100 Sweet Nothings for Baby. Mina Parker

      100

      sweet nothings

       FOR BABY

      Mina Parker

      First published in 2008 by Conari Press, LLC.

       an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser,

       With offices at:

       500 Third Street, Suite 230

       San Francisco, CA 94107

       www.redwheelweiser.com

      Copyright © 2008 by Conari Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or

       transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any

       information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser LLC. Reviewers may

       quote brief passages.

      ISBN-13: 978-1-57324-363-6

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.

      Cover, text design, and illustrations by Sara Gillingham.

       Typeset in Emily and Jillsville.

      Printed in Hong Kong

       SS

       10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      “A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.”

      Carl Sandburg

      Every moment of your life has led you to this one—holding a beautiful, sacred, burping

       little wonder called your baby. Whether this is your first time or your fifth, new parenthood

       delivers a sweet and exciting jolt of electricity into your life.

      In every corner of the world, a new baby is cause for joy and celebration. Over the years

       I've been lucky enough to meet some of the finest babies ever made (yours is most likely

       the very finest of all) and each time I am bowled over by their parents' ability to make the

       perfect place in their hearts to fit a being they never knew until the moment of its birth.

       I'm delighted by a mother's warmth and a father's silliness, and all the shades of love

       in between.

      So welcome to the sweet life of parenthood, and from my family to yours, here is a book to

       celebrate and support what you do best—loving your baby in every way, from top to bottom.

      Mina Parker

      Welcome to the world my love

       we've waited just for you

       and made a place right in our hearts

       that's strong and deep and true.

      Watching you grow and learn thrills me to my toes.

       I love you more than I can say, and each day my love grows.

      “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.”

      George Bernard Shaw

      May true happiness grab hold of you and never let you go.

      “The family is one of nature's masterpieces.”

      George Santayana

      Our family makes a circle around you

       of love and giggles and fun.

       We'll give you everything we've got

       our precious little one.

      I kiss your nose, your ears, your toes;

       I kiss your little knees.

       I kiss you all over, then wrap you up,

       and give you a great big squeeze.

      We'll wrap you up warm,

       and your grandmas will spin yarns

       of days when your parents were small.

      “Each child has its fairy godmother in its own soul.”

      Francis Thompson

      Grab hold of my hand and we'll ride on the tail of a star.

       In our imagination, we travel near and far.