Sweet Charlotte,

I’m writing this with you in my tummy. You and I have been sharing space for 37 weeks and 1 day today, and we get to meet you SO soon!

I hope someday you read this and know your parents, grandparents, and so many people were SO excited to meet you before you were even here.

I know that maybe you’ll look back and think, “Well that was a silly trend my mother loved.” And that would be OK. But I DO want you to know that everything in it was sourced, gifted, thrifted, salvaged, or repurposed in absolute excitement about you coming into this world.

Your beautiful crib came from one of our dearest friends, who put her baby girl to sleep in it, then passed it onto you! You’ll be the second baby who is lovingly laid down for a nap right here.

Your beautiful sheets came from your Nana who is beside herself about having a baby girl. Your sweet little stuffed animals came from your Grandma and your cousin’s Gigi.

Your Daddy gasped when he found the bunny art for you at our favorite local store, and I’ve been itching to incorporate some birds for you, Little Charlotte Wren. I carefully made these little lampshades for you out of my favorite soft, pink fabric, and as you grow up you’ll notice one of your lampshades is a little prettier than the other as I got a little better. Forgive your mama.

I wanted your room to feel like a garden where you could be planted and grow, so I painted you these little garden scenes out of a love affair with chinoiserie, which I may or may not giggle at in a few years as trends change.

You have been gifted the sweetest plush lovies to snuggle when you’re a big girl, and we’ve tucked away a few more toys for when you’re a little older. We hope you feel so comforted and loved when you hold them. That beautiful purple hedgehog? Handmade just for you by our friend. Somewhere in this glorious pile, you have a pink penguin your big brother Everett picked out JUST for you!

Your changing table and curtains were given to us by your Grandma who wanted you to have the prettiest room AND for your mama to have every convenience and help when changing you. We hope you know that we’ll be so honored to care for you in every way. We are so excited about caring for you–even your stinky diapers.

Your Daddy loved this beautiful pillow, and our dear friends gave us so many muslin swaddles we’ll use here until we bring you and your changing pad down from your bassinet in our room.

Your diapers and wipes are ready to go because so many friends wanted to help keep you clean and dry. And your sweet toy train was passed down from a from a friend, too! Your brother VERY carefully assembled it so it would look pretty just for you.

Your nursery chair rocked another one of the friends you’ll meet soon after you’re born, a smart and precious boy. Your little scalloped pendant light was found at an antique store and re-wired by your Daddy just for you. The beautiful barn art was painted by a dear friend at a time when I prayed for a little one (a little lamb just like you).

Your grandma and I plotted for a long time before deciding the shutters would go in this corner. And your Daddy and I picked out some flowers from our craft store to match your pretty rug.

Your little mobile was purchased many years ago, tucked away in hope that little eyes like yours would gaze up at it someday. For many years, I did not think I would have a baby of my own to enjoy it. And I’m so glad you will get to use it, too.

Your Grandma came to visit and helped me carefully choose where we’d hang this art to make your room feel so special. We decided either side of your window would be just right.

I found some of my very-favorite flowers in sweet little prints online, and took some craft store frames and some wrapping paper and tried to make things as pretty as we could.

Your precious Beatrix Potter book was a guestbook at a baby shower thrown just for you. And the story of Jemima Puddleduck inspired my love of cozy English gardens and foxgloves, so it’s open to those special pages. A little english lampshade is on a thrifted lamp, and we hope you love it, too.

An ultrasound of your precious profile is framed as we anticipate you, a little decor from your baby shower (a Beatrix Potter pinwheel) is waiting for you to enjoy someday soon.

Your very first Teddy Bear from your grandparents is perched on your bookshelf, a special book from my own “Fairygodmother” is waiting to be passed onto you on your bookshelf, and a little bookmark from your baby shower is waiting to hold the places of the stories we will read together. The books below were given to you by SO many friends!

This is a place we all hangout and wait to meet you! That includes the pet beagles you will soon meet, too. They say they’re sorry if they wake you from a nap, but they’re awfully fond of barking at the mail carriers. Here’s Lucy looking up at Daddy.

Your beagle Harley loves your nursing pillow and may have a hard time sharing with you, but we’ll persuade her.

Sweet Charlotte, we love you and we cannot wait to hold and rock you here. You can come anytime. We’re full of joy and anticipation and gratitude to Jesus for your life. We’re full of wonder that we’ll get to gaze at your precious face and hold you close to our hearts oh-so soon.

Love,
Your Mama