It's a girl!

It's been five days since I learned our little one is a girl, and already I am overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions - what I need to teach her, what we can do together, how she already has her daddy wrapped around her tiny, tiny fingers, and even things I need to prepare for her arrival. I also think of my own beautiful mother, who should have won a Mother of the Year award about thirty times now and who gave everything of herself to raise my siblings and me.  I worry that I will not have her patience, her selflessness, her endless creativity and energy and ability to create something from nothing.

And, naturally, there are a thousand things I want to tell her.  Here are some of them:

Little girl, I don't care if you want soccer cleats or ballet slippers (or something else), because I want you to understand that you are who you are because God made you that way.  Daddy and I love you no matter what.  

Stay as far away as you can from the mean girls and the boys with bad intentions, and be brave enough to stand up for your friends that aren't smart enough to do the same.

When you learn to carve a pumpkin, don't be afraid to stick your hands inside and take out the goo.  (It's okay to get dirty sometimes.)

You have to work hard to get what you want, and sometimes even when we want something the most, we don't get it.  That's okay, but it's going to hurt; while you're waiting for the sting to go away, let me take care of you.

Be patient and kind to everyone you meet, even when you don't want to.  The ability to love and feel love is God's greatest gift to His people.

No matter how wonderful your spouse is, a woman needs good girlfriends who will stick by her, love her, pick her up after a bad day, and keep her secrets.  Once you have found these companions, never let them go.

You need to do your homework, even when you don't want to.  (A word of advice: ask me for help with English and your dad for help with math and science.) 

Part of the reason I married your daddy is because I knew a little girl would one day love him just like I love my own father.  He will be strong for you. Be grateful for this and know that not every girl is so lucky.  When the day comes that you find out that he's not invincible, love him anyway. (I know you will.)  And, he's a little nervous about doing your hair, so give him a break when he can't figure out how to tie the bows just right.

A new outfit can make an otherwise terrible day good, but you can't go crazy shopping.  You need to know how to manage your money.  Pay attention to this, and don't let the credit card companies tell you it's okay to carry a balance.  You need to be independent and capable of holding your own when the world pulls the rug out from under your feet.

More than anything, I love you.  Your tiny kicks and flutters, your little profile on the ultrasound screen, just your being has brought your dad and me more joy than anything we've ever experienced.  God bless you, sweet girl.



our little girl at 20 wks



Tiny feet!