My girls are four and seven and I’ve only just realized that I’ve never shared our birthday journals with you. When I first found out that I was pregnant with Ella, I was home alone for a few days and so overwhelmed with the news. Josh was traveling and it would be several days before I could share the excitement with him in person. I remember getting into my bed that night and writing my baby a letter on our wedding stationery, five weeks into our pregnancy. Throughout the next nine months, we both wrote her many letters that are now safely tucked away in her baby book.
The more I thought about how neat it would be for her to read those later in life, I thought about how much better it would be if she could read letters from other special people in her life, too. The birthday journal was born. I picked up an inexpensive journal at Target one day and we wrote her a letter in the days before her “birth” day. The journal made the trek to the hospital and our wonderful friends and family (who spent a grueling sixteen hours in the waiting room) wrote her letters as they waited. Each time a visitor arrived during our hospital stay, I asked them to write a few words. I have continued to add notes throughout her life, on her birthdays or when something momentous happened.
When I found out I was pregnant with Sophie, we did the very same thing. Only this time, Ella was able to “write” her a few notes as well. I wish I could say I had been more diligent about writing letters, but I’ll be honest and say that dividing my time between two children made it infinitely more difficult. I was working in the girls’ room a few days ago and saw the journals on their shelf and knew it was time to add to them. I decided that leaving them next to my bed would encourage me to write a few words whenever I had a minute and I hope that the pages will soon be filled.I know that looking back on these notes from the people who loved them best will be such a treasure as they grow up. If you are expecting or know someone who is, I highly recommend gifting them a journal so that they can start writing letters to baby! I am so thrilled that some of my earliest thoughts and memories are preserved for my girls for a lifetime.
