I'm allowed to do this every once in a while.

Dear Van,

Usually your daddy and I are very good about letting you have a little bitty cry-time before you soothe yourself to sleep. However, you have been such a dumpling lately (laughing in the swing set, giggling at the kids in the pool, grinning ear to ear when you hear your daddy or see Sophie) that I just couldn't stand hearing your boo-hoos this evening.  I peeped in your room and you were snuggling muddy and fussing with your fingers in your mouth.  I picked you up and you smiled ear to ear. I melted. I rocked you for just a few minutes and you fell fast asleep. Your head was nestled in the crook of my arm, and your teeny palm was resting on my heart beat.  While admiring your precious profile, I realized how quickly you are changing. I know soon you'll be a fiesty toddler, then a wild little boy. . . but before I could go much further, I grabbed you tightly and thought 'this is by far the best feeling in the world.' I never want to forget that feeling. I don't want to imagine the day rocking you to sleep is no longer an option. I want to link this story so you'll remember how I will justify crawling into your bedroom when I'm 90 to rock you to sleep.

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

I love you!
Mommy