Today you turned 9 months old.
9 whole months!
You've been in my life just as long as you've been in my body. This blows my mind.
You're the most wonderful, incredible blessing.
I look at you and think you're my baby girl. You ARE my baby girl. But you're not a baby anymore. I think back on the past 9 months and it feels like I'm watching a movie of our life, and it's such an incredible roller coaster ride.
I love the way you laugh. It always brings a tear to my eye, even if I never show it to anyone. I love MAKING you laugh. It's amazing the things a mother will resort to (ie crawling across the floor and popping my head out around the corner of the couch for your amusement).
I love the way your face lights up when you see me.
I love that your personality is so feisty. You know what you want and how to get it (UH-OH).
I love watching you in the bath. Splashing is always a priority. You're a fish, just like your momma.
I love watching you eat. Now that you're onto solids, you'll eat anything you can get your hands on. I'm lucky you're not a picky eater just yet.
I love how you say mama, baba, and dada. Your grandmother taught you how to say cat (in Arabic). So now, everything is 'cat.'
My favorite is when you say No and shake your head vigorously.
I love your little hands. The grip you have on things. Like when you drink out of a water bottle, or when you pick up a pea.
I love your little feet. They're miniature momma feet.
I love taking you out. Today I took you out shopping with one of my best friends. We went to the Virgin Store and, surprise!, they were playing salsa music. Now you'll soon figure how much I love this kind of music. I love it so much, in fact, that I picked you up and danced with you, up and down the aisles, right there in the middle of the store. I twirled you and dipped you. You 'raised the roof' all on your own. You loved every minute of it. So did I. It was as if no one else was there. We had so much fun that we got that salsa CD as a Christmas present from Heather.
I love you so much my heart could burst.
I know there are a lot of people out there who think I've changed. And of course I did.
I never thought I'd ever say this because I never knew I could feel like this: My biggest accomplishment is you.
I realize our journey has been short in the larger scheme of things, but look at how far we've come! Difficult pregnancy, complicated birth, post-partum depression, and being between countries. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you for being an easy baby. As everyone says, you're a ray of sunshine.
I love you with all my heart. I can't wait for the rest of it.
Love,
Mama
