It's so hard to believe that a year ago today, a "stork" of sorts put the most beautiful 5-week old baby girl in my arms. She was the smallest baby that I had seen in a long time and she was entrusted to our care.
Kenny was gone and his response was "she's beautiful, but so little." I was worried about the boys and their reaction. Over that weekend we had shopped and I'd tried to tell them how little she'd be, but she was even smaller than I'd expected. They were smitten from the moment they saw her and she quickly wrapped her little finger around all of our hearts.
I have to say that I have the most wonderful husband and sons that a woman could ask for. Kenny would call from Afghanistan to check on his "girls and boys." The boys would almost fight when I'd get home with her after I returned to work on who could get her out of the car. It took a little while for them to hold her because of her size, but once they realized that they wouldn't break her, they were in full big brother mode. They quickly learned (without being asked) how to change diapers and they both learned how to make bottles. And, who would think that two teenage boys would have more photos on their cell phones of this sweet little thing than they do of friends and/or girls.
I wondered how I'd do it being "mom" to an infant again after almost 13 years. Well, the sleep deprivation wasn't as bad as I'd remembered and her little smiles and the snuggles made up for any sleep that I was missing.
Over the past year we've witnessed all of her firsts, been scared when we had to see a cardiologist, but rejoiced months later upon finding out the problem had corrected itself. We've lost sleep, had to learn to carry everything but the kitchen sink every time we leave the house, but all of us walk with a spring in our step because she's brought so much to our lives.
Who would have thought that this little person would bring so much joy into the lives that she has touched. We are the ones who are truly blessed to have her as part of our family and we sincerely hope that she is legally ours soon because she's already ours in our hearts.
