Dear Elle, as your days as an only child are numbered ...

Dear Belle,

Your little world is going to change drastically soon (you actually predicted tomorrow), and while I know you have no idea what this will mean - for us, for you, for anything you've known for the last 35 months - I want you know that the basics will not change. You will always be our little girl, an entertaining mix of stubborn, sweet, sass and smart. You will always be the first baby we welcomed in to our hearts and home. You will always be the one who taught me about true love and worry, the pint-sized package that reminds me of myself and pushes my buttons on a daily basis.

As much as I am sure I will miss parts of the life we have now, where you can communicate anything and everything to me, are easy to feed and transport just about anywhere and are no longer in need of diapers and  I am excited to see the way our family dynamic shifts to include your brother. I know it will be an adjustment for all of us. You've been the star of the show for almost three years, and you get lots of one-on-one time with Daddy and me. I've treasured our special outings together, especially in the last few months, and we'll continue having special time where it's just you and me, or just you and Daddy.

We went to the park this morning for what very well could be one of our last "dates" before Wesley arrives. I watched you conquer a wobbly bridge, saw you scale the playground equipment, observed you whizzing down slides of all sizes. You were always aware of where I was, but you didn't need me with you. Your imagination raced as you announced that one of the play structures was a planet - "Saturn, because it has rings" - and you hung on the rings and climbed in the crevices of the structure. You then announced you were ready to go home. But first, we had to stop and get ice cream from the ice cream truck at the park. You let a lot of the ice cream melt and drip down the cone as you plucked sprinkle after sprinkle from the soft serve - you were a woman on a mission, and as chocolate covered your shirt and legs, you made sure no sprinkle was left uneaten.

These types of mornings and moments are so special to me - I love watching you, love learning new things about you and how your mind works, love creating memories with you. And for the next few months, it's going to be hard for both of us to adjust to the fact that things have changed and someone else needs Mommy and Daddy's attention at times when you a) want it and b) have had it in the past. I've never been one to let a challenge stop me, but the demands of a newborn are great and I'm going to need some time to figure out a new "balance."

I cherish your excitement for your little brother's arrival - the unprompted kisses on my belly, the random mentions of Wesley, even the odd conversations we have about how my tummy will be smaller after Wesley is born. You're going to be such an amazing big sister, and he's lucky to have you. I'm thrilled that you're so happy about having a little brother and have embraced his pending birth with curiosity and enthusiasm.

But for all the joy and all the love you have, I know it's going to be a change. Just know that our love for you will never change. I can't wait to see the bond you and your brother will share, but I'm eating up every last moment with just you while I can.

Love,
Mommy