When I saw you for the first time that Sunday afternoon, I knew I would spend the rest of my life loving you. You were tiny and screaming, wrinkled and perfect. While your entrance in to this world wasn't as I had expected, it didn't matter. You were here. When I held you for that first time {hours after your birth}, I will never forget exactly what that moment felt like. With eyes full of wonder and a tiny yellow bow in your hair {picked out by dad}, I loved you more after one minute together than I have loved in a lifetime.
You brought with you a genuine happiness, and it filled a space in my life that I never knew was vacant. You mean something different to everyone in your life. You are Pops, Penny, Miss P and Poppy Lee; but most importantly, you are uniquely you. Without effort, you already give so much to those around you. Never forget that your purpose here isn't to fulfill anyone else's life. You are here for you; to live a life that you love.
I hope that you travel and see as much of the world as you can. You never know what you are missing until you go and see. Fill your life with new places and adventures, and you will quickly know what it is that makes you thrive. Make friends and be kind. Be generous towards others because I truly believe that giving is always better than receiving. Learn as much as you can about whatever it is that you could spend hours talking about. Be passionate about more things than you can count {you are your dad's daughter after all}. Get lost in books and in the mountains. Learn different languages and be open to different ideas. Go out and experience. Stay home and be comfortable in the quiet moments you spend alone. Be anything that you want to be.
I want you to have faith in something - mostly yourself. Life can be challenging, but if you believe you can, you will. For all the things in this life that seem to go terribly wrong, there are so many more that go perfectly right. You are living proof.
I am so grateful that I get to be your mama. I look forward to all the adventures and firsts that are to come. I hope I never take for granted the little milestones and daily moments that make up our life. Here is to a lifetime of love and support {and probably a few battles, as well}. I love you most, little Boogie.
