Four years ago tonight, I birthed my first born child: a little girl, bleating like a little lamb. Pink and sweet and wrinkly, I held her to my chest and nursed her, and she gazed into my husband’s eyes. Our first born baby – little Abigail Jane.
That first night, I bundled her like a little burrito and nourished her at my breast, singing her soft songs and watching her sleep in her little plastic basinet. A few days later, I sang “You Are My Sunshine” to her as tears rolled down my face, trying to help her recover from an emergency intestinal surgery her new little body required. And a few months later, I spent endless nights rocking and singing to her and dancing with her through the house in Texas, trying to get her to fall and stay asleep. . .
And tonight, Abbey is four. Wow, how does the time FLY!
Tonight, Abbey is as tall as my waist, with long, strong, little girl legs, and a will of steel. She is a big sister to an 18 month old brother, and best friends with Abbi, Nate, Brooke, and of course her best-est friends, Mommy and Daddy.
She has so many friends, attends preschool, can write the first three letters of her name, and is interested in learning to read. She is a talented singer, creative soul, and loves gymnastics, pretend play, and riding her bike. And though she still finds nourishment at my breast in the early morning hours, she now puts herself to bed with a stack on books and highlights magazines that she looks at and “reads” to herself as she falls asleep.
Today Abbey is 4. FOUR! I tell you. . . where did the time go!?
I’m just so proud of her spirit, her kindness, her talent, and her creativity. I love watching her grow, and learning every day about life, friends, animals, people, places, and ideas.
Next September, we’ll be living in a new home, at a new Coast Guard duty station, with new friends, and Abbey will be starting Kindergarten. And yet I still look at my darling girl, and I see the same face that looked up at me in her first moments. That sweet, bleating, beautiful little lamb, Abigail Jane Willa.
Abbey, we’re blessed to have you with us, and we love you so much! Happy Birthday Darling Girl!!!!!!
