I knew that this day would come much sooner than I would like. From the day she was born I have been trying to savor every moment of this 'could be our last' baby of mine.
I haven't had to try very hard.
The first thought I remember having after she was born was how different she looked (if only to me) from the rest of our children. Nick's response to my comments were "Of course....she's a different baby" but I was amazed that two people could make so many different looking bodies working with all the same materials. Such dark brown hair (which slightly covered her shoulders "when will that fall off?") and her own unique face. I was in awe. She was beautiful, and once again...I was in love.
My love continued to grow in the days that followed. I had lots of help that first week and I used it to cuddle, hold, and love her. Jodi commented to my mother "she won't give anyone else a chance to hold her, she never puts her down!" and it was true. I knew the help would leave, and then I would have to put her down, so I was soaking up all the time I could get.
As written in my journal earlier today "On the anniversary of her birth I have been reminiscing about her arrival and bringing her home. I remember feeling so completely in love with her, and that happiness and love flowing over onto the rest of the family. I became even more grateful for our amazing children and wanted to have four more. It was almost like a drug, having that baby made me so happy, I never wanted to stop having babies. Now that I have had a year to get to know her, I wonder if it was just her happy spirit that I was feeling."
This girl truly is the happiest child I know. Our first three babies liked to save their smiles to share with a select few, but not Lila. She shares her smile for the world to see and it is a joy to watch her light up faces everywhere we go.
We couldn't have hoped for a better addition to our already perfect family, but she came anyway.
