- Tomorrow is my precious, baby girl’s 3rd birthday. I am excited for the day, but also apprehensive to concede to another year passed. I knew it was fitting and necessary that I write a letter to my darling daughter.
2.
My Dearest Little Princess,
I address this letter to you as “Princess” because I know you would want it that way. When you run around the house, spinning and twirling, wearing your pink, princess nightgown (that you will no doubt ask to wear to your birthday party), you will say in your sweet, yet high pitched trill, “I’m gonna be the princess Mommy.” You dance about, pretending to be royalty, but I have a secret for you my precious child. You are a princess. You always have been, and always will be. I remember when I first realized how special you were, and began to understand that you had laid claim to my heart. I remember holding your tiny, infant body to my chest, and loving you so much that I just wanted to squeeze you so very tight, but I didn’t, because you were so very small, and I feared crushing you. In that moment, even as I made myself hold you securely, yet gingerly, I knew I was in love. I knew my heart had grown to include room for a little person, and nothing would ever be the same, and that was just fine. It was wonderful in fact. I knew I was loving in a new, magical way, and that I held a tiny princess to my breast. And so you began your reign on the throne of my heart.
I have been watching you lately, my little princess. I have seen you changing before my very eyes. Where did the chubby, infant princess in my arms go? I looked up, ready to snatch you from your bassinet, and you were crawling into the other room. I followed after you, but as I turned the corner, I glimpsed your toddler frame wobbling away. I pursued further only to discover this long-legged, little lady waiting for me. I turned away for a moment and those little dimples on your fat hands disappeared, and knuckles replaced them. I bent to kiss your chubby cheeks, and when I pulled away and looked, a little girl face was looking back at me. A grabbed a case of Pampers off the store shelf, but by the time they landed on the bottom of the shopping cart, they were your very first package of princess panties, and yes, they were pink.
On the eve of your third birthday, Mommy’s heart catches in her throat. I push away hot tears baby. My tiny princess just keeps getting taller, and smarter, and sassier, but also sweeter and more full of love each day. Mommy wants to hold you, and somehow stop tomorrow from coming, freeze time to keep you Mommy’s pretty, little princess forever, holding you in my lap in your pink, princess nightgown, reading you Bernstein Bears Soccer Tryouts (again), and reveling in your sweet kisses, to the soundtrack of your musical laughter. But I can’t do that to you baby. I must let tomorrow come. I will watch you run, and play with your friends. I’ll watch you blow out your candles and open your presents. I will see you grow another two inches while I stand there. I will let tomorrow come because I know good things are coming your way. You see, my precious princess, Mommy has been praying for you, every day, ever since God formed you in my womb. I think of how you have changed Mommy’s world, and can only imagine what you can do for the rest of the planet. You can do anything my darling girl, with God’s hand on your life, the possibilities are endless. But just remember, when the way gets tough, and it will, just remember that you are always welcome in Mommy’s lap, no matter how big you are.
Until then, I will be watching you, trying not to blink, lest you grow even quicker. Until then, let’s dance, and spin, and sing princess songs. Let’s hug and kiss in our palace made of couch cushions, reading a story by the beam of a flashlight, pink, of course.
Happy Birthday my precious princess, darling daughter, baby girl of mine. You will always reign on the throne of my heart.
Love,
The Queen Mommy
- Ok. I’m crying now. Sigh. Pray for me friends. Think of me tomorrow. If you see me out, disheveled, with puffy eyes, just smile, pat my arm, and look at me knowingly, but with an empathetic smile.
That is all 🙂