To my little angel,

You are so perfect and special. Everyone who meets you loves you so much, but they don’t love you as much as I do. Your mommy and daddy are so happy to call you theirs. You make us all smile with every breath you take.

I cannot wait to watch you grow. I am so curious to hear what your first word will be. I’m anxious for the day you will take your first steps. I can’t wait till you start climbing on everything and your mommy will call me with colorfully worded stories about your little shenanigans. You are already so beautiful. I don’t know how you could get any more perfect, but I know you will.

As you grow up you may be far away but I will always be there for you. I will send you toys and candies and I will visit whenever I can. We will play together and splash in the water. We can go to Disney World to meet all the princesses and superheroes and when you’re big enough to ride the rides we will spin until our bellies hurt. When you start school I will help you learn your lessons. But most importantly will be the lessons that school doesn’t teach you. Like how to stand up for yourself and what you believe in and how to love the people and places around you. If the boys are mean or the girls tease you I will remind you of all the reasons you do not need them around (and tell you a few things to say to shut them up).

You sparkle and shine already and you have hardly even begun this life. You are going to be such a spectacular person. I am absolutely thrilled to see what the future holds for you darling little girl. Your mommy will raise you to be strong and stable but when you need someone to lean on I hope you always remember that you can lean on me.

I hope to give to you what your mom has given to me. When you are bigger, I will give you advice and answer your questions on the things that might make mommy mad. Whenever you are in trouble you can always call me first. It doesn’t matter where we are, I will help you however I can. As promised to your mother today, I will teach you how to drink alcohol like a man. I hope to be your friend and your mentor and be able to give you the world if you ask for it.

Hazel Emma, my goddaughter, I am so happy that I was picked today to be an important person in your life. But I am even more truly blessed that you will be such an important person in mine.