7.06.2006

Born Smiling

Thalia,

I may be a writer but I'm not a poet, not nearly.

I have neither the eloquence nor the skill to convey what is in my heart today and for this I hope you'll forgive me. I want you to understand that my failure here is neither from lack of inclination nor lack of trying. It's simply that it's so hard to think when all you can do is feel.

I've started this letter and erased it a dozen times at least. I want to tell the entire story of your life; every moment of the 365 days since you first lay on my chest and I shakily whispered, "I'm your mommy. Nice to meet you."


I want to lay out all my wishes for you. All my hopes and blessings. I want to tell you how much you've changed me, how much you've taught me in a year. Perhaps I've learned more in this year than in my entire lifetime. I could fill a book with it.

But it would be nothing you'd want to read. It would be just one more reason for you to roll your eyes in later years and go ma-aaaaaaa And from what I hear, we don't need more of those things, do we.

The task is too great, my feelings too overpowering today, this day. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week. Another day, the words might come. But today, I can only tell you what I can tell you and that will have to be enough.


One year and roughly nine months ago, I entered a world I never thought I'd have access to. Phrases like Barney's sale and margarita with salt were erased from my vocabulary and replaced with expressions like cervical incompetence and mucus plug. My body spread and stretched, my organs nudged one another over to make room for the new life. An amazing anatomical dance just for you.



Thirty-two weeks into my pregnancy, a masseuse laid her palms against my swollen belly and smiled. "Sometimes I get a feeling about a child," she said, squeezing her eyes shut and pressing gently into my flesh. "If I may...this one has a wonderful sense of humor."

I knew she was right. I knew it when we named you for the Greek Muse of comedy. I knew it even before you chose to be born on the President's birthday, the one day we begged you--begged you--not to come. But you just laughed at us and stepped out from behind the curtains onto the stage that is the world.

You are your father's daughter.


The first time I laid eyes on you, I'd like to say that my first thought was "I love you." But I'd be lying.

I loved the idea of you, but the actual you, well you were a stranger. For 41.5 weeks you had grown inside me, pressed your limbs against my belly, hiccupped daily, kicked my ribs, made me pee sixteen times an hour. You were all I thought about, every night, every day. I wrote to you. I sang to you as best I could. I read to you. I made brilliant, grandiose plans for you, I dreamed of you, I awoke thinking of you and nothing but you. I assumed all of those things add up to knowing a person.

But when I looked at you, I knew I had been mistaken.

And so my first thought that early July morning was, "who is this?

I don't know these eyes, I don't know this nose, I don't know these ears, I don't know this cry. Who is this little girl lying on my chest, trying to make sense of the world, the fluorescent lights, the women in scrubs, the tearful grandparents, the beaming father who can only put down the camera long enough to scoop you up and kiss your forehead? Who is she and who is she going to be? Who is she going to be to me?"

My second thought was, "I really want a peanut butter sandwich."



The second night in the hospital, we were alone together. I was terrified. Excited. Panicked. Happy. And then in the hours that I stared at you (it was just impossible to take my eyes off you, even for a minute) it struck me--you weren't a stranger at all. It was another time, another place; a relationship I can't quite put my finger on. But it was real and some piece of me was struck with the recognition.

That's when I realized, the face may be unfamiliar but the relationship is not new at all. Teacher and student, together again.

The student being me.



Here I want to convey this remarkable spirit, this unrelenting joy you radiate and how it has defined you for the last twelve months. But again the language is just out of reach.

I close my eyes, trying so hard to see the combination of letters and commas, periods and spaces that will bring your personality to life, but everything just seems fuzzy and off. A cloudy alphabet soup.

I see images instead: You waving at a waitress. You laughing at a tree. You smiling at a hurried businessman on the street, making him forget the cell phone at his ear and the attitude he wears like armor--just long enough for him to stop talking mid-sentence and smile back. A brief moment of Thalia's attention is enough to change someone's entire heart.

Oh how I want you to stay this person. This person who isn't afraid to clap for a mailbox or laugh at a dog. But I know I can't make you. I can only allow you to be who you are at that moment.




I press my eyelids closed again because I want to see who you are at one, lock it into my memory. Even if I have no words in my head, I do have the pictures.

I see your six teeth and the hair that's just starting to be long enough to curl in random places when you come out of the bath. I see your perfect pale skin and the smooth soles of your feet. I see your bright, curious eyes behind eyelashes I envy.

