I always tell you–little girl–how they put you on my belly when you were freshly born, naked and brown-skinned, you quieted as soon as our bodies touched. Then you played your first trick on mommy. You peed all over me. I didn’t care though my little pickle, I pulled you right up to my breast and let you suckle. That was the first time we met outside of my belly, in love with each other right off the bat. I remember just the way you smelled, so sweet and fresh, pee pee and all. You’ve been my best friend since Lulu bean.

You should know how I feel about you girl, if you don’t already know. I marvel at your every feature. Your eyes suck in the whole world. They are wild and bright, full of intelligence and emotion. They hide nothing. Everything you feel spills out of them like the water gushing down a cataract. I feel their every cut when you are mad at me, every tear when you are sad, but mostly they bathe me in love, admiration, and joy. Your smile is like a quasar beaming out of a super massive black hole–pure life giving energy filling my universe. You overwhelm girl but in the best way. That same cosmic energy fuels you, Energizer bunny. You never stop, Brownie. Always moving around, limbs swinging, hips swaying, your chocolatey hair always wild and dancing freely in the air. You dance to the music in your head and the whole room follows you. You are one of those, Luna. You walk into a room and the atoms bow to your presence.

But like a magician with careful control, you shut down all the magic and slip into my embrace. You melt into me and you recharge with my love and warmth. You’re always there–in my bath, in my bed, while I wash the dishes–always aware of where I am, lest your charging station slip away. You have intuition, child, that will serve you well. Wit that will charm the charmer; Smarts that will take you far; Passion that will set the world aflame. Beauty with depth, talent with soul. Fearfully and wonderfully made. You have all of my admiration.

I always tell you little girl, how I always wanted you and what a surprise you were to me after four boys. My life was good before you came but now it is perfect. You are the gilding to an art frame. You are the diamond set in precious metal. You are the caviar on the cracker. You are the ornaments and lights on the Christmas tree. My daughter, you are gold.