Fierceness and Troll Hair

My Dear Violet,

It’s hard to believe that one whole month ago you arrived, sweet angel.Tuesday, February 24^th, 2015, 8:56 AM... all 8 lbs, 8 oz, 21" of you bloomed and blossomed right into our hearts. Our Violet. Here. Finally.

I love these words from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 

“And though she be but little, she is fierce.” 

I always have loved that line. And you, my Violet, my love, are. 

After your first night in this world, while we were still in the hospital, a nurse came in to check on you.

After poking and prodding on you (which you did not particularly appreciate- I hardly blame you) she said, “Oh, yes, everyone in the nursery knows Violet.”

Your daddy and I smiled. “Oh, really?” we said. It must be those cheeks, we thought, or maybe those long fingers and toes (who DID you get those from??)… your beautiful, perfect skin… maybe that wavy light brown hair… maybe just the fact that you are the cutest baby in there, I’m sure…

“Yeah, she’s the loudmouth of the nursery,” she continued.

At the time I didn’t particularly appreciate the word “loudmouth” being used to describe my (perfect in every way) daughter; now it makes me laugh. You’re feisty… sassy… and certainly fierce, little one. And I love all (now) 9 lbs of fierceness you got goin’ on, girlfriend.

I mean, work it, sister! After all, it does work for you. It suits you. It looks good on you, girl! Right now, it looks a lot like a tiny baby that tells us, loud and proud, when something’s not just right. A baby girl that will work with all her might to get both of her tiny arms out of a tight swaddle because she loves those tiny hands to be by her sweet face. I mean, you work those arms out with a fierceness that shows you are a force to be reckoned with. A tiny angel that already appears headstrong and solid in what she wants- already (hmmm… are we in trouble here??).

Truth be told, I can hardly wait to see how that sass grows up on you, how you’ll use it to leave your mark on this world of our’s. I love that when something’s not just the way you like it, you tell us about it- loud and proud! Don’t lose that boldness, princess. The world needs those bold colors, our Violet, so paint on. I have no doubt that you’ll be the boldest shade of Violet this world’s ever known. Be sassy! Be bold! Be fierce!

One month of boldness. Already. I don’t know how that even happened. Pretty sure we stepped into some kind of time warp. And although you are sassy, my goodness, are you sweet and precious. I am fairly confident that I spent 50% of your one month birthday just sitting and holding you, looking at you, feeling your little body. There was stuff to do, but you and I just cuddled on the couch. You were rolled into this little ball, and your fuzzy head was tucked under my chin. It was so perfect. The house was a wreck. Dirty dishes were in the sink. There's a good chance I was sitting on someone's dirty underwear. And we just sat on the couch in pure perfection. I am so thankful I have the time to do that.

We love you so much, sweet Violet. Welcome to the world. It’s a pretty good place, and it’s one that needs you. It needs that fierce attitude, little lady- and that sweetness. We just can’t wait to see who you grow to be. Happy one month our baby girl!

Love you,

Mama

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My Max,

I am currently sporting troll hair. Yep, troll hair. In fact, some days lately, I have looked like a creature that crawled out of a swamp. That’s really the only way I can describe that look I’ve got going on. And you’ve rolled with it. You’ve either been completely oblivious to the troll hair, or you’ve just decided that it perfectly suits someone who lately looks at your hands, as well as the tiny hands of your sister, and tears up a little, and ok, also tears up during car commercials and during random conversations. Knowing you, maybe you like my toll hair?? Either way, thank you for not making a fuss over it. It shouldn't surprise me, though, because that’s so you- our ever-flexible, roll with the punches, accept you if you have troll hair, Max.

While we waited on Violet, I'm pretty sure I used up a good portion of my pregnancy hormones emotionally worrying how in the world I could ever love another tiny human being like I love you. It seemed unbelievably impossible. I know every parent thinks their children are the most special on Earth, but I mean, you really are something. You have been different- and so special- since day one. 

I love the way you look at the world, the way you treasure the little things and remind me what is really important in life. Just yesterday, as I was “helping you” clean up the playroom, I ran across a nest of your treasures, consisting of marbles, yarn, pennies, birthday candles, and magnets- things you treasure for your own little reasons. And I just love that. I love what you treasure in life. And I love that the greatest treasure in your life right now, even more than the yarn and pennies, is your sister. Seriously. People wouldn’t even believe how you love this little girl.

         
 She has grown on you. I worried when you just couldn’t wait to hold her in the hospital, and she cried the first time you held her. I could tell it hurt your feelings, sweet boy. It took you a little time to give it another shot, and oh my goodness when you did, you were wrapped around her tiny finger.

I still love you more than I ever knew I could love someone, but the miraculous thing is that my heart instantly made room for that little sister of your’s, too. 

This morning, the underwear I found in my drawer had silly putty stuck to it from that time I found your silly putty “treasure” in the dryer. Yep, I still wore it, put it on to go with my troll hair because it was your quirky treasure, sweet angel. 

Max, I am just so blessed to call you mine, and I am so thankful that your little sister gets to learn from you about life's treasures. Thanks for putting it all in perspective for me with silly putty undies.

Goodness, I love you, my treasure,

Mama

Here's to the Fab Four

My Dear Max & Violet,

     There is no way that you can fully understand it right now (and probably no way I can even understand it), but our lives have changed completely (in the greatest of ways). And so, I hereby declare that this will be a space that I use to chronicle our love and adventures as a (now) family of four. Thank you for making my life so wonderful just by being in it. Here's to all the adventures we have ahead... :)

I love you both so much,

Mama