This is my second Letters to My Daughters post and I am so thankful again to be part of this wonderful group of talented women. I loved reading all the letters last month (my first post can be found HERE) and seeing the gorgeous photographs to go along with them and I can't wait to read them this month. This is such a wonderfully moving experience. After reading my letter, please continue along the circle and read what Aimee McNamee in Richmond, VA had to say HERE and stick around and check out the rest of her gorgeous photography. Her eye for lifestyle photography will leave you in awe.

Dear Drew,

It's hard to put into words how I feel about you. My first little girl born. You were the perfect little 8 lb newborn, with beautiful big blue eyes, the most perfect lips, blonde curls and the world's best demeanor. I had the hardest time not staring at you all day long. Friends and nurses told me to nap, but how could I when I had you there? I was so proud to be your Mom. I literally cried every time you would turn a month older because I wanted you to remain that way forever. This keeps happening even today. Right now is perfect. Just stay the same way! I somehow keep wanting each stage to last forever. The good news is I know how much fun there is ahead and I can't wait to experience it all with you.

You are the soulful one in our family. You never miss a beat or an expression or look. You take it ALL in. Your teachers often tell us how you have a hard time at lunch because you are so consumed with your friends or those around you and what they are saying and doing. You stop what you are doing and listen (and then of course you join in). You want to learn and see everything and my dear, you will! But, please eat your whole lunch!

Drew, you are so beautiful and you are literally growing before our eyes as your clothes are no longer fitting and you are wearing a size 8 when you are only 5! You are going to be taller than me one day and I have to brace myself for that. You are such a kind, gentle, nurturing soul who wants to help others. You want to be a veterinarian one day so you can take care of animals (all animals except a tarantula- and I don't blame you!) or a doctor to take care of children and, most importantly- a Mom. It's been wonderful growing up in New York City with the diversity around us. I know this is partly where your dreams are coming from. Walking to or from school, we see just about every ethnicity, race, color or handicap and you take it all in and observe. If someone is hurt or walks with a limp, your first words are always "aww, I feel really badly for that [man]." That happened this afternoon. I hope that never changes because I know you will help to make someone like that better one day. And just like I used to stare at you as a baby, I do so more now. You take my breath away each and every day. I still have a hard time believing you are actually mine. I don't know how we all got so lucky.

I love you always.

Mama

"Daughters hold our hands for a little while, but our hearts forever."

I am thrilled and honored to share that I am part of a small group of photographers and mothers participating in a photo project called “Letters to My Daughters.” Each month we will be blogging photos and a letter to our little girls. Just like my Photo 52 circle, I will link to another photographer in the group each month. These women are all incredibly talented and while we may be at different stages in our journeys as mothers, at the end of the day, we all feel the same way about our children and I am so excited to see what they write as well.

I have thought about what to write for weeks and still can't come up with the right words so bear with me. Some people are so good about keeping journals and thoughts about their kids but I could barely keep my baby books up to date. This project is going to force me to finally write my thoughts on "paper." There is so much I want to tell my daughters and I want written and photographic memories for them to have. I *think* I am pretty good with the photos part at this point <wink> but it will be nice for my girls to have words to go along with some of them. And the greatest part is that these are all keepsakes that hopefully my girls will cherish and hold dear for years to come.

Dear Drew and Harper,

I have so many dreams for you. You are only 3.5 and 5 and you have the world ahead of you. You are each so individual.

Drew, Drewie, Drewie Patootie, Drew Magoo you are the epitome of a Momma's girl, still crying when I leave you in the middle of the day after a field trip with your class or when I even mention the thought of a babysitter staying with you. When I ask what you think of when you think of me, you tell me "I just miss you when I am at school and want to be with you." You know the way to my heart, but I also know it's partly drama! You received your first Kindergarten "report card" last week and were told you were a leader in the class. We are so proud of the little person you are becoming. I love you for your sense of humor, I love how you try to make your teachers and friends laugh, I love you for your artistic ability that in no way came from me, I love how you always leave little drawings around the house and love notes for me or your Dad, I love you for your big blue eyes and beautiful curly hair that I know you don't like, but I promise you will one day, I love you for your confidence, passion, your sensitivity, your maternal instincs, your athleticsm, your 99% in height and weight, I love you for your serious side and how you take everything in that you see, I love you for holding my hand on the way to school and back every day, I love you for how much you adore your cousins and I love you for your wanting to have 14 babies one day and wanting me to help you with them, I love you for falling sleep in our car on 95% of trips, I love you for having a boy tell you he had a crush on your and was in love with you already... okay that part I didn't love so much, but I love you for all that you are and will be.

Harper, Harps, Harper Darper, Darper-Do, Pumps, my little drama queen, pip squeak who is about as big as a minute, you are something else. You make us laugh daily with your phrases, your sayings, your stories and your dreams. I love you for your persistence and your routines and habits that you cannot break, I love you for only wearing a skirt or dress every.single.day for the past year, I love you for wanting to hold my hand all the time, I love you for the balance you strike between being our independent one who likes to walk to school and yet you still hide behind my leg when someone you know says hi to you outside of your comfort zone, I love you for how you want to sit in my lap and cuddle at every possible moment, I love you for yanking out my elastic in my hair and making me swish my hair around like I am a Vidal Sasoon model because I look prettier with my hair down, I love you for loving princesses and long dresses and adoring your ballet class, I love you for wanting me to wear high heels and silk shirts because I look nicer, I love you for being 1000% girl, I love you for wanting to do everything your big sister does. I love you more than you will ever know.

Drewie and Harps, I love you more than you could ever imagine possible. Every day I look at you and am so thankful that you are who you are. I want to just drink up every last bit of you and remember you for who you are today. I am so envious that you have each other as I have always wanted a sister and one day you will believe me when I tell you that you will have a best friend for life. The sibling relationship is life's longest and it should never be taken for granted. We are on this journey together and I can't wait to see where our adventure takes us next. You are two of the best travelers in the world, thanks to all your frequent flier miles. These photos were taken during golden hour on the last night we were in Sanibel Island in December. I thought these captured your personalities quite well.

I love you forever and will always hold your hand,

Momma xoxo

Please continue along the blog circle and see what my talented friend Sherri Davis wrote in her "Letters to My Daughters" HERE.