I see you grabbing my nose in the morning, poking my face or pulling my hair until I agree to start the day.

I see your face covered with yogurt. Or sweet potatoes. Or wet, soggy specks of Cheerios goo.

I see you chasing the dog under her chair, crawling nearly as fast as she can run. I see you shrieking DAT! at the cat, grabbing at her as she passes, then slowly opening a moist palm to discover a handful of fine black fur.

I see you laughing at the recessed lighting in the kitchen ceiling, an inside joke between you and the 40 watt bulbs.

I see you jumping. Jumping when Grandma walks in the door or Daddy plays your Belle and Sebastian song for you. Jumping like it's the single best thing in the whole entire world and you can do it higher and longer and with far more passion than anyone anywhere ever.

I see you laying your head on my chest when the fatigue is just too much to fight, even for you, the amazing non-sleeping baby. I see myself lowering my nose to your head and inhaling, wanting so badly to remember the warmth, the smell, the feeling.

And always I see you smiling.


In the journal I kept for you while I was pregnant, I signed every post a different way. Love, your ever-expanding mommy. Love, your very nauseous mommy. Love, your excited but totally freaking out mommy.

I have to admit, I like the idea of just signing this letter

Love,
Your Mommy

I'm realizing that sometimes that's enough. Sometimes that's everything.

And so are you.

Happy birthday Bungo.

-----

A Perfect Post


108 Comments:

Blogger Pendullum said...

I'm verclempt, bewildered and bedazzled...
Beautiful blog...
Beautiful sentiments....
Happy Birthday to your entire family!!!!

7/6/06, 12:12 AM  
Blogger Ann D said...

What a lovely way photo/essay you have created in honor of this milestone moment in your daughter's life -- and in your own life as a mom.

Your daughter is simply gorgeous; and she's lucky to have a mom like you.

Ann

7/6/06, 12:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

awwwww that was so gosh darn beautiful...Happy Birthday!!!!

7/6/06, 12:45 AM  
Blogger Overwhelmed! said...

What a beauty she is! My little Snuggle Bug is about 6 months older than Thalia and on his 1st birthday, I wrote him a private letter, sealed it in an envelope, and put it in his baby book. I intend to do this every year on his birthday. I guess this post is your letter to Thalia. How very beautiful!

Happy Birthday little one. :)

7/6/06, 12:53 AM  
Blogger yoo hoo said...

Oh my Gawd, that is sooooo sweet, sniff sniff. so sweet!

7/6/06, 12:56 AM  
Blogger nonlineargirl said...

That was lovely, and so is she.

7/6/06, 1:39 AM  
Blogger Cristina said...

What a beautiful birthday letter to Thalia! Happy Birthday to her and congratulations to YOU on one year of mommyhood!

7/6/06, 2:07 AM  
Blogger Mahlers On Safari said...

That was a beautiful ode to Thalia. You had me teary at the first paragraph.

Happy Birthday Ms. Thalia!

Love,

Hally, Jaden and Rowan

7/6/06, 3:51 AM  
Blogger sarah doow said...

Wonderful, wonderful letter. Happy birthday, Thalia!

7/6/06, 5:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Happy Birthday Thalia!

You are an amazing, beautiful girl. (And your mommy is awesome, too.)

7/6/06, 6:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It isn't enough just to say that was beautiful. It may have been about you and Thalia and Nate, but it resonated so muuch for everyone. Those feelings of Motherhood that I can never put into words, you certainly did.

BTW, my first thought after birth..."I love you little one, I want a pizza". He was born at 11:28 pm, just after midnight my parents arrived with A1 pizza from North Ave. Ah, North Ave. Remember the days?

7/6/06, 7:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful post, beautiful baby! Makes me think of my first introductions and first year birthdays...thank you.

7/6/06, 7:24 AM  
Blogger Catherine said...

Happy Birthday, Miss Thalia! You have no idea how many mommies in the world are rooting for you and your family. Now go make us proud!

7/6/06, 7:56 AM  
Blogger ms blue said...

That is filled to the brim with love. You just about made my heart burst. Thank you for sharing all those gorgeous photos.

Happy First Birthday Thalia!

7/6/06, 8:20 AM  
Blogger Robin said...

Liz, this really is one of the nicest posts I've ever read.

7/6/06, 8:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Crying, crying over here. Good thing I haven't put on the mascara yet today. What a beautiful tribute to your daughter and your motherhood.

