dear gracie,i have learned so much about you this summer. i have learned that your heart is bursting with love. i love watching you discover other kids at the park, pool, store, etc and instantly want to know their name, age and favorite color. you are so social and friendly (now don’t get me wrong, a little stranger danger will do you some good, too. we will work on that!) i know you love to talk and ask questions but i believe your true desire is to know people. to care for them. you ask daddy how his work day was and you ask me how the sick kids at…

dear gracie, you are away at grandma and bop bop’s house. you’ve only been away for a couple of days and i find myself, in the stillness, missing you so much. i miss your adorable chatter and your never ending curiosity. i miss the way you smile at me and your cheerful giggles. i miss your silliness and your wild imagination. i miss the tears i get in my eyes when i read you bedtime stories. i miss you needing me. you’ll be back tomorrow and i am so grateful that you get to go on adventures to grandma and bop bop’s house, be spoiled rotten, and receive crazy amounts…

dear gracie,you are precious. you are sweet. you are caring. you are silly. you are brave. you are adventurous. you are wild. you are perfect. i want to save your sweet kisses to have forever. i want to hold onto your tight hugs all day long. i love you so much. thank you for giving me grace. thank you for making me smile. thank you for making me better. sometimes i sneak into your room at night to give you a kiss. tears well up in my eyes as i watch you sleep and i imagine the dreams you must be having. i pray that your dreams come true someday.…