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It was an afternoon in February, 13 years ago and I had just taken a pregnancy test. Your Dad and I knew we were ready to be parents, but we didn’t realize just how fast our dreams would become a reality. As he walked through the door that evening, from work, I remember looking up and saying, “You’re going to be a Daddy.” He stopped, smiled and literally jumped up and down. I’m not sure I’d ever seen him that happy. I’m not sure I had ever been that happy myself.
I was never really nervous about becoming a Mom. I knew that I loved you as soon as I heard your first heartbeat, maybe even before that. I knew that you were going to be smart, beautiful and the perfect combination of your Dad and I. I knew I was going to do everything in my power to give you the best life. I was going to teach you to be kind, loving and brave. What I didn’t know was that you would be the one to change my life.
Your Arrival
When you finally arrived, I thought my heart would explode. You were more perfect than I could have imagined. You had this amazing thick black hair and big bright eyes. You held my finger and looked at me and I thought I would melt. I wanted to protect you. I wanted to hold you and sing to you and make you laugh. I wanted to show you off to the world. You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen.
As you got older, you started developing your own personality. You could make us laugh so easily, without even trying. You were always sweet and kind, helping when you were able to. When you became a big sister, you handled it so well. I would catch a glimpse of you staring at your baby sister every once and a while. You suddenly went from our baby to a little girl that loved to play “Mom” to her baby sister. You would try to change her diaper or feed her. You were her protector almost instantly. You wanted to hold her and sing to her and make her laugh. You wanted to show her off to the world. It was the most special relationship I had ever seen.
When we decided to move from the city you grew up in, you transitioned so flawlessly. You made new friends right away and found a love of dance. The day you graduated from pre-school I realized that my baby was growing up. The older you got, the more involved you became. You decided to join the Girl Scouts and experienced so many new and exciting adventures. Not long after you turned 7, your youngest sister was born. Each time I turned around, you were reading to her, teaching her or keeping her occupied. You shared your toys, fed her and helped her with her baths. You took on more than anyone expected you to, because you wanted to, not because you were asked to.
And suddenly, in the blink of an eye, you were starting middle school. It was almost as though overnight, you were almost the same height as me, wearing my shoes and asking to borrow my lip gloss. You started waking up early to do your hair, wanted to pick out your own clothing and make your own breakfast. You started experiencing new things and although you were almost always happy, there were a couple of times that I saw you break down. I wanted to protect you. I wanted to hold you and sing to you and make you laugh. You were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen and I wanted you to see what I saw in you.
Now, A Young Lady
Now here you are, a young lady, almost a teenager. You catch me staring at you sometimes. I’m just in awe of how stunning you are. Not just your appearance, but your heart. You tell me everything and ask me all of your questions, no matter how awkward my answers may be. You don’t let people treat you badly. You stand up for yourself and for others. You work hard to achieve goals you’ve set for yourself and you never give up. I love watching you reach for the highest star and effortlessly surpassing it.
I am incredibly proud of you. More than I could ever say. I will always be here for you, no matter what. I am here to listen. I’m here to protect you. I’m here to hold you and sing to you and make you laugh. You are the most extraordinary girl and you are so loved. Thank you for choosing me as your Mama. It’s a gift I’ll always cherish. I love you.
Anna
May 31, 2019Beautiful letter and seriously I was practically crying by the end of it. My older daughter will be starting kindergarten next year and have a feeling I will be a bit emotional about her starting, so yes can relate and will be there too next year with this one.
Priya
February 12, 2019What a heartfelt letter for your daughter. Kids grow up so fast. She’d love reading your note one day. Now I am missing my mom.
Tasheeni
February 9, 2019Such a lovely letter! Definitely a beautiful way of expressing your feelings and emotions toward your daughter.
Monique Starks
February 9, 2019This is beautiful! What a lucky young lady and a lucky mom to have such a wonderful daughter.
Binge on Basics
February 9, 2019This is a beautiful letter from you to your daughter. The post is so heart warming that I almost end up shedding a few tears
David Elliott
February 9, 2019This is a beautiful letter to your daughter. I remember when I wrote one for my daughter about the same time. I’m sure she knows you love her, even when you look a little longer at her. I remember those feelings of happiness when my ex and I knew we were having a child. And I still look at my daughter now, knowing how blessed we truly are.
Amara Jakobsen
February 9, 2019I almost shed a tear when reading this post, such a beautiful letter, and I hope your daughter reads this.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations
February 8, 2019Such a sweet letter to your daughter. A great thing for her to read now and to look back on any time. So very sweet!
Dalene Ekirapa
February 8, 2019Oh Heather! Your sweet words in that letter make me just miss my mom and all her sweet words too. Your daughter must be soaking up in tears reading this. Cheers mom!
Silvia
February 7, 2019How beautiful! It always amazes me how fast our kids grow and how much they change. I cherish every single stage, just like you. I’m sure your daughter would love to read it over and over again.
ohmummymia
February 7, 2019It’s so cute. I can feel that love through your letter. I believe you have a special bond with your daughters 🙂
Amy Smith
February 7, 2019How sweet! I am sure she will cherish that post for years to come. They grow up WAYYYY too fast. My kids are 16, 11 and 5. Time is flying by!
