside me was the most awesome feeling I have ever had and it gave me reassurance that I was keeping you healthy and letting me know that you were getting stronger. Just knowing that I was helping you grow and become strong was undescribable.

When I heard you cry for the first time in that hospital, I knew my life was changed
forever. I couldn't wait for our family to finally meet you. I was nervous believe it or not. But as soon as I held you for that first time, all my fears, worries and nervousness just melted away. You were so beautiful and full of love. I couldn't stop staring at you.


Both your father and I went into parenthood not knowing much about anything. But you were such a good baby, we quickly learned just how you liked things to be done--how much to feed you, how to burp you, how to get rid of that nasty gas, how you liked to fall asleep in the swing before we put you in your crib--I could go on and on.


I think the best experience for me, though, is seeing you learn and grow and knowing that Daddy and I were the ones to teach you. The day you learned how to crawl and pull yourself up to the couch, the day you said "mamma" and "dada" and the rest of the words you've learned, and watching you play with your baby doll cuddling and singing to it; doing as mommy does.


I hope one day when you're older, you'll look back on this letter and know how much you are loved by us. You are such a special little girl. You've brought so much happiness and love to our family and I can't remember a time in my life where I was more happy or proud before you joined our world. I can only hope that when you have a family of your own, you will be able to experience all the joy, all the excitement, all the pleasure that I have had as being your mommy.

I love you with all my heart always and forever,

Love,

Mommy