My
Beautiful Baby Girl,
Kerigan,
it is your very first birthday today. I
am not even sure how to begin this first of many letters to you, because
honestly I am flooded with so many emotions.
I know you are still too little now, but someday I want you to know
exactly how I felt on this day. Grateful
doesn’t even come close. Blessed is more
like it. You are a gift straight from
God. And I never want you to forget that
my sweet girl.
Your birthday, July 12, 2011- you were just a few hours old
You
were the perfect addition to our little family at the perfect time. Neither you nor your brother came easy to
your daddy and I, and I so desperately wanted another baby. And most of all, I wanted a little girl. More than anything in the whole world. Often times I prayed for God to give me a
healthy baby, but secretly sometimes, just between God and me, I asked for a
little girl too. I know He knew my
heart. Your Ga Ga and I have a very
close relationship and have always had so much fun doing “mother-daughter”
things together. I longed for that same
relationship with a daughter. And I can
only pray that I am half the mother to you that she is to me. She is an amazing example to you, Kerigan,
and you are her namesake.
3 Generations
Sometimes
I just look at you and I can’t believe what I’ve been given. You are the most beautiful little girl in the
entire world. Your sweet little smile
fills me with a joy I never knew existed.
Your giggle is contagious and your amazing blue eyes are a constant
reminder to me of your Grandpa Bill. You
bring so much happiness into my life, my sweet daughter. I will always treasure every little thing
about you, from your gorgeous little curls, to your chubby little toes. You are my gift from above, my answer to
prayer. And I could never put into words
how much I love you. I can only pray
that through the special years we will spend together, that you will feel my
love and you will always know how much I wanted you, and how special you are. Something like this is called a miracle. And that is just what you are.
This was the first time I held you... Sheer joy
It
seems like just yesterday that daddy and I went in to the hospital to deliver
you. I'll never forget how I felt that day. How excited I was to
finally meet the little girl I had dreamed about my whole life. How can
it be a year already? I am certain that
the years are going to fly by, and soon you’ll be running off with your
friends, painting your nails and talking endlessly on the phone. I am clinging to your baby years with all my
might, but I know they are short lived.
I will have to let you grow up, but it is my prayer that you will always
share life with me, and that together we will make the sweetest memories…the
ones I’ve always dreamed of. And I hope
you will always know where you can come to find love and acceptance.
Minutes after you were born...
From
day one you stole my heart. I will never
forget the sight of the doctor holding you up for me to see you. All your beautiful dark hair. You were perfect. You were everything I had ever dreamed
about…and more, baby girl. So much more. It has been so much fun watching you grow
this year. Each month your little
personality grew and today you are a spunky, feisty, funny and loving little
dolly.
Your two front teeth show now
when you squint your face up and smile, and it just melts my heart every
time. You are starting to get brave and
take a few steps on your own. But it
seems like you always want to do it when no one is paying attention to
you! You are stubborn (you come by this
naturally!) When I try to get you to
walk you kick your legs and won’t let me put you down. But then you’ll sneak off and do it. All by yourself. You have a determination that will take you
far. And you are so smart! You repeat almost anything we say now. You have learned several words, your newest
ones are Minnie, duck (you say it when you see pictures!), thank you, more, baby, bye bye, uh-oh, pretty and "cheese!" You also say "nigh nigh" (night night) and bah bah (bottle). You wave bye bye and you love to dance!
Your first big vacation- Disneyland, June 2012
You definitely let us know when you are mad. You will clench your fists and growl at
us! You are so silly. You never stay mad for long. And you are always happy as long as you are
in my arms. You are a mama's girl and I love that… even when I’m
busy around the kitchen trying to get things cleaned up or put laundry away, I
love that you cling to my leg and follow me around. Your daddy and brother
rate pretty high up there too. Your face
lights up at the sight of both of them.
Every single time. We all love to
make you giggle and smile, and you love to entertain us. You babble and talk to us all the time. You were a perfect fit for our family, and
only God could have known just what we needed!
The first day your brother saw you...
he was in love from the very first moment, just like the rest of us!
My
heart could just explode with gratefulness that I was given the little girl I
always dreamed of. I picked this special
verse out for you because I hope that you will learn what this means to me someday, as YOU are
the one who taught me:
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of
your heart.
Psalm 37:4
Psalm 37:4
Happy birthday sweet Kerigan!
I love you all the way to the moon…
And back.
Love, Mommy
Love, Mommy