7/6/06, 8:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I ran over here as fast as I could to read this - anxiously wondering - will it be a letter? An essay? A story?

And so, it's everything beautiful all wrapped into ONE. How fitting?

And really, of all the things I think about when you talk about her or when I see pictures of her is that she is always smiling.

Enjoy the day mama.

7/6/06, 8:38 AM  
Blogger macboudica said...

That was a beautiful tribute to your daughter!

7/6/06, 8:50 AM  
Blogger Jezer said...

Beautiful images. Beautiful words. Happy Birthday Thalia.

7/6/06, 8:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful tribute, letter and photos. Happy Birthday, Thalia!

7/6/06, 9:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

gulp. sniff, sniff.

happy birthday lucky girl. your mommy isy flled with glowing love.

7/6/06, 9:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BAWLING.

I always wondered why parents made such big deal about their kids' birthdays. Until I became a parent. Now I know it's as much a celebration for us. Not only have we survived another year without the worry and frustration killing us, but we've spent another year expanding our hearts to fill what never stops growing: That crazy, crazy love.

Happy birthday, Thalia.
Happy birthday, Thalia's Mommy.

7/6/06, 9:47 AM  
Blogger metro mama said...

Beautiful pictures. Beautiful words.

Happy Birthday to Thalia.

7/6/06, 10:23 AM  
Blogger Michelle said...

I'm coming over from Overwhelmed's blog...happy birthday to Thalia! She's adorable!

7/6/06, 10:27 AM  
Blogger Becky at lifeoutoffocus said...

well that was beautiful. and made me tear up. so so sweet.

7/6/06, 10:31 AM  
Blogger Chicky Chicky Baby said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful girl. Happy birthday Thalia! Your mom loves you more than all the words in the world.

7/6/06, 10:42 AM  
Blogger Amy Jo said...

Lovely baby, lovely mommy, lovely words. A lovely way to start my day. Thank you! Happy birthday, little one!

7/6/06, 10:44 AM  
Blogger Namito said...

Thank you, beautiful ones.

A very Happy Birthday to you both.

7/6/06, 11:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lizzie, that was beautiful. Happy BD wonderful Thalia.

7/6/06, 11:00 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

awww shit, you've got me crying now. it is seriously wonderful to read something like this as i sit her and feel my own baby move in my tummy. so much to look forward too...
thanks liz.

7/6/06, 11:18 AM  
Blogger Ms. Kathleen said...

This is so cute and sweet and what kissable cheeks!

7/6/06, 11:32 AM  
Blogger Jaelithe said...

That is the best birthday present I have ever read.

Also, she redeemed the day she was born on. Clearly, that was part of her plan.

7/6/06, 11:41 AM  
Blogger Left-handed Trees... said...

Happy birthday...such a lovely post about your thoughts, wishes, and dreams for your beautiful girl. "Born Smiling"--what a powerful image that is. I was so moved by this post...pure poetry.

7/6/06, 11:45 AM  
Blogger Sandra said...

Oh but you DO have the words. Happy birthday to Thalia and to you on the day you became her mom. The mom.

I love the image of her born smiling. Wishing you many many more delicious smiles...

7/6/06, 11:57 AM  
Blogger Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...

Happy Birthday, Thalia. May the road rise to meet both you and your mom. What a beautiful post - what a beautiful day.

7/6/06, 12:32 PM  
Blogger BabyonBored said...

Oh my lord that was touching! You are an amazing writer and your daughter is gorgeous. I have to say, it just keeps getting better from here and at around 16 months it takes off and leaves you breathless.

Just so you know - your daughter not only shares her birthday with the prez - but if it makes you feel any better I'm a July 5th baby too!

7/6/06, 1:00 PM  
Blogger j.sterling said...

such sweetness... that pea in a pod costume has me laughing out loud! happy birthday!!!!!!

7/6/06, 1:13 PM  
Blogger Andrea said...

Happy Birthday, Thalia! That was very sweet!

7/6/06, 1:18 PM  
Blogger Catch said...

Hello,

I came from Overwhelmeds blog. You have a wonderful blog here. The post to your daughter today is so beautiful! Please tell Thalia Happy Birthday for me. She is a beautiful little girl.

7/6/06, 1:27 PM  
Blogger jdg said...

great post, and what a cutie.

7/6/06, 1:55 PM  
Blogger carrie said...

