I am a sap for my girl

Yesterday was your surprise party, and it was perfect. It was perfect because I felt like I was giving you exactly what would make you happy - truly. Friends. Delight. Ice cream in the middle of the day. Freedom to celebrate Messy and Silly and Pretend. You were the pretty and popular one at the dance, and all the boys wanted to be on your card. Ok, so there were no boys, but that's not the point.

The point is that I love you with such a force that it is humbling. When I am with you I have no other desire than to surround you and absorb you and make the world exist for you, and if I were to never think of myself again it would be too soon. What parent doesn't feel this way?

But no one has a Juliet like I do. No one knows your soft cheeks, your humming, your frenetic productivity, your sunny-side-up-since-you-were-trying-to-be-born nature. How could anyone else understand the pleasure in carrying your weight up the steps at bed time, or the feel of your little hands around my neck? Surely no other parent becomes drunk like I do when you wrap yourself around me and sway and chant, 'My momma is so wonnnnnnnderful...'

It's you that is wonderful in every way. Full of wonder, brimming over with sparkling joy and wonder, rolling around every waking minute of every day in wonder. And your birthday party yesterday was a tribute to you - to give back a little of that wonder that you serve to me on a silver platter every second of your life just by existing. I love you.