The Stages of Life

My first.

I want you to know how precious you are and always will be to me. You are my first child. My first son. My first everything, really. In the years to come, I will teach you so much, but you have already taught me infinite amounts. You have taught me what it is to be a mother. You have taught me to be selfless. You have taught me pure love. You have taught me that it is possible to have a piece of my heart outside of my body.

And it’s such a scary thing, but more than that, it’s beautiful.

And I still have so much to learn.

Thank you for being the one with whom I get to experience all of these firsts. There is no one else who could have done it. God chose you, my little prince.

I pray that you grow up strong and sweet and that you know and love Jesus and that you have a heart for others. I pray that you never let this world dull your bright and lovely personality. I pray that the world is less cruel to you than it can be. Because it will be cruel. But I’ll do my best to soften it, if even just a little. I pray that you are courageous and kind and generous and patient. I already see so much of this in you, and it makes me so proud to call you mine.

Anderson, I hope that you always know how very much you mean to me. You are my world right now.

You are my first. You will always be my first.

You are my sun, my moon, and all my stars, little one. Don’t you ever forget that.

I love you very very very much."

-Mommy Anne