Katherine Ann: One Month

My Dearest Katherine Ann,

Today you are one month old!  I have tears as I sit down to write this knowing the time has already gone too fast.  There aren't words to describe the amount of joy and love you have brought into our lives since the moment they laid you in my arms!  I will never forget the tears in your daddy's eyes when he saw you for the first time.  We are so incredibly blessed to be given you as our precious daughter.  Over these last 4 weeks we have fallen more in love with you each day. We love your precious little smiles and the way your hands wrap around our fingers.  We love the cute noises you make and the way your little hands rest around your face while you sleep. We love your sweet facial expressions that make us smile and laugh each day. We love your soft hair and the cute way it sticks straight up after your baths.  We love your beautiful, big blue eyes and the cute way you stretch to your heart's content when you wake up from your naps.  

 

You also have developed many nicknames in just a short period of time: Katie Girl, Sweet Pea, Kate, Little One, Baby Girl, Honey Bear, and I am sure the list could go on. You have also rocked your first public outings like a pro! It was so fun to take you to daddy's Football State Championship Ring Ceremony and to church on Easter Sunday.  We were beaming with joy the whole time as you slept perfectly through each event :)  And just this week, you went to your first baseball game.  Go Covenant Knights!!  Springtime in Texas also brings the perfect weather to take you on walks each day.  You love being outside and letting the stroller put you to sleep.  

 

After you were born, your Grandma Kreger got to spend 2 weeks with us.  It was truly a gift to have this time together as your daddy and I adjusted to parenthood.  Also during this time, your daddy accepted a full-time counseling job with Innovation 360, we found a new apartment, and he tried to finish as much homework for seminary as possible.  With such a busy schedule right after bringing you home, it was a blessing to have your grandma there. She made sure we had meals to eat, did laundry, and cleaned!  And of course she enjoyed every moment she got to hold you and love on you.   

I am so blessed to spend my days with you, Katherine Ann.  I look forward to waking you up each morning and getting our day started.  You are such a happy baby, especially in the morning :) Even though you are only 4 weeks old, you sleep like a champ only waking up once or twice during the night.  We are so thankful!!  I guess you are a good sleeper like your Grandpa Kreger!  Maybe it is the teacher in me, but we read and sing together each day.  Just today you patiently listened through 2 whole readings of My First ABC Book.  I was beaming!!  We also had a great discussion on whether the 'Letter U' should only have one word on the page...Umbrella.  Together we brainstormed other words that could be added.  Although I do all the talking, I know you are thinking deeply about our conversations :) I look forward to our nap time each day.  I will forever cherish the way your little head rests on my shoulder.  One of my favorite times of our day happens right before we put you to bed.  We do family devotions together and daddy reads to you from the Jesus Story Book Bible.  It is truly humbling to think we, as your parents, get the honor of being the first people to tell you about Jesus and pray for your heart.  

 I also love watching the way your daddy loves you.  He is in awe of your cuteness and loves to hold you every chance he gets.  I love seeing the joy on his face when he comes home each day and takes you in his arms.  I will never forget our first night home from the hospital.  Your daddy had to finish writing a paper for one of his classes.  So he told me to go get some much needed rest, and he would stay up with you until your next feeding (we were too nervous to fall asleep those first nights home). While you slept peacefully in your swing, your daddy sat on the floor next to you finishing his assignment :)  It is truly a memory I will never forget.  I am so excited to see the sweet relationship you develop with your daddy over the years to come!  You might be the first little girl in your class to know how to throw a spiral or hit a ball :) 

 As you continue to grow each day, we want you to know how much you are loved and cherished by us.  We love being your mommy and daddy!  Thank you for teaching us how to love more deeply.  We are truly blessed!  
We love you, sweet Katherine.