Dear Stela,

You are the sweetest little baby that ever existed! I adore you so much! I think it is in part due to the fact that by the third kid I kind of know what I am doing, but also it is a good chunk that you are pure perfection! You smile now. A lot. And recently you started cooing. It is so cute to see you finding your voice. I notice it so much with you because you don't make much noise otherwise. You very rarely cry so hearing sound out of you is unexpected. And then the sounds that do come from you are so, so sweet. You are especially happy in the mornings. But just now as I was putting you to sleep you kept smiling and cooing. I would look down and see eyes closed. And then the next time I would look you would be smiling. When I smiled back you cooed. My heart melted. The first time you did it tonight you were almost asleep and I kissed your forehead. A big smile spread across your face. I guess at 7 weeks old you already understand that a kiss on the forehead means is a symbol of pure love. You are the best baby girl! I love you so much and I am so excited to be your mama and to watch you grow and spend so much time with you.

Love,
Mama

PS Did I tell you that you are sleeping through the night? You have been doing it for a couple of weeks now. You sleep from about 10pm to 5am. Amazing! It could have something to do with me reading all those books about French parenting when I was pregnant with you and the ways their babies "do their nights" by two months old and the tricks and technics I learned. But it could also have something to do with the fact that you are just a sweet, sweet baby. Either way, I love you for it!

Dear Stela,

I got to spend some quality time with you tonight after Max and Maggie went to bed. I hate to say it, but I don't get to spend much quality time with you. It makes me feel bad. I'm so busy trying to attend to the needs of three kids and I don't get to love on you as much as I wish I could. But tonight I did and it was wonderful. You are wonderful. You are such a great baby! You have already slept through the night three times! When people as how you are I answer either, "I dream come true" or "perfection". I just adore you! Tonight while I was talking to you I started thinking about what you will do with you life. What it holds in store for you. What adventures you will have. I don't know. But I do have a strong feeling that you are someone very special. I think often of that impression I had of you the night before you were born. I know that you are a very special spirit that was ready to come down and start your mortal life. I'm not saying that I think you will be the next Joan of Arc (although I'm not saying you won't either). What I feel is that even if you live a perfectly "ordinary" life it, or rather you, will be something extraordinary. You just are. I feel it. And "perfectly ordinary lives" are filled with magic and bravery and triumphs, the stuff that fairy tales and adventure movies are made of. You are only 6 weeks old and already you are everything I could ever dream of you being. You are just....... wonderful.

I love you baby girl!

Love,
Mama

Dear Stela,

You smile now. You did it for the first time yesterday. And you did it once today. It is like I am addicted and I need me some Stela smiles right away. And always. Your smiles are the best drug ever!

Mama

Dear Stella,

Today was your blessing day. It was perfect! Such a beautiful day. I sewed you a dress and I stayed up late last night finishing it. It was safety pinned closed because I didn't get the buttons done, but other than that it turned out great. And you looked beautiful in it. You woke up and ate just in time for us to get you dressed and to church on time. You were awake but calm during your blessing. Daddy gave you a beautiful blessing.  He talked about how lucky you were to be born in the gospel and into a family that loved you and would take good care of you. He talked about how much your brother and sister love you and that they will be your protectors in life and help you when needed. And he said that I was a compassionate and loving mother and that I would be a good example to you. (I do love you so much and have nothing but an overflowing heart of affection for you and I will do my best to take care of you, always and forever!). He also talked about your extended family and friends and just in general how many people love you and will be there for you to help you in your life. It was a very beautiful and very touching blessing. Lots of family and friends came to be with us for your blessing, including grandma and grandpa, Gwenna, Gar and family, Nathan and family, Travis and family, Militza and family, Janet and her family, Meg and her family and Jenn and Jake. I bore my testimony. I talked about the contrast in emotions and experiences I experienced the last year as I grieved Joydell's passing and anticipated your birth. I talked about how much the gospel supported me throuh both experiences and how much I learned through both experiences. And expressed my gratitude for family and that part of God's plan. I love the family I grew up in and I love the little family that I am creating of my own. I expressed my gratitude for the answers the gospel gives us, even though there are still so many questions. And I mentioned that strong impression I had the night before you were born about what the experience was like for you as you prepared to get a body and come to Earth for your mortal life. You fell asleep and I got to hold you and rock you through the rest of the meeting. After church we had a brunch with family and friends that came to your blessing. We had it at a park and it was such a nice day and the park was calm and peaceful and it was so good to be with family and friends and relax together. When we came home you and I took a nap on "the big bed" together. When we woke up we spent time with daddy and Max and Maggie and it was nice. The whole day was nice. It was beautiful. It was perfect. You are beautiful and you are perfect, so it was a fitting way to celebrate your birth and blessing.

I love you so much baby Stella! My heart swells whenever I look at you. I am so grateful that I get to be your mama. I'm so grateful that I get to have you as my baby and hold you and feed you and change your diapers and wipe your spit up and have your fingers wrapped around mine. I love everything about you and I am so grateful you are mine! Forever and always.

Love,
Mama