And I say to you

In the morning, Grandmaam puts you in bed with me with your bottle of milk and I kiss your face and hair and tummy and knees, breathing you in. And I say to you, "This is my favorite part of our day."

We head downstairs for breakfast and squirrel watching and Sesame Street and arguments about keeping your socks on. And when you tire of these things, you go off to find a book and then you climb into my lap with it, never letting me finish the words before you've turned the page, but always with your head laid heavy on my chest and an enchanted grin on your lips and a promise of things to come - the promise that you will always climb into your mother’s lap for a book and you will one day allow her to read it to you cover to cover, over and over. And I say to you, "This is my favorite part of our day."

After your nap we climb into my bed once again, falling into the pillows, laughing. We put our legs in the air, together, bending our knees, twirling our feets and wiggling our toes, taking turns mimicking the other, and we laugh and laugh some more. And I say to you, "This is my favorite part of our day."

We wander outside and we feel the grass and dirt together, watch the birds come and go together, collect pine ones together, and look for hidden wonders all around, together. And I say to you. "This is my favorite part of our day."

Then it's time for a snack and some play; some cheese and crackers and wooden blocks; some cucumber and ham and dump trucks; maybe some peanut butter on toast and chasing Doo the Scottie Dog. You love everything whole hearted, so quick with a smile and a laugh, and so sincere are you that I can't help but follow your lead with the same sincerity even on days when I’m tired or my heart is heavy. And I say to you, "This is my favorite part of our day."
 

Into the tub we go! We splish and we splash, Police Duck quacks the case again, the red ball goes "plunk!" and Cow the washcloth cleans you head to toe. Grandmaam helps us now, because soon your new sister will be here. She laughs with you like I haven't heard her laugh in many, many years, helping Cow clean you and saying, "First, we wash up as far as possible and then we wash down as far as possible and then... THEN we wash possible!" And I say to you both, "This is my favorite part of our day."

And finally, it's back to the bed, all warm and damp and smelling sweet. I kiss your bottom and I kiss your toes and we chase and wrestle you for powder, a diaper and clothes, always letting you win for a good while, unable to resist your squeals of delight. And I say to you, "This is my favorite part of our day."

Now it's time to say goodnight, I lay you down and never do you let me forget to make your fish swim and your birds fly. Again I kiss you and I tuck your favorite blanket under your arm, the very same kind of blanket your mother called her favorite so many years ago. Before I say anything to you, your brown eyes ask, "But how can all of these parts of our day be your favorite, Mama?"

And I say to you, "What I mean to say, Lovely, is that you are the favorite part of my day, all day, every day. For ever and always."  And then you smile and I realize that never have I said more true a thing to another human being. 

 

"Forever and always, sweet baby dreams."