Happy Half-Birthday, Baby

Dear Pumpkin,

Today you are six months old and I am, as always, amazed at how quickly time is moving. Pretty soon, you will be crawling, cruising, then walking – talking, singing, reasoning. I am gathering these moments in my heart because I know how quickly they will fly away from me if I am not careful to hold them close.

When I found out I was pregnant for you, I was so scared – not of the pregnancy and not of childbirth, because I had endured that before with your sister – but scared because from the moment she was born, I was so in love with your sister. How on earth could I find enough love for another baby? I was really worried because I didn’t want you to feel cheated. A friend of mine had told me, “Don’t worry, your heart is big enough to love them both.”

You know what? She was right. When you were placed in my arms in the hospital, six months ago this very day, I loved you from the moment I looked at your serene face. At six months, you have this quiet grace about you – you have these clear blue eyes that sparkle when you smile and almost glow when you are laughing. I would never have thought it possible to love someone as much as I love you and your sister, but sure enough, my heart keeps growing every day you girls are with me.

Though you probably don’t understand me yet, I tell both you and The Princess how lucky I am to be your mommy. I feel so blessed to have the two of you in my life. Before you girls were here, I worked hard, I went to college and I had a job that I took fairly seriously. I took pride in many of my accomplishments – but all of that pales to the fact that I carried you both within me for nine months, and delivered you both – and now, now you are here.

Pumpkin, I am so excited to see who you will become. Already, you are a lot like me – you quietly observe everything. You don’t much like to be alone, but you don’t need constant stimulation either. Just knowing someone is close is usually enough for you. You don’t like sleeping – I think you are afraid of missing something while you nap. As I type this, you are fighting the afternoon sleepies – rubbing your eyes and yawning, but refusing to give in.

Sometimes, when you are crying and I can’t calm you down, your sister sings to you, and like shutting off a faucet, your tears stop and the crying quiets. This is what I wanted for the two of you. I hope that both of you are able to embrace your sisterhood and become friends. Sometimes when you look at your big sister, I see your face light up. When she’s been at preschool, and we pick her up, you smile, like part of you was missing, and now we’ve found it.

I hope you always know that you are supremely loved. Mommy and daddy are in awe of you daily. Your sister adores you. Happy Half-Birthday, baby girl.

I love you with my whole heart,
Mommy