to my firstborn [from the archives]

you have one more day to be my baby...

tomorrow morning we'll wake up, we'll get in the car and we'll drive to the hospital,

and you'll become a big sister.

technically, you won't be my baby anymore. you'll be my big girl...

God has equipped you in so many ways to be a big sister.

you are kind and thoughtful and compassionate,

always looking after others and making sure they're happy and comfortable.

you love to help me around the house, and you love little babies.

your family is so important to you.

i believe you will be Tessa's favorite and best friend, almost by default,

and i hope that each day you choose her to be yours too

i pray that you grow to be the kind of girl, teenager, woman that she can look up to.

you love to do right, and you love positive reinforcement.

i pray i can nurture that desire into a love for goodness and mercy and mostly just Jesus.

Tessa will need you.

you will identify with her so much better than we can.

she'll need you when we aren't being fair.

she'll need you when we aren't around.

she'll need you when we don't understand.

i think you're up for the challenge.

and when she's old enough, you'll need her too.

after all, you'll have the same two crazy "old fashioned" parents.

you will "get" each other like no one else can.

you will be her confidant 

and i hope you'll see that as a big responsibility,

but one you feel privileged to carry.

God chose you to be the big sister in our family.

He chose you to be the guinea pig, the one with whom we'll make our parenting mistakes.

i think you have the kind of heart that will extend grace to us, and i'm thankful for that.

you've already told me how you plan to teach Tessa how to walk, stand, crawl...

and play with your Chuggington town.

i hope you discover a wonderful playmate in your sister.

i hope that you will develop a bond stronger than anything else on this earth.

the two of you will share secrets that only the two of you will ever know.

you will love and play and argue and fight and make up and love.

this sister bond has the potential to be the most important earthly relationship in your life.

tomorrow you will wake up and you'll be the big sister.

wear that title proudly.

if you ask, Jesus will give you everything you need to fulfill that calling.

i love you more than you could ever know.

and do you wanna know a secret?

you'll always be my baby, no matter how many more babies join our family.

** every single one of these photos were taken by my cousin-in-law Melissa