Lyosha
February 7, 2019Lovely letter! such Mother-daughter relationship is precious. I think you should show it to her too, sometimes written feels very different comparing to said or done
Heather Castillo
February 7, 2019She’s already read it… a few times 🙂
Dhemz
February 7, 2019Awww, this made me teary eyed. What a sweet letter. I’m sure she will appreciate this lovely words from you. Thanks for sharing!
Katherine
February 7, 2019Such a sweet letter to your daughter and I think this is the perfect place to write down these sweet memories and words. She’s lucky to have you and it sounds like you’re so lucky to have her. I can’t wait for the day I get to have my own child to write letters to one day. 🙂
Lynndee
February 7, 2019This is such a sweet and heartwarming letter to your daughter. Reminds me of the letter that I wrote my son too. She is a beauty, by the way.
Catalina
February 7, 2019This is a wonderful letter. I can feel all the love in it for your daughter. She is so lucky to have such a special mother.
Bindu Thomas
February 7, 2019What a great read! Mother daughter relationship is such precious thing. This is going to be an amazing gift for your daughter.
Teresa
February 7, 2019What a beautiful message to your daughter on her birthday to remember all these sweet thgouhts. I hope you printed this out in letter form for her to save.
Leigh Suznovich
February 6, 2019This is such a beautiful message to your daughter!!
Pam
February 6, 2019It is so hard watching your kids grow up, but it’s so cool to see the people they’re developing into. I still remember my daughter graduating preschool. Now her own daughter is in preschool.
Terri Steffes
February 6, 2019I love these messages you write to your children. I keep thinking how wonderful it is that kids can see them anytime they want. Love that.
Beth
February 6, 2019What a beautiful letter to your daughter! I’m sure she will always cherish it. It is really amazing how fast they grow up.
Brandy
February 6, 2019What a wonderful message to your oldest daughter. I love reading things like this that parents write to their children, it makes me smile.
Marcie W.
February 6, 2019What a beautiful post. My daughters will turn 13 and 15 this year, so I can absolutely relate. Time passes far too fast.
Chubskulit Rose
February 6, 2019Such a sweet love letter to your lovely young lady. She will appreciate reading this for a long long time.
Miriam T.
February 6, 2019This is a wonderful message. It’s important that kids learn it’s important to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and to show love. I’m sure your daughter appreciates the care.
Natalia
February 6, 2019That’s such a beautiful message from a mom to a child. It’s really moving! If I ever have my own kids, I’ll think of leaving them such a message! 🙂
1stopmom
February 6, 2019Aww, this is such a sweet letter. Time goes by so quickly and they grow up in a blink of an eye.
Amber
February 6, 2019This is just the sweetest. It is emotionally the hardest with the oldest child and going through their milestones and watching them grow up way to quick. Where does the time go?
Tasheena
February 6, 2019This is such a sweet letter and something so special that your daughter will always look back to. She sounds like the perfect young lady. It’s amazing how fast they grow.
Monica Parlee
February 6, 2019What an incredible letter! Your daughter will treasure this forever. You’ve inspired me to do this for our kids!
Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome
February 6, 2019Such a sweet letter, I bet she appreciates how much you take care of her and how much thoughts you put into this
Mimi
February 6, 2019That’s something I would love to do once I have kids, it’s such a sweet idea
GiGi Eats
February 6, 2019I actually wrote a letter to my son (when I first found out I was pregnant)… Except, I put a password on the document and I don’t remember the password so… Looks like none of us will be reading it! LOL!
Heather Castillo
February 6, 2019OMG that’s awful and hilarious all at the same time! Congrats on your little man! Can’t wait to see him cooking in the kitchen in your videos!
Laurie Gannon
February 6, 2019What a beautifully written letter to your daughter! The love you have for her is crystal clear. She is so very lucky to have you as her loving mom and vice versa!
Glenda Cates
February 6, 2019What a beautiful letter and a kind caring and very pretty daughter you have. I wish I had the opportunity to have told my daughter about being her mom but the Lord called her home when she was 16. But I will not make that mistake again and I tell my son everyday how proud of him. But I need to write a letter so he always has it to look back on.
Chelle Dizon
February 6, 2019Time flies so fast isn’t it. This is really sweet and heartwarming message for her. Advance Happy Valentines Day!
Cris
February 6, 2019Oh, this is so beautiful! I am sure she loved reading this!
Joan
February 6, 2019Su h a great idea, you should like print it out and frame for her or make it to be memorable in a way. Definitely not one to be forgotten.
Amber Myers
February 6, 2019This is such a great letter to your daughter. I’m sure she’ll love it! I can’t believe how fast time flies. My daughter just started Middle School, and my son will be finished with high school next year.
Candy
February 6, 2019I have written letters like this to all my children. Do it at different stages of their lives. Great keepsakes
Brittany
February 6, 2019Awe this is so sweet! What a beautiful reflection. This is such a cool idea
Scott Gombar
February 5, 2019I try to do similar things for my kids. We created email accounts and send them emails and pictures that they can open when they turn 18. I put notes in my son’s backpack from time to time. These things matter more than anyone can ever imagine.
