7 Years

7 years.

A lifetime ago.

A different person’s life.

That sweet, innocent time when our dreams were in the verge of their arrival.

Warm, summer evenings. Orange sunsets, pink hummingbirds.

A swollen belly.
A nursery waiting.
A lifetime ahead of us.

The day before her birth was spent in the pool, planning my sister in law’s 30th birthday the next day-before we knew that Ruthie Lou and she would share their special day.

When the sun set and stars came out, I went inside to plan for the teacher who would replace me, shop online for baby girl headbands, and practice that new camera that would capture her every milestone. My puppy ran around my feet and when contractions started I could clearly see how everything in life was about to change.

We waited 37 weeks for her.
We waited a lifetime for her.

As we left for the hosptial, I felt scared, brave, and strong.

Tomorrow, I would meet my baby.

And life as we knew it would never be the same.

I would never interrupt the innocence of that time to warn us of what was to come. The beauty of that time was in the not-knowing. But, what I wouldn’t give to put my hands on that belly again, safely holding my baby inside, loving her, feeling her move.

We wanted her so badly.
We will always want her so badly.

She changed our our lives for the better.
I only wish it could have been longer.
I only wish her lifetime was longer than mine.

Tomorrow, as we have every day for the last 7 years, we honor the love our daughter brought and continues to be in our life and in our family.

We will eat all the delicious food for you. (Well, the boys will. Maybe I’ll be able to have a smoothie❤️)