to my little girl

I remember the day your dad was giving you a bath

and I thought

 if only

I could tap into the love that is free flowing from his heart to you

just like the warm soothing water filling the soapy tub

that I would be one lucky lady

I remember the first time I took you to mom's day at your preschool

 just a week after I married you and your Daddy

my poor little daughter cried the entire time,

 you wanted aunt Nancy,

 the teacher

you called out for your grandma Ezzy

you tried to get away from me,

all the while kicking and screaming

 and

causing such a scene

we had to leave...

 you were so distraught,

thrashing about in the van

it took every bit of energy and strength I could muster

 to buckle you into the car seat.

you cried

 buckets of tears

it broke my heart

  I felt like such a failure

and I felt so sorry for you,

 you were so little,

 you had no idea what was going on

when we first met a year before

 you called me Rosie

 and you called my mom

Rosie's mom

when your dad and I got engaged

 everyone started calling me mom,

 that was such an easy transition for you

no problem...

now we all call my mom

mema

 that's another story

I couldn't take you back to your dad

 in that condition,

I did not want him to know

I flunked my very first official mother daughter outing

 Looking at your disheveled appearance

who knows what he'd think?

so I drove around talking to you the entire time

"There, there, don't cry sweetie,

I'm your new mom,

 you are so lucky, 

you have one mom in heaven and one on earth

 It was Gods plan long before you were even born

that I would be your earth mom someday

and I thank him all the time for such a fantastic gift

you are the best present I ever had

I am going to have to write him a long thank you note

I'm here baby girl to watch over and protect and love you forever

 we are going to be so close you and I,

someday we might even be like girlfriends,

 we'll do lunch and go shopping

ride bikes and go to museums

 and the zoo

oh

 you and I will have so much fun at the zoo

you will love the polar bears

remember polie,

the little stuffed polar bear I bought you

well, his relatives live at the zoo!

you are going to love it

we will pack a lunch

and

 I will take you to tap dance lessons,

 I can't wait to get you your first tap and ballet shoes

and a beautiful pink two two 

and you'll take gymnastics

 we will paint pictures together

and string them up in the garage

and

 put on plays and talent shows

and I will videotape your every move

 and take a picture of you every time you sneeze

 or do anything for that matter

my parents didn't know how to work a camera

so I only have a handful of pictures of my brothers and I 

taken by other relatives

but that's another story

you will never suffer from that horrible fate

you will have boxes and bins overflowing with videos and photos

I will take pictures of the first time you make your own bed

and of you and your baby Lynn,

 the doll you decided to bathe that was not supposed to get wet

I will tell you I took her to the doll hospital when truthfully

she was a replacement from toys r us

  I will take pictures of you wearing every fancy dress and matching bow you ever owned 

and I will video tape all your plays and dance recitals and Halloween costumes

we will fill the house up every year on your birthday

with all your relatives and friends and give you lavish b day parties

with clever themes

and record it all for posterity

Santa and his elf will visit you at our house every Christmas Eve

and we will go to Marshall Fields to see the tree

don't cry honey

I love you so much

and

daddy loves you so much

and we are going to be one big happy family

just like father knows best

and

the donna reed show

OK, since the only show you watch is barney

you wont understand that last promise

just please don't cry

you are going to be so content and you will thrive

you will be almost as happy as you have already made me

I always wanted to be a mom

and my parents always wanted to have grandchildren

they were starting to give up on me

but now they are so thrilled to have you

they can't wait to spoil their darling granddaughter

you will spend a lot of time playing games and dress up

and dancing

at their house

my brother bill will even take you to the movies and to see bozo

you will always be extra special to all of us

 the two of us will always have a solid bond

because I chose you to be my daughter

I will never have another chance to choose a child

I had the opportunity to pick my favorite little girl in the entire world

so

I married you

as well as Daddy

I drove around for at least an hour talking to you the entire time
 you finally cried yourself to sleep. 

 Dad took you out of your car seat and gently put you in bed. 

 When he asked me how it went, I told him we had a great talk.

That was the first time my conversation put you to sleep

but believe me, it wasn't the last

and that's another story

------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------

I love you,

 have a beautiful, glorious, memorable day today

my little bride

I hope you are as happy as you made me
love
mom