I Never Knew

Avery Claire,
When I became your Mommy, I never knew I could love another person so much. I didn't know that I could fall more in love with your Daddy by looking into a face with eyebrows and dimples that are just like his. I had no idea that the first year of your life would be the most rewarding, best, hardest, sweetest, loveliest, most beautiful year of my life so far. I never knew that holding my sleeping baby would be such a sweet, precious thing.
I never knew when we heard the song My Little Girl when we got in the car to take you home from the hospital that it would have so much meaning to us. I didn't know that we would spend hours every day looking at you, talking to you, and watching you sleep. I had no idea how much joy you could bring to a house that was already full of joy.
Before I became your Mommy, I never knew it would take a toolkit to get into one of your baby toys. I didn't realize that a snotty nose or a poopy diaper would become such a part of my routine that I wouldn't blink an eye at cleaning them up. And I certainly never knew your Daddy would be able to handle either of those things with such ease, either!
It never occurred to me before I became your Mommy that you would truly become our life...our routines blended into yours and you blended into ours. We became the family I'd always dreamed of having. I could't have known how emotional I'd get the day you turned one week old. I had no idea it would take 363 days for you to lay your head down and fall asleep on my shoulder (you've always been a bouncer). I could never have understood the way my heart would swell when you wrapped your little arms around my neck. And I never knew, until now, that in the blink of an eye, you'd be a whole year old.
I never knew how excited and emotional I'd get when you reached new milestones...smiling, rolling over, trying baby food, getting teeth, sitting up, pulling up, talking/jabbering, crawling, walking. I know that you will reach many more milestones in your life, and I promise that your Mommy and Daddy will be just as excited about each one as we've been so far.
I never knew how hard it would be to "let go" of my baby. But I also never knew the fear that would grip my heart at the thought of not having you in our lives. So, even though it may be hard to watch my baby turn into a toddler, I never realized how much I would want to give our lives to God after I became your Mommy. I want Him to be in control of us. And I also didn't realize how lucky I would feel for each day that God blesses me with being your Mommy.
I'd always heard others talk about the sacrifices you make for your children. I never realized how easy it would be to make those sacrifices - and that they wouldn't even feel like sacrifices when you made them for your child. I didn't know how hard it would be to leave my baby with someone else every day so I could go to work. Although I would trade everything I own to be able to spend every second with you, I've come to realize how great being around others is for you. I also realize what a blessing it is to feel so comfortable with the people I leave you with - I never have to worry about you.
I never knew how much joy one little girl's smile could bring. I never knew how much happiness that your squeals would bring to our house. I never knew about the sense of responsibilty I'd feel for making sure you were protected. I never knew the sense of pride I'd take in being your Mommy and watching you grow. I truly never knew what unconditional love was...until I became your Mommy.
And you will never know how much I love you, my sweet girl....until you become a Mommy, too.

I love you so very much, my sweet girl,
Mommy