An open letter to my daughter, Sam

Sam,

You are my sweet, sweet girl. In the last 15 months you have changed our family so greatly, so much so that it's hard to remember life without you. One of my greatest concerns with having a second baby was that I wouldn't have enough time for two. That my relationship with Addi would be strained or changed or that I wouldn't know YOU the way I got to know Addi before you were here.

We spent the first few months mostly cuddling. With nursing, we got to be best buds. You'd hang out with Daddy but you were definitely your momma's girl. You were so tiny and would lay on my chest with your feet barely touching my lap. I can still close my eyes and smell your sweet head, cuddled on my chest. You fit so perfectly with your head in that perfect spot on my neck.

Over the next few months, your personality really came out. You smiled, cooed and were just happy. And you loved your sister. You started to scoot, then crawl, then finally walk. Through it all, I've been able to hug and love on you each day and still see that beautiful baby girl that I love so much.

Now, 15 months later, there's little 'baby' left. You have teeth and eat real food. You run and play and express your independence daily. You follow your sister around with a look of complete adoration, even when she is not being very nice to you. You give hugs and kisses and feed your "babies" bottles. You grow up more and more every day and it seems like every time I blink you are so much older than you were yesterday.

But, each night before bed you spend a few minutes cuddling. You don't fit on my chest anymore and instead of your feet touching my lap, it's your knees today. But, you put your head back in that perfect spot in my neck and I can close my eyes and take a deep breath and still smell my perfect little baby girl.

I love you!