Dear Harlow,

Dear Harlow,

Tomorrow morning you are going to be a BIG sister!  I am so excited for you to have a sister.  I grew up always wishing I had one.  You are one lucky little girl.  You'll have a best friend for life.  I can't wait to see you two grow up together, to fight and love one another and to rely on each other.  You are going to be such a great influence on her and I know she will always look up to you.

I won't lie, when your Dad and I first found out that we were having another baby, I was afraid and nervous.  I could only think of how much it would effect YOU and what YOU would think about the new addition and how YOU would weather the changes.  As we got more use to the idea of having two beautiful girls, I became so excited for you to have a sister.  I could picture many years of love, laughter and maybe some fighting and all of that makes me happy.  And I know you will do just fine.   You are everyone's friend, there is not a single person on this earth who doesn't love you.  But your Dad and I will always love you the most.  You are the reason I got to be a mom in the first place.  Without you I wouldn't have learned what it was to really love someone.  I love your Dad, but I love him more because of how much he loves you.  You did that for us. 

I don't ever want you to forget how special you are to me.  For so long (almost 3 years) it's been just you and me as best buds.  You are my sidekick and friend.  We have done everything together so far.  And even with another baby in the house, you're still going to hold that place in my heart.  And your little sister will think the same about you.

When you were born, your rocked our world in a silent earthquake I never saw coming.  I had no idea the impact you would have on me.  I knew I would love you but I never knew I could love someone SO much.  You changed my outlook on life and changed the route I thought my life would take as I grew older.  I never imagined that I would want to be a stay at home  mom.  I prided myself on being a hard worker, who enjoyed her work.  And when you came along, I enjoyed it but felt like I was missing parts of my heart while I was away from you.  If anyone had asked me 10 years ago if I would stay home with my kids after they were born, I never could have imagined saying yes.  But here I am, I get to spend my entire days with you and I feel so blessed and privileged to get to do so.  And even though it is not always easy, it is always good.  SO GOOD!

Tomorrow is a very big day in our family and though I am nervous and afraid at times, I keep telling myself how wonderful it will be to see you two together for the first time.  And for years to come.  I love you Harlow Emi Hafen.  I love you to God and back.

Love,
    Mom