LOU IS THREE
Somehow, we’ve gone around the sun once more together and your day is here again. I have absolutely no idea how you are three, my little baby.
I remember our first night together, we’d finally gotten settled in our hospital room and I looked over at you. It was taking all your energy to open your big beautiful eyes. They were searching around the room, trying to take in the world around you. Then, your eyes met mine and we laid there staring at each other. You’d made me a mother.
You are fiercely independent and always watching, listening, and learning. Whether it’s a new book, or a new song, or a new game; you want to master everything. When you were just days old I looked at your Daddy and told him you were funny. He asked how I knew, and I said that “I just know”. You prove that instinct right everyday by being the silliest, happiest kid. You love to make people laugh, and your laughter echoes through the whole house. You still flap your arms like a bird when you’re excited. You love bedtime stories, pizza, and your cousins. Whenever we talk about doing something fun you always list off every family member, and still include your Oma. In the past year you’ve become the very best big sister; giving Andie kisses, and hugs, and nosey-nosies everyday since we brought her home. You’re beautiful, and smart, and kind, and all things magical. Three years ago, at 9:06am on September 27th, I fell in love with you and every single day since then I’ve loved you more.
This year at the cottage, you played a little hard-to-get with the water at the beach. Only dipping your toes in most days, and occasionally venturing far enough for it to touch your knees. It was such a change from last year when we couldn’t keep you out of it. And then on the last day, you decided you wanted to go allllll the way in. I carried you out, deep into my happy place, and we let the waves soak our hair. You were shouting, and laughing, and flapping your arms with excitement. And then it hit me, after this nothing will really be the same. Before next summer, I’ll have gone back to work, and you’ll have gone to daycare and made your own friends. You’ll continue to grow and inevitably in little ways without me. A new chapter in our life together will begin, and I’d be lying if I said I was ready for it. I started to cry, and not a simple tear, a full on cry. In that moment I held you so close, felt your heart racing with joy, stared at your big smile, and soaked every bit of you in. Just as you are.
Happy birthday, my incredible little girl. This time we’ve had together means more to me than I can ever say. I can’t wait to watch the way you’ll change the world. But always know, part of me will stay at the beach that day, forever holding you close. I love you so much!
Mama xo
