Dear Emma

Dear Emma,

it is hard to believe that you have been in our lives for a month now.  As the days go by, I am constantly in awe of what a perfect gem you are and what a special gift we have been given.  Your soft, silky brown hair, your beautiful blue eyes, your gently up-turned nose, your sweet bow lips, the precious dimples on your cheeks, are all so incredible to me and I could stare at your perfect face all day.  I spend hours looking at you and trying memorize every detail. The little round indent on your left ear, your sweet pudgy neck, your delicate finger nails on your perfect, long-fingered hands, the strawberry birthmark on your right side, the adorable rolls that are finally appearing on your perfect little legs, your cute little baby feet.

I love how you like to nuzzle your head into my neck while you sleep, the grunting sounds you make while you eat, the way you bury your head into my chest when you want to cuddle.  I love how you prefer being carried around all day while I am taking care of house-work to laying in your Moses basket.  I love how enthralled you are by bright lights and how you love seeing new things.  I love reading to you and try to do it often, and, at night, the sound of my voice softly reading a story or two seems to help you fall asleep.  I love that you smile when listening to Christmas music and seem to also enjoy Danzig (Daddy discovered this a few nights ago.)

I adore the way you smile when I give you kisses.  I love how, whenever I sit down to eat, you seem so fascinated by it that you want to eat as well.  I love how much you enjoy movement and look forward to teaching you how to dance.  I love seeing you with your Daddy.  You both seem so happy and content whenever you are near each other and he loves dancing around the living room with you while listening to music.

All these things, and so much more, make up the wonder that is you and I do not want to miss a moment.  You will grow up so fast and these things will be just memories, brief moments in time.  So precious and perfect, yet gone in a flash.  I vow to try to always take time to just sit and enjoy the moments, to read to you, or dance with you, or color with you, or play with you, whenever you want to.  The dishes can wait, the laundry will keep, but moments with you will not.

I promise to always do me best to be the mother you deserve.  I promise to do my best to always keep you safe, to be there for you through all life's ups and downs.  I promise to love you forever.

Love,
Mom
(p.s. I promise to always use your full name, Emma Lea Nichole Rush, whenever you are really in trouble, just so there is no doubt that you are, in fact, in trouble. )