Dear Sophie | 36 Weeks

Dear Sophie,

You're going to be 9 months old in a few weeks! You've almost been in the world as long as you were in my body, and I've gotta say as much as I enjoyed experiencing pregnancy, having you here with us is 500% better. You are the light of our lives.

You started standing up a couple months ago and I really feel like you might be an early walker. You are so active and funny and only cuddle when you're really sleepy, so from the minute you wake up we're all over the place, following you around as you explore every inch of our house.

The other day you fell and smacked your little face on the coffee table and my heart completely broke--I always hated the cheesy saying "having a child is having your heart outside of your body" or whatever it is they say, but it's true. You cried and I scooped you up and nursed you until you felt better and then you gave us a huge smile--you are so brave and smart and sweet and I still go to bed every night looking at photos of you that I took that day, showing them to your dad and reveling in the fact that you're our daughter.

Lately I've been thinking so much about work and motherhood and cooking and our future and all the things I want to do but haven't found the time for yet. I want you to look back on your childhood with a smile, and feel so incredibly loved by us every single day; and I also hope that you'll grow up and be proud of me. Maybe that's silly, but it's true.

What I know for sure is that I'm proud of you--already, and every single day.

xoxo Mama