Heather Castillo
February 5, 2019I love this idea so much! I have wanted to do that so many times, just haven’t made the time to do it.
Alexandra
February 5, 2019I have tears streaming down my face as I read. Truly so beautiful. There is no love like that of a mother and her child.
Aduke Schulist
February 17, 2018What a lovely letter. I hope you printed this out and saved it in a treasure box for her.
Wildish Jess
February 15, 2018I can’t even imagine having a teenager but I know the time will fly by. I’m only 5 years away from it now.
Tatiana
February 15, 2018Beautiful letter. It put me in tears, I remembered how I got pregnant the first time, what an experience ! My oldest daughter is almost 5 now:)
Heather
February 14, 2018This is the sweetest! My oldest daughter is nine years old and it’s just so incredible how quickly these years are flying by. We hear all the time to hold on to these moments but it really is true, savor this time.
Lynndee
February 14, 2018What a sweet and heartwarming letter. I bet your daughter enjoyed reading this so much like my son enjoyed reading his letter from me. 🙂
Chubskulit Rose
February 13, 2018I can feel how much you love your daughter, I feel like I am reading my own letter to my daughter because that’s how I feel about mine.
Kate | Life of a Ginger
February 13, 2018What a sweet and wonderful letter. I’m sure she will cherish it.
HilLesha O'Nan
February 13, 2018Aw, this letter is incredibly beautiful and sweet! She is going to cherish this for years to come.
Cherri Megasko
February 12, 2018What a sweet message. Isn’t it wonderful to think back on the early days and how far they’ve come?
Becky Willis
February 12, 2018What a beautiful tribute to your oldest daughter. I think the nice thing about this letter is she will be able to look back on it and remember just what you thought at this time in her life. My only daughter (our youngest of 3) is now 21 and off at her last year of college, so I know just how special they are!
Jennifer Van Huss
February 12, 2018What a beautiful letter!! My oldest is 12 this year so I can truly sympathize with what you are going through. Being a Mom is the greatest thing in the world, but I’m not ready to let them go and I don’t know if I ever will
Bonnie G
February 12, 2018Awww this is so sweet. I bet she loved reading this and will remember it forever.
Heather
February 12, 2018Oh! What a wonderful tribute to her. I hopy my boys grow up with that same amount of confidence and humility that your daughter has. She must have a great mom. 😉
Lisa
February 12, 2018What a wonderful letter for your daughter. It always amazes me to stop and think about how much we really love our children.
Sarah Bailey
February 12, 2018This is such a lovely letter to your daughter, definitely something for you both to look back on and treasure in years to come.
Tim B
February 12, 2018Wow time flies. I was just looking at my nine year old daughter last weekend and realized just how “grown up” she is starting to look. Glad we have made lots of memories and looking forward to making a lot more.
Ashley
February 12, 2018What a sweet post. My daughter is growing up too and you hit my heart with this post. It is true, I find myself staring at her and marveling at the young lady she is becoming. They grow up too fast!!
Jeanette
February 12, 2018This is definitely something she will treasure as she gets older. What a wonderful letter to her. It made my heart feel warm and she’s not even my kiddo.
E H
February 12, 2018You have written such an amazing letter to your daughter! I have all daughters as well, and I love your idea of sharing with your child how much you love them!
Stacie
February 12, 2018That is so beautiful. I had to dab my eyes once or twice. My daughter is getting older every second, and I see her turning from my little girl into my young lady. It’s an odd feeling of pride, sadness, and wishing I could pause life just for a little while.
Jeanine
February 12, 2018So sweet! I love these types of posts and I’m sure our kids will appreciate them when they are older too. I would love to do something like this for my kids. How meaningful and thoughtful.
Heather
February 12, 2018It’s amazing how fast this time goes when they are little. I feel like I was just amazed by my oldest daughter starting kindergarten. Then her little sister came along and time went on super speed. Your daughter sounds lovely.
Silvia
February 12, 2018Omg this is so sweet! I’m the oldest daughter and I teared up just knowing that some of this is what my mom feels.
Teri
February 11, 2018Wow. That really touched me. I have two boys, so I read it through the eyes of my mom speaking to me. Beautiful. You’re a terrific writer.
Karissa @WithOurBest
February 11, 2018What a smashing letter! I love how honest it is. Your daughter will appreciate these types of letters one day, if she doesn’t already now. She is lovely!
Lisa
February 11, 2018What a wonderful Valentine’s Day message for a daughter. It is very inspiring to see such a beautiful post.
Terri Steffes
February 11, 2018How beautiful! (both the letter and your daughter!) I think things like this help our children understand how wanted they were!
Angelic Sinova
February 10, 2018I’m not going to lie, I teared up a bit. This is such an amazing gift for your daughter because she’ll be able to look back on this and read it over and over and know how loved she is!
candy
February 10, 2018Wonderful way to express your feelings and emotions toward your daughter. Makes for a wonderful keepsake.