Hope, baby, I know you’re gettin’ older now, and I know deep down you probably thinkin’ about bein’ a mama. Bless your heart, though—we got you fixed, so that ship sailed a long time ago. And truth be told, even when you was younger, it just wasn’t in the cards for you to have babies of your own.

But I see you, sweetheart. I see the way you carry that little toy horse around in your mouth, and all your little toys too, like they’re your babies. You tote ‘em around and nurture ‘em like a mama cat would her kittens. That tells me that motherly heart’s still in you.

Now that you’re gettin’ older, I reckon it’s time we have a little talk about all this motherhood business. In the meantime, we still ain’t decided yet on these hermit crabs or that bird, but me and you can sit down tonight and discuss it proper.

Just know this, Hope—I love you, always.