To My Sweet Morrow

 Morrow: meaning "Morning". Ps 30:5 "...Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes on the morrow". Your birth has brought much joy my sweet. And the verse reminds us of God's great love and healing. How he makes things new and joyful. Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Ann: meaning "God has favored me". I pray God's favor will be upon you. I certainly feel blessed and "favored" to be your mother. You were named after your Grandma Cavanaugh and your Grandma Pavlik. They both have the middle name Ann.

Morrow, you are my 4th child. Life is hectic all around but I look down at you and there is focus, and light, and love. You are my sweet little cuddly. You may ask when you get older why there is less written in your baby book, Or why there are fewer pictures. Does this mean we love you less? Let me tell you the ways you are loved that won't be captured in a book with this crazy life flying by around us. Ways that you and maybe even I will need to be reminded of when looking back at empty pages of a little yellow baby book with a bunny on the front. 

• When I was checking out of the hospital your daddy went to get the car. I remember rocking you in the rocking chair with the afternoon sun streaming down on us. I looked at you and cried, just wanting to remember every bit of that moment knowing you may be my last little baby. The sweet girl I prayed for. 
  
• It was just the three of us for a couple days. I had never before felt blue after the others, but I was filled with so many bittersweet feelings, never wanting our time to end. Wanting you small forever, yet also dreaming of the little person you would become.
  
  
  
• You are so content and quick to smile. We drove to Iowa to visit Great-Grandma when you were 5 weeks old. You didn't make a peep the whole trip. I nursed you in bathroom stalls all the way to Iowa. It was just you and me in those stalls and we would just stare at each other with oldies music playing in the background. Your eyes were so big and blue. I couldn't picture a more beautiful little baby. You smiled for the first time that weekend (Sept. 21, 2012). That might not be in your baby book, but it is in my heart for always. 
  
• You slept in bed with us for a good 6 months (even now I'll grab you out of your crib and snuggle in with you). I never did that with the others for fear of messing up their schedules, or wanting more sleep. With you I didn't want to be apart from you for a minute. I'll never forget waking up with you nestled in the crook of my arm. How at first you could fit inside my arm, and now you roll on your side or tummy to sleep beside me. The peace your sleeping face brings is priceless. One morning, when Grandma had the other 3, I woke up to you staring at me with a little smile on your face. It brings a smile to my face to picture it. It was almost like you knew it was going to be just you and me!
  
  
  
• I love the way you bounce up and down with your legs and your wide open little mouth when you see me. 
  
  
• Boy are you loud!! I love your little sounds, and love having such a talkative little baby! 
• You tried so hard for weeks to roll over making these crazy little noises, then finally when you did it Daddy and I were there cheering you on. We even got it on video!! 
• You get three times the love from your siblings!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I probably carry you more than the others, because I just can't bare to set you down. 
  
  
• And even though I love all of you "The Best". Daddy jokes that you're my favorite. 
  

So my dear Morrow Ann, your baby book may not be full, but my heart is full. Full of YOU. Never doubt that you are loved, valued, treasured. Every morning I look forward to your sweet face. Joy truly does come on the Morrow.