one hundred and eight days grown.

Oh, Stella. Where do I begin? It has been three and a half months since you graced us with your presence. It seems like only yesterday that I was breathing through those first contractions, still in doubt that I was actually in labor. For months and months I wondered what you would look like; would you have hair (I had a hunch)? Would you look like Papa? Like me? All I wanted to do was see you, to hold you. They say those last few weeks of pregnancy drag on. Mine felt like it flew by, so I didn't think this would apply to me. Oh, they dragged. Minutes felt like years. And of course, your due date came and went, no Stella. But finally, at last, you arrived. I met you at home, in the water. And you were so much more than I could have ever imagined. Since then, I feel like someone has pressed the fast forward button and it's stuck. I wish I could go back to your birth, to your first few days of life. But, at the same time, I can't wait to see you grow up. To see you crawl, see you walk, hear what your tiny voice will sound like, see your first Christmas, celebrate your first birthday, and to watch you discover the world. For now, I am simply savoring every moment, soaking up every last drop of your childhood that I can.

Sometimes I'd like to think that if I hug you tight enough, you'll stop growing so quickly.

Please don't grow up too fast.

I love you,

Mama