An August Afternoon

Dearest Hyrum,

As your four month birthday approaches a sweet memory is brought to my mind from mid August. Your big sister had just gone down for her nap and I was busying myself around the house. You started calling out from your play mat in the living room. I picked you up and you smiled up at me, safe in my arms. It was a beautiful day, but I could feel Fall in the air when we went outdoors that morning. It was crisp, and there was a gentle breeze, blowing in change. A change of seasons, a change in the leaves, a change in the air.

 I sat on the couch with you, placing you gently on my lap. Your long body stretched from my knees to my stomach where your little legs curled up for warmth. You continued to coo and smile at me while you squeezed my fingers with your little hands. Your grasp felt so strong, and I didn't ever want you to let go. The house was quiet, it was just the two of us. We stared into each others eyes for a few minutes. My heart swelled up with emotion. I got lost in your big, beautiful blue eyes and dark eye lashes.

I looked at your little feet pressed against my stomach and realized that you had grown so much in these four short months.Then I looked at your hands as you played with my fingers and tried to bring them to your mouth. You found my wedding ring and you became so still as you turned it around on my ring finger. I thought about what that ring meant to me, that we were a forever family. I thought about how your Daddy made all my dreams come true as we were sealed in the temple and I later became a mother. It wasn't long until you drifted off to sleep after a short snack of course.

Your eyes slowly closed as I hummed a lullaby. The grasp you had on my fingers loosened slightly, and your tiny breaths became deep and heavy. At that moment, in our quiet old house, I felt so much love for you. I just sat and watched you and listened to your sweet little breaths.  Babies are a miracle, and I felt so blessed to have you as a part of our family. I wanted to hold onto that moment with you forever and ever. It was such a brief time, but it felt like a life time. I love it when time slows down so that I can soak up every ounce of joy and emotion I can out of one little moment with you. I write you these letters so that one day, when you leave the safety of our home, you will know that you are special, and more importantly, that you are loved...

xoxo

Mum