Letter to Frances

Dear Frances,
I am not sure when it happened but I recently realized that I no longer feel like an imposture. I feel like your Mom. When you reach out, you reach for me. When you cry, you cry for me. It is amazing to have your love and for you to receive mine. It is a beautiful gift. I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. Your photos we received were treasured. But knowing you and loving you is tenfold. It is like we opened a little box and so much… goodness is spilling out that it fills up everything. I was told your Vietnamese name means “Scent of Heaven”, but surely you were heaven sent.

In no particular order here are some things that amaze and entertain me:

• I did not know you had a bottom lip! I know now that you tuck it in when you are sleepy.



• I love that you are still my “Velcro baby” and are happiest when stuck to me.



• Your perfect little baby body sprawled out when you sleep.



• That you say Ma, Mom, or Mom-mom-mom when you are sad- And that you are talking to me!



• Oh, and that you say na-na-na with your scrunched up angry face that you make when you are mad



• Your funny faces that you make with me and at me like when you scrunch up your nose.



• When I “meow” like a cat you copy me…and your meow is more of a “mew” and the face you create when doing it is so not pretty, it cracks me up!


• The sweet way that you will lay your head on my shoulder and pet my arm or pat my face.



• That you feed me cheerios and sometimes pretend you are going to feed me a cheerio, but than snatch it away.



• That you laugh all the time, especially when Papa and I pretend to laugh.



• That you wave hello and goodbye sometimes with both hands instead of one.

You are learning and growing so fast. Everyday you show me a new funny face, make a new sound and crawl faster. I don’t want to blink.

Love Mom