Happy Birthday, Baby Girl.. You Dazzle Me

Ella is 2 today.  That means that we have been together for the best 725 days of my life.  725 days of the most fun, the most heart-swelling moments, with the sweetest, kindest soul I know. 725 daysof being her Mommy.  I cannot, in my wildest dreams, imagine a greater honor.

We have a dream-come-true foster-to-adopt story.  We started the process, decided to try fertility, realized that we couldn’t pull it off (more on my bulky uterus and all of it’s drama soon), finished the process, asked that we be placed on the list for a newborn (or there abouts) baby, and in just over 3 weeks, received the call that we could come and pick up our beautiful (their words, so you don’t think I’m bragging too much) baby girl.

E’s birth parents were a healthy couple who have their own story to tell about why they relinquished their rights.  They just were not ready, and wanted the best for the baby that they were bringing into this world.  They only asked that she be placed in a home that she would never have to leave.

We have never met them – to our knowledge, they don’t know who we are, by name or face – but we keep in close email contact, sending an update with photos every 3-4 months.  They always reply so kindly, which makes this process (and it’s all a process in parenthood, no matter how you got there) so much more beautiful.  This is not the common circumstance for an adoption through the foster care system, but it happened for us and we are so very grateful that it did.

Words are powerful.  At this point in history, more than ever before, we know that this is the case.  Until recently, Baby Girl – which is a surprisingly  common term of endearment for… baby girls.. bothered me.  Until our adoption was finalized, when Ella was 8 months old, Baby Girl was her legal name.  She has always been Ella to us, but that wasn’t always what was yelled out when we got called from a doctor’s office waiting room.

It wasn’t her name, so it was uncomfortable.  She’s Ella.  But that feeling has changed lately.   She is our baby girl, and that’s the only power those words hold now.

We have had lots of cake fun this week, since L & Ella share birthdays 1 week apart.  Elmo played a big part in the celebration.  I found a 54 in mylar Elmo that glides across the floor.  It blew. her. mind.  

With our kids, whether 2 or 4-legged, it’s the little things.. Love blows their mind.  Her love blows my mind. She is joy, in it’s purest form.  This will really shock you; I am so proud of her!  She’s so smart, and – they were right – beautiful, in every way.

And I wish, for just a few minutes a day, that I could freeze time and hold her like a baby for just a little longer, and bottle her laughter so that I could always hear her belly laughs and squeals of delight.  But I can’t, so I savor each moment, and relish in every phase.

Happy Birthday, our sweet Ella.  You will always be our Baby Girl.

On the day that you were born, all of the gods got together and threw a BIG party. They decided that you & Mommy & Momma & Lucy should be a family. And so we all went home & began our greatest adventure. You.

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