to molly

i think the thing that gets me most, is that sometimes, it's still hard to believe you are real. you've been in our lives for a little over a year now (post womb that is) and i kiss your perfect little pudgy cheeks, and i hold your perfect little soft hands, and i tickle your perfect little tiny toes, and i listen to your beautiful contagious laugh, and fall under the spell of your wonderful smile, i feel your tears when you cry, i smell your hair as you drift to sleep, i watch as you learn and grow and become an absolutely amazing human being...and really, sometimes, i just can't believe you are real. how did we get so lucky? you being in our life is the single greatest joy your father and i have ever known. and we've known joy, we've certainly known love, but the drop-you-to-your-knees, 100% complete and total in-love that we are with you, well that was unimaginable. the moment you came into this world of ours, and we laid eyes on you, we were filled with more love than we ever thought possible. and it is totally awesome! when you came home from the hospital you were such a tiny, squishy, sleepy little thing. only waking to nurse, take a few looks around, and then fall back to sleep. we were in awe of your every noise, of your every move. we cuddled you and gave you comfort when you were sad. we played with you and read you books and sang you songs. now, you are our tiny explorer, on the move almost all the time, near to walking, starting to talk, and so very much fun to be around. you read your own books now, and clap along to the songs. and now, you give comfort to us when we are sad, with hugs and kisses. my heart feels like it is going to explode when you reach your tiny arms around my neck and give me a squeeze. nothing in the world can hurt me as long as i have molly hugs to look forward to. you're a year old now, and i really wanted to tell you what you have given your father and i, something we never could have imagined, but it's near impossible to put into words. i do want you to know that our love for you knows no limits, and we are so incredibly proud of you and are so excited about the world of possibilities that await you. and we are here for you, whenever you need us, every step of the way. you are our child, our beautiful daughter, and we love you.