Dear Clay

Dear Clay,

I look at you each day in amazement - You absolutely AMAZE me. Each time you look at me it melts my heart, each time you cry it breaks my heart. I know now that I will stop at nothing to ensure that you know each day how dearly loved you are, never having to doubt it for one minute. I cannot count the amount of times each day I just sit and look at you - sometimes while you are sleeping, sometimes with you looking right back at me. I cannot stop looking at you. You are absolutely beautiful. (And handsome.)

I look forward to each day loving you and being your mom. I feel privileged that I have the opportunity to be a mom - to be YOUR mom. I could not ask for a more even tempered, calm, lovey little being to call me child.

You have taught me more about life and love - and the true value of both - in the past 5 weeks. You have been teaching me from the day we found out we were pregnant with you. You taught me to expect the unexpected from the start. You teach me every single day that it is okay to be completely out of control. You taught me to count every single day as a blessing when I was pregnant with you. You teach me to love harder and deeper every day. You have not taught me the art of cutting your fingernails however. (I will learn one day, I promise.)

I love EVERYTHING about you. Your smiles, your cry, your dry skin, your crinkled little skin on your feet, your sticky-up hair, your perfectly soft hands, your poopy diapers, your cuddles in the middle of the night, your strong legs, your insistence on being asleep at 9pm sharp, the way you love your bath, all your little fat folds, the sounds you make when you are dreaming, the way you look at your dad, your tummy time face plants, your long awake times during the day when we play, your patience with a camera in your face constantly, your neediness, all of your funny faces, and your constant grunting. (This list will go on and on for days..)

All of this and so much more. I just wanted to tell you that you are loved and adored. And I look forward to every minute with you.

Love,
Your Mom