You are one today. An entire year old :) Where has our year together gone? I still remember your limp little body resting in my arms when we brought you home from the hospital. I can still feel your tiny little breaths on my cheek for all the hours I held you so close. I remember the way you whimpered when you were hungry, your plump little lips searching for your bottle, then settling on shoving your little fist in your mouth. Those days are long gone, sweet girl, and have been replaced with toddling, uneasy first steps... and words like "nom nom nom" to tell us you are hungry... The curliest little afro tops your big round head, and we spend a lot of time teaching and disciplining. You are strong, Selah, and very strong willed. But your soul is precious as ever, and you love like no other. I tuck all those memories away, hiding them in my heart, and I get to pause and reflect - just as the meaning of your name commands - on all the goodness that came to this life because you were born.
As much as your Dad and I have taught you over the past year, Selah, you have taught us more. No amount of "John-Jacob-Jingle-Heimer-Schmidt"s, or where your eyes/ears/nose/hair/mouth are, compare to the depth of meaning you've brought to our lives. You have awakened us to life, daughter, and what it means to feel.. and be present... that it's okay to mess up and still see restoration and victory.. to make memories and recognize their weight of importance... You've led us back to God, and it's because of you that Daddy and I are more in love with Him than we've ever known... You have brought us absolute joy.
Mom and Dad are not perfect, Selah, and I speak for the both of us when I say we are thankful for your resilience. You don't care that we've never done this before. You don't care we parent you through trial and error...a LOT. You just flash us your charming smile, and bounce right back. You are amazing. It's so much fun to love you, and teach you, and nurture you.
The most honest parts of me cannot help but admit that I was a bit afraid of whether it would ever be possible to feel like I am your Mom. I wondered if the "adoption feeling" would ever disappear. Man, did it ever! And you know why? Because true love sees beyond DNA. And that true love is God, Selah. His love for you, and Mommy and Daddy, is so much bigger than this whole adoption thing. His love covers all circumstances, and makes the bigger picture clear. It doesn't matter that you didn't grow in my belly. And it doesn't matter that you don't look like us. Because from the moment you were created, God had our family figured out already. He knew how much we would love you. And love you we do, baby girl. We love you like you are our own, because you ARE our own. And that will never ever ever change.
You, my baby girl, make life richer. There is not one single thing that your Dad and I would take back, do over, or wish differently. You make us better and fill our hearts to overflowing. Before you, we only THOUGHT we were living. And now with you, we can't help ourselves.
I can't believe it's been one year already. But it has, and what a year it has been! It's been one whole year of truly living. And it's all thanks to God, and YOU. It's an absolute joy and honor to be your Mom, Selah. I love you so much. Happy birthday!
Love,
Mama
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