While you’re still little, I will hold you.  I will fit you on my lap and pull you in closely.

While you’re still little, I will kiss your bumps and bruises.  I will heal your hurts before they are too painful for me to fix with a mommy’s kiss.

While you’re still little, I will carry you like a baby to bed when you fall asleep on the couch.  I will embrace you in my arms and let you feel weightless in this heavy world.

While you’re still a child, I will let you be a child.  I will encourage your creativity and wild imagination.  I will tell you silly made up bed time stories because I selfishly do it to hear your laugh.

While you’re still a child, I will bathe you and wash your hair.  One day you will be kicking me out of the bathroom, but for now I will cherish helping you and enjoy watching you play with bath toys.

While you’re still a child, I will teach you how to have fun.  When you grow up, the world is full of stresses and hard times.  If you know how to have fun in the midst of the storm, you will have joy no matter what.

While you’re still my baby, I will smooch you, squeeze you, and love the life out of you.  My affection will probably embarrass you in high school, but I’m still going to do it;)

While you’re still my baby, I will tell you I love you.  You are beautiful.  You are funny.  “You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important.”  🙂 The world might tell you otherwise, and if they don’t, the enemy will.  Know the truth now and use it as your rock later.  You are royalty because you are the chosen daughter of the ONE TRUE KING.

While you’re still my baby, I will tell you that no matter how old you get, you will ALWAYS BE MY BABY.

I love you Avery Anna.