I did at least one thing right..

See?

Many things have changed since my uncomplicated delivery of this little girl. I've watched as her chicky-fuzz hair slowly grew into blonde ringlets (while mine traveled the rainbow at the speed of my whim). She has helped me to find the mother inside myself and nurture her as well.

 I know how lucky I am to have one perfectly healthy, beautiful child, and I've learned not to take that for granted. It's amazing to me that she's already eight years old, as of last Sunday. I feel like I was a baby myself when I had her. I was so naive. I would never have believed that I would go on to lose her sister, and that I would have to explain to my five year old why she would never get to see her baby sister alive. It still breaks my heart, but I know that without her, I wouldn't have had such a strong will to survive after Zoe died. Ivy saved me in a way.

She's been waiting to be a big sister for a healthy sibling for a long time. I hope that in just a couple of weeks, she gets that. She deserves it after all...