Sunday, August 26, 2012

to Meredith.

Dear Meredith,
I've been trying to write you some form of this letter for a few weeks now. I can't figure out how to get into words everything I want to say to you. Mostly, I want you to know that you are at this most perfectly adorable stage right now. If I could bottle up some of the moments we've shared over the last few weeks, I would. They would smell like a sweaty, sandy baby after hours at the park. They would sound like belly laughs and new words tumbling from a toddler's mouth. They would feel like the tight "big tisses" you give me and daddy and the hugs you give your baby brother.  You seem so perfect to me right now.


Maybe it is because I know it's all about to change. I am so excited to be adding to our family, but there is a little part of me that is sad, cherishing these final days as a family of three. We've hit such an easy groove. We can take you to the park and you play independently. We can sit at the dinner table together and have family chats. I lay you in your bed and you roll over and fall asleep for naps and bedtime, which I thought would never happen. You sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and can't get enough of the Happy Birthday song. You like me to sing Hush, Little Baby before you go to sleep and you'd sing No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed... while jumping on the bed... all day long if I let you. You love trucks and motorcycles and tractors and all forms of transportation (except airplanes still scare you). You still love Mickey Mouse and you still love reading books. You are just so big. Everyone that knows you says it. You are such a big girl.


As our time of just me and you comes to an end, I just want you to know how much I've loved this phase. You are so incredibly special and I am so thankful I get to be your mama. The best part about all this, is that I still get to be your mama, I'll just have a new baby to love as well. You will always be my first born. The baby that made me a mama.

Sweet girl, as you get bigger and more independent (preschool tomorrow!), I just want you to know that my heart doesn't feel big enough to hold all the love I have for you. I also want you to know that I am so proud of the little girl you are. Shy, but sweet. Smart and clever. Reserved, but a flair for the dramatic. You are mixture of so many qualities from our family members. Watching you become the person you will be is a blessing I don't take for granted. I know you'll be great at your next role of big sister.

All my love,
Mama

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sweet sweet post, and what a sweet girl! Love the pics. Happy 1st day of preschool to Meredith!

colleen said...

this is so sweet claire! she will just melt when she gets older and reads this like i did.

Mary Nevin said...

this is so wonderful! how lucky miss meredith is to have someone who loves her so much. hope her first day of preschool is amazing

Bridget said...

your heart doesn't feel big enough to hold all the love for her.

gah, you're such a keeper-mom. she's a lucky girl.

Home For Short said...

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Anna {dear friend} said...

You are such a terrific Mom. Seriously, Claire. And I know I've said this before (likely after one of your letters), but you make me excited to be a mom someday myself. I just love how much you love her. It shows through in so many ways.

Kristin W said...

There's a reason why this is my favorite age :) While it has some definite trials, the bright spots are totally worth it. So sweet. I love this letter.

clare @ the pretty walrus said...

I will shamelessly say I've cried a lot reading this x

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