Love Letters - To my Daughter

Dear Ava,


I started writing these love letters of sorts to your brother when he was already born but I thought starting before you were born would be a good idea too!


You are so wanted. Your daddy and I have wanted a baby girl for so long and now that we have spent 17 months with your brother, we know that a baby sister will be good for him too. (By the way, you will soon find out how lucky you are to have a big brother like Jayden. He will pour on the sweetness and you will never feel so loved. He's a sweetheart like that.) I hope you will always know and feel secure in the fact that you are needed and wanted in this family.


This pregnancy has been different because I can actually picture you as you roll around in my tummy. I had a hard time doing that with your brother since I had never been pregnant before. I love imagining your little hands as they push on my stomach and it makes it a little easier to persevere through the many bathroom breaks I have to make throughout the day and into the night when I imagine your precious little feet that are doing the kicking against my bladder. Imagining the sweet little baby that you are already just 26 weeks into this pregnancy has made the anticipation of meeting you so much fun. I absolutely cannot wait to hold you in 100 days (or whenever you decide to arrive)!


I know that having a daughter will be so much different than having a son and while I am intimidated by the challenge, I know that God will make a way for us. He will lead us both through this adventure and I hope that I can do a good enough job that one day, when we have made it through the child/parenting days, you will call me your friend.


I have to admit to you that, while I will be ok if you decide that you are completely offended by anything frilly or pink or girly (I went through a stage like that as a girl), I am very much looking forward to doing your hair and dressing you up and having girl time with you. I want you to know that it's ok to like those girly things and you should be proud of your femininity. I think about how I will encourage you as you grow up and I think this is an important one because you will often hear how men and women are equal and women can do anything a man can do but the truth is that God made each of us unique and with special qualities and I hope to bring to light those things that are special about you because you are a girl and one day, a woman.


Another exciting aspect that I am looking forward to is the relationship that you will have with your dad. Dads are really important in a girl's life and your dad is up to the task, let me tell you. He will fiercely protect you against life's scary parts and do his best to be the #1 man in your life until you meet the one that God has for you in a husband. I have no doubt that you are going to think your dad is the coolest, most handsome, most fun man in your life and I look forward to watching your eyes light up when he comes into the room (much like your brother's do now I imagine).


So only a short while to go, my girl, and soon you will be in my arms and meeting your brother and your daddy. There's also a bunch of grandparents and  some uncles that are anticipating your arrival. You will never know as much love as when all your grandparents get together and dote on you. You will think you have hit the jackpot!


I love you so much already Ava Grace!


Your momma