Although you thought you were at a loss for words, you found them indeed! What a beautiful letter to Thalia! Happy Birthday to both of you and many more . . .

Carrie

7/6/06, 2:34 PM  
Blogger Marie said...

So sweet! Happy birthday, Thalia!! Give your Mommy extra snuggles today!

7/6/06, 2:40 PM  
Blogger Christina said...

What a perfect tribute. Happy birthday Thalia! And happy year of surviving parenthood, Mom!!

7/6/06, 2:58 PM  
Blogger Ashley said...

that was a great post! i can't hardly wait for my little one to grow up and read all the things i write to her and about her. i know thalia will love and treasure this one day!!

7/6/06, 3:16 PM  
Blogger Melissa said...

Liz,
I'm bawling. That was beautiful.

Happy birthday Thalia. Your Mama sure does love you.

7/6/06, 3:57 PM  
Blogger Blog Antagonist said...

My kids are older now, and their baby days are far behind. I wanted to cement every single moment in my mind, but memories grow hazy as the years go by, usurped by new challenges and experiences. Sometimes it's hard to remember those days when they were so innocent and I was so idealistic, inexperienced and scared.

You brought back all the wonder, fear, excitement and awe of that first year with your lovely post. Thank you.

Happy Birthday to your beautiful little girl.

7/6/06, 4:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Incredible. I am overwhelmed with the beauty of your words. She will cherish them when she is older. Thank you for sharing them with us.

My children are my teachers. It is the wise mother who understands this.

Happy Birthday Thalia. The next year is going to be even better.

7/6/06, 4:10 PM  
Blogger Stacy said...

Great pictures, great post. I could even a song in my head playing in the background. I love the way you write! Happy Birthday Thalia and many, many more smiles!

7/6/06, 5:11 PM  
Blogger motherbumper said...

Happy Birthday Thalia. Your Mommy wrote the most beautiful year in review and made me cry. Thank you for sharing.

7/6/06, 5:17 PM  
Blogger Stacy said...

What a beautiful post and equally beautiful daughter. You and Bungo are very lucky to have each other.

Sniff, sniff.

7/6/06, 5:37 PM  
Blogger Kelly Wolfe said...

That is just the most amazing birthday present ever.

Lisa

7/6/06, 5:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a lovely gift for your daughter.... just lovely!

7/6/06, 6:21 PM  
Blogger Jill said...

Wiping a tear. Happy Birthday Thalia!

The pictures were amazing. The baseball picture MUST be made into a mug or a mousepad or something for Nate.

7/6/06, 6:45 PM  
Blogger Dawn said...

You made me cry , Liz.

7/6/06, 6:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perfect.

May your lives always be filled with love, joy and wonder. Happy Birthday to you All. xox

7/6/06, 7:04 PM  
Blogger Kristin said...

Such a beautiful letter... thank you for sharing and happiest of first birthdays to Thalia.

7/6/06, 7:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

perfect post award is you this week!

L.

7/6/06, 7:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

And every word you wrote about Thalia I could have said about you 37.8 years ago. For she has embodied your spirit, your love for the mailbox and the mail carrier, for the too-busy-to-notice man, for for the joke (remember: it was you who named the Rorshask 'Kissinger', breaking up every psychologist within hearing distance). This child that you and Nate have brought into the world has the gift of giving back to you both all the joy and kindness you have heaped upon us all. Happy birthday to Thalia, her mom and dad, her dog, her cat, her Cheerios, her world.

7/6/06, 7:42 PM  
Blogger josetteplank.com said...

Happy birthday, sweet, beautiful girl!

And well done, Mommy...well done.

Can I do this?...(((hugs)))

You are both beautiful people. Thank you for gracing our planet.

7/6/06, 7:55 PM  
Blogger Lauri said...

She's so beautiful...and so was that post..

7/6/06, 8:02 PM  
Blogger tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Coming over from Overwhelmed's blog...

Very sweet and true. I can picture each moment from each of my own... Happy Birthday sweet baby!

7/6/06, 8:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, Liz. That was the most beautiful birthday tribute that I've ever met. It just brought back memories of my own girls' first years.

Happy Birthday to Thalia, and wishes for many, many more happy years to come.

7/6/06, 8:47 PM  
Blogger Lisa said...

She is so beautiful. I LOVE these photos. Happy Birthday beautiful, sweet, smart little woman!

