To Chloe, on her first birthday.

Dear Chloe,

Are you really one year old today? The first year behind us? How can that be? I know that it was just moments ago that I held you for the first time, just minutes since I laughed and cried, marveled to see that you had Jack’s red hair and Aidan’s bluest blue eyes. I’m certain that it could only have been a few days at most since you smiled at your Daddy for the first time, since you showed us those two perfect dimples and that secret third one, perched in the very corner of your mouth like a sweet little kiss.

Yet, it seems that you have always been here. We can’t remember a time without your funny smile, your silly one-tooth on the top, your funny giggle.

And always, it will feel like just yesterday that I handed you over to an amazing doctor, placing you really into the arms of your Father to keep you safe. Letting you go was certainly the hardest moment of my whole life, but getting you back, knowing that you were okay, hearing that doctor say that they were finished, that everything went well – that was the moment when we knew that life would go on, you would grow up, and be healthy and happy and the perfect beautiful little girl we had dreamed of and waited for. You are so tough – already, at one you have experienced more physical pain than some will know in a lifetime. And yet, you smile. All the time. And you always did smile, even when you were hurting and healing.

You are a gift. You will never know how much we prayed, and waited, and hoped to have you. You are the precious, perfect completion of our family. We are so grateful and honored to have you as our sweet baby girl. We love you. Happy Birthday, coco bean!