Letter To Bambino

Dear Bambino,

Today, you have been growing in my belly for 7 months. I wanted to write you a letter because I can’t stop thinking about you– and even though it’s been a relatively short time that we’ve been together– it feels like there is so much to share. There’s lots to tell you about how Daddy and I started dating, the day you became a reality, about all  of your grandparents and all of the people who already love you. I’ll write that all down for you soon.

These days – when I’m not fielding your kicks, eating lemons and raspberries or reading up about nursing – I’m mostly imaging about the mom I hope to be when you arrive.

I promise to begin and end your days with the reminder that I adore you. I promise to wake you up with “the fake wake” just the way my mom did with me. That might seem like a small thing, but trust me: it makes for a better start to the day, and when you’re a teenager, you’ll be really, really grateful that I’m not shoving the curtains open for you to get up.

I promise to encourage you to try new things, take chances, to go for it and to trust yourself.

I promise to make your birthday a big deal. Whether you’re turning 1 or 35, I promise lots of balloons and decor and your favorite sweets. Some years you might love that, and other years it might feel cheesy, but when you look back on birthdays, I promise you’ll know that you were celebrated by the people who cared about you most.

I promise to let you make mistakes and to keep on loving you all the same.

I promise to build you the biggest library ever. I promise to stand by as you discover Madeline’s world for yourself, and to give you all the Roald Dahl books that swept me away.

I promise to set an example for you to be active and keep moving. I promise we will take lots of walks and go kayaking and go as many places as we can. I promise you that your dad will teach you how to catch a baseball and show you the in’s and out’s of soccer. Dance or cheer or gymnastics or horseback riding– I promise to encourage you and not let you quit what you’re best at.

I promise to help foster your relationship with your big sis, Sophia. She already loves reading to you, tickling you and listening to you from my belly. Because you have a sister, you will have a friend for life. Sister time will be good for both of your souls.

Over the years I promise to bring you to museums and concerts and plays; there will be lots of cooking and baking and making things.

When you have a bad day, I promise to listen. Or give you room to breathe, whatever seems best at the time. I’ll practice patience (I’ll try, anyway.)

Year after year, I promise to carve out all kinds of special time for just you and your Daddy. From day one I’ll do everything I can to support that relationship and to let it be as special as the one I shared with my dad as a little girl. I hope that together you two will go on long drives, nature walks and secret getaways for ice cream.

I promise to mark the major moments as they come, to take pictures and fill out scrapbooks and document the biggest milestones of your life. It’s important to acknowledge the little things, too.

I promise that we will spend lots of time with family, every chance that we get, because that is really the most important thing.

Mostly, I promise to show you love in all its best forms. I’ll love you and your dad and my bonus daughter, Sophia, and our friends and our families. With words and with actions, I’ll say it and I’ll show it.

I can’t wait to meet you– but take your time, and come out when you’re good and ready!

Love you already!

Mommy