Smitten with my Anna

Anna, I love you. Oh my goodness, how I love you. You are a treat...a precious treat to us from the Lord. You are downright funny, and precious, and innocent, and trusting, and perfectly lovely. I adore you in a million little ways.

I wonder if I treasure you too much. Am I too overcome with joy in you and getting to be with you and getting to watch you grow? It just feels like this happiness is too wonderful to possibly last. I already contemplate how we will relate when you are a teenager and an adult and I pray our experiences together as you mature do not mirror those I had with my own mother. I wonder if I will ever measure up for you when you are grown enough to take that sort of opinion. I hope I can bless and challenge and lead you in a way that causes you to rise up, not rebel. I know you and I will have some clashes ahead in our path. Goodness knows we have enough already and you are but 9 months old! But oh, the little thing that you are stirs an emotion in me that is hard to express and I just know it will always be there no matter what comes of the days of your life.

Anna, I love you. I will always love you. I am your biggest fan.

I find in these baby days of yours that I am in love your soft white skin and the gentle curve of your legs to your heels to your feet. I love our quiet moments in your bedtime routine. I am growing more and more fond of your clingy/cuddly moods ... complimented that I could possibly settle your heart and calm your mood. I love how curious and therefore aggressive you are for such a little thing. I love how you obey, or not, and the look on your face when you do or don't yield. I love how you have inspired me to love pink, love dressing you, and love having a baby around again (maybe a little because I know we won't do this baby thing ever again). I love the shape of your little lips when you cry, the twinkle in your eye when you smile, and the relief and expectation on your face when I come in your room to get you out of bed. I love the roll of your laughter when you play with Noah and how you squeal and coo to yourself when you play alone. I even love your piercing exhale that sounds like some squawking shrieking pixie. I love how you do it just because you can, just to remind us you are in the room. I love how, like clockwork, you konk out at bedtime while I feed you. I love how you look me dead in the eyes with those eyes of yours that look like mine. I love how your hair is finally growing and gets so easily mussed up. I love how you love Noah and I love how he just can't keep his toys, hands, head, and feet off you. I love how you grunt and huff when you are trying to pull to standing. I love how you yank your daddy's glasses off his face in a split second. I love how you always have your feet crossed whether sitting or laying down. I love how you play with your ears and pull your hair when you are sleepy. I love your pure, warm breath. I love how you try to kiss back...except your little mouth is wide open and all drooley. I love how you chuckle to yourself when you sit up after you have just eaten. I love how you don't pay any attention to the TV. I love how you hold the bottle with your feet sometimes. I love how you play with my face and my hair while I feed you. I love how calm you are when you are outside. I love that you still don't have any teeth. I love how excited you are to take a bath. I love how you like to swing real high and how you love to play Airplane Anna chasing Noah with your Daddy. I love how you twist right out of my arms to reach your daddy. I love how your face lights up when he gets home.

Anna, I love you. Oh my goodness, how I love you.