Dear Winona

Yesterday we went to the park and it hit me, exactly how big you are getting.  You no longer needed me and Papa the same as you used to.  You were able to play more independently than ever before.  You even went down the slide by yourself.  You are growing so fast.  

Since the minute you were born, I have tried to soak in every second of who you are in the moment,  knowing that it is all so fleeting and who you were yesterday is not who you are today.  Every day of your life you will need me less and less... and as much as it stings sometimes, it is what I am raising you to do.  

I am astounded at how beautiful you are.  You have always been beautiful to me, but every day I think you have grown more so.  I have stared at you for a year and a half and I haven't gotten tired of it yet.  I could watch you sleep all night.  And I think I love you more every day.  If that is even possible.  I'd never known love like ours before you came.  There is no love greater than the love a mother has for her child.  I don't think my heart is big enough to contain it and it might explode.  

You are so smart.  Lately, it seems you pick up a new word every few days.  And even without words, you are wonderful at communicating what you want and need.  You mimic everything we do and you are Mama And Papa's little helper.  

You are also so sweet and loving.  You like to cuddle and give lots of kisses.  You like to give our dog, Maya, kisses and hugs.  You have started saying "I love you."  It's not very clearly "I love you," but Papa and I know what your saying.  

Your also so very funny.  Papa and I am constantly laughing with you.  You have a fake laugh that you do when everyone in a room starts laughing and you don't know why.  You dance around the room and twirl in circles until you fall down.  Your quite silly.  It is one of my favorite things about you and I hope you never stop being silly.

I love you more today than I did yesterday.

Love, Your Mama

Dearest Winona

Let me just preface this with saying...Jake will probably kill me for posting this without his permission.  However, I am working on a blogging schedule but have yet to get it together.  And since I just started this little blog yesterday, I don't have it together.  I do have something planned for Fridays.  You will have to wait until next Friday to witness it.  So with that, here is a letter that Jake wrote to Winona before she was born.  It gives me a little tear in my eye when I read it.  I doubt you will share the same sentiment but it's sweet nonetheless.
And by the way...my grammar and spelling are less than parr so bare with me while we take this blogging journey.  Please and thank you!

Hey baby!
     You've been in your Mom's belly for about eight weeks at this point.  Maybe seven.  It's almost impossible for anyone to pinpoint the date exactly.  We found out about you a little under three weeks ago, and we couldn't be more excited!  Your mom and I are thrilled that you are going to be joining our family!  In fact it is you that will be making us an actual family.  We have our first midwife appointment in a little over a week at which time we will be able to hear your little heartbeat.  We've been tracking your growth.  Last week, you were the size of a blueberry, and this week you are our little lima bean baby!  Next week you'll be grape-sized!  Sometimes, because you are growing so quickly, your mom gets a little sick, but se's getting used to you being there, I think.  She can smell everything really intensely.  We are trying to start getting ready for your arrival.
      We've already picked out your name.  We hope you like it.  If you are a boy, we are going to call you Henry Miller Allen.  Henry Miller is your mom's grandfather's name.  It's also the name of my favorite author.  Now if you are a girl we are going to call you Winona Tansy Allen, which is Native American for "first-born flower."  We thought that was really cute!  We will be really happy after this doctors appointment, to know that you are healthy!  You've got a bunch of people out here who can't wait to meet you!  We love you so much already!  I will write to you again soon.
          Love Dad