Promises to You, My Unborn One

I promise to give you as gentle a birth experience as possible.
I promise you your genital integrity regardless of your gender.
I promise to nourish you from my body, both now while you are inside of me and later on with the milk I produce -thereby gifting you with sustenance, comfort, and even protection of your health!
I promise to cherish you as the gift you are.
I promise to delight in your giggles, your coos, the new things you do, and in just you being YOU.
I promise to comfort and protect you always.
I promise to be there for you -in the light and through the dark, though I may be drained and through the rains.
I promise that my arms will always be open to you.
I promise to never knowingly allow toxins or harmful substances into your body.
I promise to teach you about God and His Word, to strive to "train you up" in a godly manner, through example and servant leadership, and with kindness, respect, forgiveness and understanding. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." ~from 1 John 4:18 "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." ~Phil. 4:5
Honey, Mamma is a sinner, she fails sometimes a lot. But darling, not only are you a precious child in our family, you are a precious member of a bigger family -God's family. As such you are a brother or sister to me in Christ and I will strive to serve you with Christ-like humility, gentleness, and tender loving care. To work at cultivating in you and me the fruits of the spirit, and to build you up so that you may always be "growing in the grace of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ" -as I too, hopefully am growing and learning and I hope to teach you with the same grace that our dear Lord lavishes on me. "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up" ~1 Thess. 5:11 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." ~ Gal. 5:22-23 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." ~ 2 Peter 3:18

Promises from your sisters~

Adelina ( age 5 1/2): "I promise to not let Albulena pinch you or be mean to you. I promise not to let you get fat lips like Albulena does sometimes. I promise to bring you to Mommy if you ever get an ouchie. I will teach you how to say a lot of words. I would love you more than my heart."

Teuta (age 3): "I will be gentle to the baby. I will give you an apple. I will be nice."

Today

You are small today
Today you are a little girl
I cherish you

You are sweet today
Today you are full of cuddles
Snuggle up

You are full of wonder today
Today you share your dreams
Dream big

You are funny today
Today you make me laugh with joy
Laughter makes things bright

You are you today
Today I am proud to be your Mommy
Today and always

Today

Copyright Jacquelyn Bytyqi 2012

Goodbye to Summer

I hope you have
the sweetest dreams
Of tadpole nurseries
in mountain streams,

Of purple flowers
a-hum with bees
And breezy breezes
in the trees,
Of bears all fat
and full of berries,

Of trees all plump
with ripe red cherries,
Of meadows ringing
with bright bird-song,
Of days so warm
and full and long,

Of Sister's arms
around your neck,
Of Mother's kisses,
smooch and peck,
Of watermelon
sweet and drippy,
Lemonade to taste
and sippy,

Run and jump
and chase and climb,
Dream about
sweet summertime~

Copyright Jacquelyn Bytyqi 2012