My sweet Emerson,

Today without knowing it was happening we nursed together for the last time. You were comforted by Mama and in return I was comforted by you. I felt your little body relax just as it has thousands of times before, your breathing steadied slowly matching mine. Without knowing it, we shared that connection for the last time. Tonight at bedtime we read your books, as we always do. We sang songs together, as we always do. But tonight was different, you settled yourself down all on your own. I sang you your goodnight song with tears in my eyes knowing that this was going to be our new normal. I know this won’t be the first time you out grow something and I’ll have to get used to the fact that you’re growing up. No matter what though, you’ll always be my baby.

Emerson Claire, just shy of 18 months