An Open Letter to my Koala

My Dear Little Koala, 

     You, my little dear, have turned your mother into a rule-breaker. :) Things I would NEVER do in my quest to be a good mommy have all gone by the way. You know... things like baby talk, co-sleeping, holding 'too much'. All of those ways we are taught to keep ourselves appropriately separate from our offspring (how insane is that) have all gone out the window. :) In fact, it started the day that you were born. 

     When you joined the family I stayed up for three days straight just so I could hold you, as the hospital had a policy of not allowing mommies to co-sleep. I laid in the hospital bed propped up, with you laying on your belly up against my chest and I just breathed you in. Our hearts beat together and brought me peace. I never had to worry that you would die in the night because I counted every breath those early days. :) Your birth gave us the gift of hearing a baby's first cry. The gift of a hospital stay. The gift of giving your big sister, our Giraffe, everything she wanted most in the world. When we got home and Daddy thought maybe I should put you down sometimes I said,

     "Daddy, we are koalas. You wouldn't take a baby koala off of its momma, would you?"

     You also had the advantage of coming into the world being cherished, adored, and longed for by more than just a set of parents. You came into the world of a sister who had prayed for you and asked for you for four years herself. (She started asking for you at the age of three!) She wants to give you the world as much as we do, and so we spoil you. 

     About those broken rules, don't worry. :) Daddy and I were seven years older, ten years into our marriage, and very settled into ourselves. We don't have the pressure or fear of damaging your independence by meeting your needs. In fact, we can see you gain independence as you grow already. We are so proud!

     Oh, little one. You are eighteen months old, with just about that many teeth. You sleep with us through the night, though no longer chest to chest. You laugh, and sing, and frown, and smile this adorable snarl of a smile. (That is the smile you save especially for "cheese" - pictures!) You have a load of spunk and spirit, and the energy to match. You spend the day wrecking... something! Everything! hehe From the living room to the bedrooms, or even the classroom, you just don't stop. 

  

     I just want to thank you for the chaos you've added to our lives. We were comfortable and settled, and now we are chaotic and chasing, and it is a beautiful thing! :) I do not know who you are yet, per se, but I so look forward to continuing this journey of getting to know you. You are a light to all three of us, and we wouldn't trade you for the entire world. :) I love you, my wee darling! <3

Happy Valentine's Day!