nine months.

kenzie lou,

before you were born i wrote a list of "hopes" i had for you. i thought i'd have to wait until you were a lot older to see if these would become reality. but at nine months, i'm surprised to say that i'm already seeing some of my wishes for coming true.

• you do love your dresses (or at least you tolerate me putting you in dresses), and you look pretty darn cute in them.
• you have eyes like your brother.
• you are indeed strong and sweet.
• you're not a picky eater.
• you let me do your hair.
• you are quick to stand up when you fall.
• you trust us to do what's best for you (i think).
• you have a heart full of gratefulness (as evidenced by your big smiles and laughter at the most simple things).
• you love your brother.

some of my hopes remain to be seen. like if you can make it through the teenage years without hating me. whether you'll appreciate your imperfections. whether you'll believe with all of your heart that God loves you.

so in the meantime i pray. and my prayers are equal parts thankfulness for who you are and pleas for who you will become. i dream about what your life with be like and ask God that it is a meaningful, beautiful, long and satisfying life.

today you are nine month you. you crawl and pull yourself up and stand. you can't sit still, you are smiley and giggly and you take good naps. you have four teeth that have caused us some grief, but we are getting past that. you babble and play. you splash in the bath tub. you kill me with your smile.

i'm excited for what tomorrow, the next days, the next years will bring. how you'll grow and change and who you'll become. i will always want so much for you, kenzie lou.

and then there's that hope that you will always, always know how much we love you. we do. and when i'm old and gray (or older and grayer, i should say), you will make me the happiest person alive if you can tell me that you knew the things that i will undoubtely be powerless to fully express no matter how hard i try. that every day you were cherished. adored. valued. treasured.

that you were absolutely loved.