Dear Baby...

There are times when I worry that I am not going to be prepared enough to take care of you when you arrive. I’ve found myself overwhelmed with the what ifs of providing you with everything you’ll possibly need. Am I old enough, smart enough, capable enough to be the caregiver of another human being? Can we afford to do this?

And then I look at our cozy little house and see that we managed to hang our pictures straight and the milk in the fridge isn’t expired, your father, our two dogs, and our cat all are in good health… and me, I find time to put fresh flowers on the dining room table and not scuff up my favorite red shoes too much. We pay our bills, sock a little away in savings and usually have a few bucks left over to treat ourselves to a little dinner out or a bargain shopping spree. When it comes to raising you… we won’t have it all… we won’t know it all… but we’re going to give it the best shot we can.

I think about my own parents… the stories of my upbringing… My mom and dad worked extra hard on managing their money so that my mom could stay at home. I don’t remember ever being without anything because there was always so much love. I know your daddy's house was filled with that same love too.

And for you, the same surplus waits. You won’t enter this world with your college tuition already paid, or all the newest and greatest toys, and we are going to work hard on making it as a single salary house-hold. But I’m guessing you’ll never notice… because the really good stuff in life can’t be found on a store shelf. It doesn’t wait within the walls of banks, or under pretty wrapping paper.

I can’t promise we will be able to give you everything you’ll ever want, but we measured our worth and counted our blessings and I can promise you this little one, we’re down right wealthy in the things that you’ll need most.