7/6/06, 8:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Liz, she looks like someone and for the life of me, I can't figure out who I think it is. I've always thought that, with every picture you've posted. She's absolutely beautiful.

Happy birthday, Thalia. Congratulations, Liz and Nate.

7/6/06, 9:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whatta coinkydink!

7/6/06, 9:16 PM  
Blogger Marcie said...

I never knew we had so much in common- Babies born on the same date, hating that it's W birthday too and cervical incompetence.(Cerclage! Fun!)
Happy birthday to your baby.

7/6/06, 9:34 PM  
Blogger Liesl said...

What a beautiful post for such a beautiful baby :)

7/6/06, 9:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh how I want you to stay this person.

I think this same thought every day.

This was beautiful. She is beautiful.

7/6/06, 10:54 PM  
Blogger Perstephone said...

Beautiful! And those pictures are so lovely. Thalia might be one of the cutest little girls ever!

7/6/06, 10:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh my GOD. Yes, yes, yes. That's IT. Best wishes on your first year of being her Mommy.

7/6/06, 11:13 PM  
Blogger Erin M said...

damn it, she is beyond beautiful and now i am bawling. You're worse than those darn long distance commercials!

7/7/06, 12:19 AM  
Blogger Denver Dad said...

Wow! There's not much more to stay than that. Wow!

7/7/06, 8:27 AM  
Blogger K. said...

This post is absolutely beautiful and it truly made me cry. And that is NOT an exaggeration - I have real tears on my face right now. I could use being hormonal as an excuse, but that is not it. It just touches me to read such a raw expression of love from mother to child. Thank you.

7/7/06, 9:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are totally a poet.

7/7/06, 11:40 AM  
Blogger Her Bad Mother said...

I cried through this. I totally did, I'm not exaggerating.

And gasped out loud at the photos.

Happy day to your girl - and to you.

7/7/06, 12:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That brought tears to my eyes. She is as sweet as what you wrote. Guess she is her mother's daughter as well. : )

Happy Birthday Thalia!

I'm off now to reread what I wrote about Aiden's first birthday.

7/7/06, 2:38 PM  
Blogger GIRL'S GONE CHILD said...

That was perfect. PERFECT. Happy Birthday (belated) to you and Thalia, two amazing women.

7/7/06, 7:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it is great that you said it wasn't love at first sight with your little girl. I think that is true for many more parents than we hear about - especially with fathers but even mothers. That's the way it was with me and I felt terrible about it. Seriously, how can we love someone we don't know? Of course that love grows into immense proportions but it starts off at zero. Some parents think there is something wrong with them because they don't immediately love their baby and that's sad because it is normal. Good for you for saying it out loud!

Happy Birthday Thalia!

7/7/06, 9:51 PM  
Blogger Ruth Dynamite said...

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

7/7/06, 10:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That was just beautiful-- artisitic, amazing. I was so overwhelmed, that I checked out your profile... and now I see that you are a "real" writer, thus the amamzing posts...Love your site.

7/7/06, 11:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That. Was. Beautiful.
There are no words.

7/8/06, 12:41 AM  
Blogger S.T. said...

So, so sweet. Just perfect. I'm wiping away tears.

7/8/06, 1:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy happy birthday and many many more :-)

When I know a pregnant woman and watch her through the pregnancy then meet the baby for the first time, I always think "of course! Why didn't we know that *this* is who it was all that time in there?? It's so obvious now..."

Your beautiful girl has SUCH a great smile. Thank you for sharing all those lovely pics with us, your readers. Hugs to you both. :-)

7/8/06, 12:39 PM  
Blogger the mystic said...

What a gorgeous baby, and your letter made me cry. Happy Birthday Thalia!

7/8/06, 6:58 PM  
Blogger Grim Reality Girl said...

Beautiful. Happy Birthday Thalia!!

7/8/06, 10:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, a gorgeous post to suit a gorgeous child. Happy Birthday Thalia.

7/9/06, 3:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Belated Birthday to your beautiful girl. This really moved me. Oh if we could only bottle up the essence of the first year and lock it away somewhere.

7/9/06, 9:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I do not appreciate you making me cry like this!

7/9/06, 3:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My goodness, that was beautiful. You should have put a tissue warning at the beginning. :)

Happy belated birthday to your precious and BEAUTIFUL little one. She is blessed to have you for a Mommy.

