Letter to Nora, from Mommy

Nora Lee,

                Happy Birthday to my little girl.  Where do I even begin?  First of all, has it really been a year?  I vividly remember every detail of March 19, 2012.  I remember waking up in the wee hours of the morning to head to the hospital.  Your daddy and I didn’t grab anything to eat before we left, so we intended on stopping by a McDonalds to grab something only to find out the one close to our house is not open 24 hours!!!  So we trudged on to the hospital….hungry.

                I honestly cannot believe 365 days have passed since the day we first met you.  You came out crying, just loud enough to let us know that you had a set of working lungs.  Dark hair also abounded atop your head and you had the most petite little legs. We knew right away that you didn’t look like your daddy’s baby pictures, my baby pictures, or your sister’s baby pictures.  We are still trying to figure out just exactly who you resemble.  Do know this, you are beautiful.  Complete strangers stop us to tell us this.  But also remember this; it only matters if that beauty is also radiating from the inside.

                Doing things on your own time, not performing on command and just now learning to sleep well at night, you continually remind us that you are your own person.  Just lately your little personality has really begun to develop.  You are sweet.  So sweet.  You blow sweet little kisses, say your words so tenderly and love to snuggle.  And although we tried to not make a habit out of it early on, you love being rocked to sleep.  Content to just sit on a lap and watch the world go by, you have decided that you aren’t quite ready to be a mover and a shaker JUST yet. 

                I love watching you when you accomplish something new, your face lights up and you clap for yourself! You have become very vocal the past few weeks and you like to point at things (arm raised up, finger pointed down) and grunt repeatedly.  You have big stories to tell.  But I will warn you, you have stiff competition.  Everyone knows how much I like to talk and your big sister isn’t too far behind. 

                Nora, your daddy and I may not bring it up too often, but please never forget how much we longed for your safe arrival.  You see, we lost 2 babies between you and Emmy.  The pain that accompanied those losses was so deep, but we trusted then and we trust now in God’s promises and we know that He orchestrates every detail of our lives.  We know that without those losses, YOU would not be here. 

                My daughter, you bring so much joy to my life.  You have taught me to savor each moment and each passing milestone.  Never in one million years would your daddy and I have guessed that we would be blessed with 2 intelligent, sweet and beautiful little girls. I wish that you could stay at this sweet age forever, but I also look forward to watching you grow into a strong, generous, loving woman. 

I love you with all my heart,

Mommy