Connections to Kira

If someone told me a year ago that I would be holding a 3rd daughter in my arms with red hair, bright blue eyes, and skin as white as snow; I would never have believed them. But here you are.  You rock my whole world. You are undeniably the most shocking and amazing addition to our family. I can’t get over how much your sisters adore you. They treat you like you are a celebrity in our house and I am in awe that the 3 of you girls are so in love with each other.  It’s the most incredible thing to watch the transformation you have made in our house. It’s as if you bring us even closer together as a family.

When I brought you home from the birth center a couple hours after you were born, I knew right then and there how much I needed you. You never gave me any reason to worry or question my parenting. You fit into our family like a glove; in fact I wondered how in the world I lived without you.  It was after our San Diego trip when you were about 5 months old that you gave up on taking milk from a bottle.  I think that was the “ginger” in you making its’ appearance. You were strong-willed and adamant that you were going to wait until I came home from work to eat. This did make the babysitters nervous since you would go atleast 10 hours without food, holding out for the real deal.  I remember you didn’t cry all day, but you were sad. It was during this time period that I learned my greatest lesson, a lesson I should have learned long ago. You single-handedly taught me how to be a mother of an infant. In the past I would expect my child to adhere to the schedule of a mother working full-time outside the home.  You enlightened me. The mother of a 5 month old should be available to “mother”. The babysitter, a father, or a family member can not replace the place of a mother; just like I cannot delegate another person to bear the work of the pregnancy or be the one to nurse you, I also should not delegate the responsibility and pleasure of raising my own infant. With this deep revelation, I quit my job at Oasis and began a new job working part-time at a hospital 1 mile away. This way I was available all hours of the day to serve your needs.  Because of you I became a better mother, both to you and your sisters. I had the pleasure of leaving work to take Leia to preschool and be home to nurse you any time you needed.  I will never forget those days. I will always be grateful to you for teaching me how to be a better Mommy.  Thank you for your courage, your patience, and your unending dedication to this cause.  

You are now 10 months old and are out of the infant stage.  I am sad that this stage only lasts but a blink of an eye, but I am excited to see the person that you have become.  You are so happy all the time, you love to laugh and play with your sisters. You have become such a Daddy’s girl and for that I am extremely grateful. You are crawling now, almost walking. Your favorite moments are spent playing in the water.  You even float on your back by yourself. Your comfort in the water was something I witnessed since your birth. I always wonder if it was because I delivered you in the bath at the birth center.  The words that I hear the most from you these days is “Da da” and “Uh oh”.  You are the most calm baby and are happy to jump into anybody’s arms. Daddy and I just took you on our trip to New Orleans and I think you smiled the entire 4 days. You even sat still on my lap for the entire flight without uttering a sound of complaint. Your daddy was extremely impressed by your calm, secure and happy nature.  I firmly believe that your easy-going attitude now-a-days has a lot to do with the fact that we all listened to your needs and made every attempt to meet your essential requirements as an infant. Simply put: we have earned your trust and for that I am forever grateful for building this foundation of comfort. You are our greatest teacher. You still take my breath away when you look up at me with your bright blue eyes while I am nursing you.  Thank you my sweet red-headed baby girl for completing us.  And despite any comments you hear from others about you being switched at birth, don’t believe them. You are mine.  We may not look alike, but our souls are connected forever.    Love, Mommy 06.2015

At gymnastics class on the balance beam

 

Helping Mommy in the kitchen