I'm in love.

I don't think I was prepared for how

in love I would be with this creature.

Love her, sure, but I'm infatuated,

mesmerized. I delight in her quirks.

I can't get enough of her smooches.

I even somehow manage to adore her

strong will to test boundaries.

I want to share with you part of our

bedtime ritual that recently turned

me into pure, 100% mommy mush.

After dressing for bed and reading a story

it's become our habit to turn off the light,

and snuggle in the rocker. I say our prayer.

I sing "You are my sunshine."

And at some point during the song, she

looks at me with her doe eyes through the

darkness, with the silliest grin on her face,

kisses me on the mouth mid lyric,

then kisses one cheek, then the other,

all the while holding my face gently in her

tiny, pudgy little hands. The kisses come

like showers over me. Sometimes I can't

finish singing through giggles.

Other times I stop because the tears of

joy choke me up for a moment.

I will forever and ever cherish this

memory of our evening smooches.

How her daytime "No, Mommy!" is forgotten

and cast aside for true love. Mommy and me love.

It's times like these that I am thankful to

have this doll baby to myself at night.

To pray with. To sing to.

To snuggle and smooch with.

Oh to be in love.