(Clicked from BlogHer.)0

7/9/06, 3:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh my...this was a stunning tribute. Just beautiful :)

Mine is written in my head, not yet committed to print. And I'm only a few weeks late... Perhaps this is the nudge I needed.

Happy Belated B-Day, Thalia! May you have a fantabulous second year!

7/9/06, 4:12 PM  
Blogger ninjapoodles said...

Beautiful.

7/9/06, 9:46 PM  
Blogger Ms. Smoochy said...

Wow, I had to log on ...along with the 96 people before me, to let you know that this post moved me. Your daughter is beautiful, but you knew that. ;-) The love you feel for her is so huge. And of course it is a universal love, and all of us moms out here our nodding our heads in agreement. But it is a love that is completely unique to you and her. How precious. Thank you for sharing.

7/10/06, 2:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm speechless. This was beautiful.

7/10/06, 10:58 AM  
Blogger toyfoto said...

Is it possible that I neglected to say Happy Birthday to Thalia? Is my mind slipping that much?

Happy Birthday, sweetie. Annabel and I are waving at you like crazy.

7/10/06, 1:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh man...I am too pregnant to read this without commenting. Loved it and love your site!!

7/11/06, 5:33 PM  
Blogger Christine said...

Wow. I am shocked at not only how beautiful your words were, but how much they made me stop and think. Esp. the student/teacher part...just amazing. As the mother of an almost 1 yr old (Aug.), I could relate so fully to all of it.

Happy Birthday to your sweet little love!

7/16/06, 9:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As someone else who shares a birthday with our #@!^%#*%& commander-in-chief (and Nancy Reagan, and Sly Stallone), I'd like to point out that we also get Frida Kahlo.

Thank god.

7/17/06, 4:54 PM  
Blogger My float said...

What a beautiful post. I was moved to tears.

8/2/06, 4:37 PM  
Blogger Angel Baby said...

Sigh.

Perfect.

8/5/06, 10:41 PM  
Blogger Jen said...

That was exquisite. And she is lovely!

7/10/07, 4:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Between this post, and Grey's Anatomy, I've cried enough for an entire year.

Found your page from Motherhood Unsensored. She thinks you're a talentless nag. Based on this terribly worded faux-poem, I'd have to agree. Absolutely terrible.

:) (keep up the good work.)

7/11/07, 4:47 PM  
Blogger Love Mommy said...

What a beautiful letter, it made me cry. Your daughter is so lucky that you are doing this and I encourage you to keep writing these letters. I wrote a whole book of letters to my children Max and Lily and it was just published in a book called Love Mommy: Writing Love Letters To Your Baby. You are a beautiful writer and your words made me cry and I am sure they touched many others-keep writing, your daughter will be a very lucky little girl to have these beautiful letters one day. Congratulations and Happy Birthday!

9/17/07, 3:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not a mom, nor am I a particularly emotional person, but this brought tears to my eyes. I hope I get to be a mom someday.

10/18/07, 7:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not a mom, nor am I a particularly emotional person, but this brought tears to my eyes. I hope I get to be a mom someday.

10/18/07, 7:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I see this an older post but it is a beautiful one and I must comment. Today my 8 month old daughter was laughing at the recessed light in our kitchen and by coincidence I read this pist tonight. Just wonderful!

5/29/08, 1:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yes

7/13/08, 12:48 AM  
Blogger Elizabeth @claritychaos said...

ok, so I realize you wrote this years ago and that there are a billion comments, but I am a new reader of yours so I get to go back to these favorites and read them and comment now. :)

I was so touched by this letter, and I actually *feel* what you are saying because I can totally relate (as mothers can), and you have inspired me to write letters *to* my boys rather than just journal/blog *about* them.

And on the note of staring at your baby when they're first born like - who are you? I remember staring at my first baby when he was a couple days old and wondering if I'd even be able to recognize him in a room full of babies. Seriously. But my hubby assured me he could pick him out of a lineup. ;)

anyway, i love your writing. I'm a new fan, but a big fan. Thanks!

5/31/09, 12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I realize you wrote this forever ago but I've just read it and wanted to thank you for making me so incrediably happy.

I found out not too long ago that I am pregnant, and while I am married, I'm very young, and even more terried. My fear has kept me from seeing just how wonderful this all is and this post has overwhelmed me with joy and has made me realize that while this is terrifying for me, it's also the best thing that yet to happen, so thank you.

7/9/09, 7:04 PM  

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