Dear Ava,

Dear Ava,

Do you know how much I love you little one?

People used to tell me, 

"You will never understand how much your mom loved you 

until you are a mom to your own."

These people were right. 

And now I know. 

My heart grew beyond understanding the first time I saw you, 

the first time I heard your sweet cry, 

the first time your tiny hand grasped my finger, 

the first time your beautiful eyes gazed into mine,

the first time you slept on my chest all night long. 

It was then I knew...you are mine. 

Just when I think I cannot possibly love you any more;

my heart cannot contain any more love for you...

that is when I find that my heart has grown,

when I find myself even more in love than before.

I fall even more in love each time you giggle in your sleep. 

I fall more in love every time you fall asleep in my arms.

I fall deeper in love as I sing and rock you to sleep every night.

I fall in love with you more and more with each soft coo and each gummy smile.

With every diaper change, 

each bout of hiccups, 

every time you fall asleep with one eye still barely open.

I had never known this kind of love.

This deep, all encompassing love.

You are, and always will be my baby. 

My baby.

And I love you, my baby.

With all my love, 

Momma

To all the Moms

Tonight I was looking through pictures of me as a baby and I noticed a trend. 

I saw several pictures of me with my dad, several with my grandparents and my aunts.

I found only a couple pictures of baby me with my mom. 

So to all the moms who selflessly snap pictures of their babies in everyone's arms but their own...

Please take pictures with your babies.

Take pictures with your children.

Take pictures WITH your family. 

Put the camera in someone else's hand and say, "Will you take a picture of me with my baby?"

Take the time to be IN the pictures. 

Don't worry if you still have 15 pounds to lose.

Don't worry if you didn't put on make up that morning.

Don't worry if your hair isn't done.

Because someday your children will want to see those pictures of you.

They will not notice the imperfections you think are outstanding.

They will think you are nothing but beautiful.

They will search and search for pictures of their mom holding them and kissing their cheeks.

They will want to see you loving them as babies.

They will cherish those precious captured moments.

Please don't just be the person behind the camera. 

Take pictures with your babies. :)

I DO cherish those pictures of me and my mom.

Thank you Mom, for taking pictures with me. :)

We are family!

Granny, Ava and Me

Papa, Granny, Me and Auntie with Ava (looking a little out of it haha)

Yaay!

Just when I was feeling so lonely, my family came to town!

It was perfect timing!

My mom's family...all the way from Virginia!

Auntie, Karkar, Granny and Papa!

These are the people who watched me grow up.

These are the people who changed my diapers, dressed me up as a baby and stuffed me into a Christmas stocking.

They sent me cards on every holiday stuffed with two-dollar bills and confetti, and sent packages on every birthday full of candy and ribbons.

They've cheered me on at piano recitals, birthday parties, graduations.

They've helped me through some of the hardest times of my life.

These people loved me from the very, very beginning.

There is NOTHING better than family! 

Family...the people you can just be yourself around: laugh, joke, smile, and cry. 

I have loved spending time with them and have adored watching them fall in love with my sweet baby Ava. She has charmed them with her many smiles and baby coos. 

I have loved watching these same people who loved me as a baby love MY baby. 

"Great" Granny and "Great" Papa :)

Auntie :) 

Granny, Kar, Me and Auntie

VERY smiley baby (as always) :)

Auntie, me, Granny, Papa and Kar (holding Ava)

Ava slept SO well in Auntie's arms! 

Ava and Auntie :)

Thankfully, we still have 2 more days to spend together!! 

I am already SO sad about the idea of them leaving and going back to the other side of the country! 

Virginia is definitely TOO far away!

Birthdays

Today, my sweet baby girl is 4 weeks old. 

Today also happens to be my mom's birthday. 

The twins, Sharon (my mom - left) and Karen (aka Auntie - right)

My mom with her baby girl (aka me haha)

What a wonderful way to celebrate my Ava's 4 week birthday than by remembering the wonderful, amazing, beautiful woman that my mom was. 

I know how much she would have adored Ava, how much she would have loved being a grandma, and how proud she would be to see her oldest daughter bring her own daughter into this world. 

Happy birthday Mom! I miss you, love you and wish more than anything that you were here to meet my beautiful baby. To hold her, kiss her cheeks...to love her just as much as I do.

I am so excited to teach her all about you and the amazing mother, sister, daughter, wife and friend that you were.