Tonight, I am baking a cake. A white birthday cake filled with colored jimmies and covered with pink frosting, just as you requested. Then I will blow up the balloons and wrap the presents, because tomorrow is a very special day.
Three years ago I spent this night at the hospital waiting. Waiting for someone we did not yet know, but knew we wanted deperately to meet. To hold. And to love. I remember that when at last I held your tiny swaddled body, I saw myself in your eyes, in your tiny face, and I knew that you were indeed the one we had waited for. Darling you, perfect you, filled a gap in our family we had not previously realized was there.
Tomorrow we celebrate three years of Gabby. Three years of our sweet, sing-songy, happy girl. Three years of learning to love all things purple, learning to somersault, learning to find joy and a reason to giggle in even the smallest of things.
We love you, precious girl! Thank God for you!