My girl.
Sweet.
Compassionate.
Maternal.
Kind.
My girl.
I honestly have no idea where 9 years have gone. Plopped right between your older brother and younger sister, you have carved yourself a solid place in our crazy family.
You have that laugh… the laugh everyone tells me is simply the best they have ever heard.
And there has been a shift… a shift in us.
Your warmth is hot. Your hunger for closeness is the delight of my heart. “I love you” pours from your lips and right now I cling and savor the fact that you want me around for everything.
No embarrassment. No wet blanket… you need me. You show it.
I savor these days of we.
Our giggles. Our long hugs. Our return to snuggle time.
Olivia, you are so complex. You are the one I have the hardest time figuring out.
You are cool. Compliant. Easy. Diplomatic. Sacrificial.
Passionate.
But I have to watch close.
Complex.
Delightful.
You inspire me to become. To reach. To listen.
I am a far greater person because of you, my daughter. I treasure you… I admire you.
I am so proud of you.
The way you care. Your heart…
You are capable and it doesn’t occur to you that you cannot.
You are brave.
And strong.
And so very tender-hearted.
I am honored to be your mom. I pray for me… to be the mom that nurtures your heart in the specific way your heart should be nurtured. I pray for our relationship… in this time of bounty… and in anticipation of the years we have yet to meet. I want it to be this way forever. This is a golden time… I treasure it. But even when rough patches hit… I will treasure you. Us. Know I love you always, no matter what.
No. Matter. What.
I pray your laugh will always topple people. Infect them. Affect them.
I pray your sensible and practical head prevails when hard decisions must be made. I envy your ability to shrug and let small things roll off. You teach me so much!
Olivia, I love you beyond measure. I adore you.
Plus, I have so much fun with you… So very much fun…
