Dear Avery,

I went on a school trip once to a planetarium.  I was about twelve years old at the time.  I remember lying on my back on a carpeted floor and staring up into a giant dome filled with tiny little dots.  The lights went out and one star at a time, the darkness lit up .  A constellation here…a planet over there…until pretty soon, we were wrapped up in the entire universe.  And in that moment, I fell in love.

For years after that, I was fascinated with astronomy.  My room was filled with books about space…my mind was filled with the grandness of a light year…and my heart was filled with gratitude for the North Star that always led the way.  I got a telescope for Christmas one year and with it, I would just stare up at the moon in total wonder.

What I really loved about space though, was how it made me feel…

Here I was; one little girl…on one little planet…in this endless universe.  And until I had an interest in astronomy, I never realized just how tiny we really were.  Our planet, was nothing more than a speck in the vastness of space.  Our planet, was actually a star to other planets.  Our planet, wasn’t even visible through most of the universe.  And yet, all the while, our planet was the whole world to us.  It was home.

This was so comforting to me growing up.  I would often find myself staring up into the darkness and I would be reminded that being small doesn’t mean being insignificant.

Two years ago today…I fell in love again.  With you.

I held in you in my arms for the very first time and you were so little…so tiny…so delicate.  And yet, you were the whole world to us.  For three days straight we held you in our arms because you wouldn’t have it any other way…and it’s kind of been like that ever since.  It’s as though you came into the world knowing that this life wasn’t meant to be walked alone…and so we walk together.  Your hand in mine.  My hand in yours.

Today, you turn two.

Today, I look at you with that same wonder that I did when I looked at the stars.

Today, I want to remind you that you are the whole world.

Because there will likely come a time when you feel small.  A time when you feel like one little girl…on one little planet…in an endless universe.  And when you feel like that, I want you to look out at the stars…out into the darkness…and I want you to notice the light.  I want you to recognize the light.  And I want you to recognize it in yourself.  In your beautifully contagious smile…in the adorable way that you tuck your head in your blanket when you go to bed…in the way that your entire being just can’t help but dance at the sound of music.  Any music.  Recognize the joy…recognize the love…recognize the laughter.  Because being small doesn’t mean being insignificant.

And you, my sweet girl, are the whole world.

I’m not going to lie…it pains me to see you grow up so fast.  And yet, look at you!  You’re amazing.  You’re beautiful.  You’re wondrous.  And I want to spend forever watching you.  Forever watching you cuddle with your Daddy…forever watching you laugh with your brother…forever holding your hand.

I want to spend forever watching you be the whole world.

You are the light in the darkness.  You are the North Star leading the way.  You are home.

You are so small…and yet, so significant.

Thank you, my beautiful Avery, for choosing us.  Thank you for giving us the blessing of loving you.

Thank you…for being the whole world…