This is the first in a 12 month series of letters written to my children. I'm so excited (and honored) to be a part of this great project with a group of fellow photographers and moms. Next up in our circle is Christine Lin, read her post here.
Dear Saoirse and Liam-
You are the beginning and the end for me. The tiny baby girl who was the first to held up by a nurse for a kiss from Mama, and the sweet baby boy who arrived in a storm of labor, fast and furious. Neither of you could wait to join us, and we were thrilled to see each of you, too. In the four months that our family has been complete, the relationship between the two of you, the bookends, has been one of the sweetest surprises.
Saoirse, you are an amazing big sister. You showed signs of it when Fiona was born, but you were only three. Now, at six, you can do so much more. The day Liam was born, you came to the hospital, and could not wait to get your hands on him. When we pick you up at school, you hold up the pickup line while you kiss him hello and tell him how much you missed him while you were at school. You wait anxiously for Daddy or me to need to do something, so you can offer to take care of the baby while we are busy. You carry him in the Bjorn, and you can eat, do homework, or read with him on your lap like a pro. Seeing how careful you are, how hard you try to keep him safe and happy, goes a long way to easing my anxiety about your tendency to be a bit distracted. Watching you with him gives me a glimpse of you with your own babies some day, and I cannot tell you how much I love that. Liam is so lucky to have you.
Liam, it is obvious already that you adore your big sister. Although you love them all, Saoirse is special to you. You give her huge smiles when you see her. She loves to remind us that your first big smile was for her, and that the first time you rolled over only she was with you to see it. I see you together, and I can't help but think of what it will mean for you as a person, as a man. Not everyone is so lucky as to start their lives so adored by so many. It makes me happy to think of the confidence, the assurance deep in your soul that you are loved and worthy, that I think she must be giving you.
One of the saddest things as a parent of young children is that there are so many awesome moments that I know none of you will ever remember. I like to think, though, that this is not one of those things. That you won't need to remember it, really, because it will never change. If you do need to be reminded, I'm here. You love each other, now. Here at the beginning, you have something beautiful.
Love always, Mama.
