What I Love

Claire, do you know what I love about you?


I love your smile. I love the way you love to laugh and have a good time. I love the way you are silly and you are starting to catch sarcasm and jokes. I love how you pay attention to EVERYTHING and chime into conversations when I don't even realize you are listening.


I love how you always want to be around "friends" - anyone who is close to your height is considered a friend. I love how I have to wait on you every time you see a rock or a stick. What is it with rocks and sticks? I find them in the car, in my shoes, in my kitchen cabinets. I will miss them someday, I know.


I love how you sing all the time. Your favorite song is "Jesus Loves Me" and you listen to it on replay every time we are in the car. We sing it at night before bed, and you sing it when you can't go to sleep. You also want me to sing the "I Love You" song..."I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck..." I hope you always want to sing that one with me.

I love how you randomly come up and give me a great big Claire-hug and say "I love you Mommy," or "You a good mommy." Oh, you melt my heart.

I love how yesterday when we were in the truck I suddenly heard your voice from the backseat, yelling: "GOOOOOODDDDDDD???" I said, "What are you doing??" You said, "Calling God."

Please don't stop calling God.


I love how you are getting more reflective and serious at times. You ask great questions and your little mind is always going. You think about God and that thrills my heart. I pray every day that He will water the seeds in your heart, turn your heart toward Him, help you to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.

You are my firstborn child, my little girl, and sometimes I think my heart will burst with love for you. Even on your worst days, with your two-year-old tantrums and frustrations, and even on my worst days, with my 28-year-old impatience and frustrations and my "mommy-tantrums", nothing can diminish the love that I have for you. You are so special, created by a loving God and given to your daddy and myself as a precious gift.


Averi Kate, do you know what I love about you?

I love your sleepiness. You are so easy-going, that you can sleep even around your sweet but loud big sister. You don't seem to mind her constant kisses and hugs and her "Mommy-I-take-care-of-Averi-Kate" mindset. I love how you focus on me when I hold you, like you already know who I am. I love how you are already 8 lbs 11 oz at just 19 days old. Are you going to be a chunky monkey??? I love your sweet baby cheeks and the way you wrap your hand around my finger when I am feeding you. I love the funny faces you make when you are falling asleep.

You are precious to me. I am thrilled to know that I get to watch you develop, not only physically, but to see what little personality dwells inside of you. You were in my womb not even 3 weeks ago, still being knit together by a loving and careful Creator, and now here you are in front of me, a miracle of life. I love you my sweet second child. I pray that already our Father is working in your little soul to teach you about His love and holiness, His justice and His grace. Soak in the words of your sister's favorite song, that you hear a hundred times a day...Jesus loves me, this I know...


Do you know what I love about having 2 little girls?


I love giving you baths together.


I love watching you bond. I love seeing you, Claire, as you grow into your role as big sister. You are such a nurturer. I love that you are already helping me teach Averi Kate about Jesus.

I love a future full of giggles and late-night chats and sharing clothes.

I love the opportunity to raise little girls into women who, by the grace of God, will love and fear Him.


I love you both, my girls.