41.2: A Different Kind of Birthday

My dear little girl –

Today’s a day I marked off on the calendar a long time ago.  After today, you’ll officially have been outside in the world longer than I carried you.  Today, you are 41 weeks, 2 days old – exactly the length of time you grew inside me.  Some days I look at you and can’t believe how fast you’re growing, and others I wonder when you’ll reach the big milestones I’m so looking forward to (like teeth!  Where are they, child?).

Today officially marks the change between the amount of time had you all to myself and the time I’ve had to share you with the world.  I love that life starts this way.  I got to know you before anyone else.  I felt your hiccups, and Daddy didn’t believe me that you really had them!  I felt you kick and move.  You sat on my bladder…a lot.  Pregnancy wasn’t always easy, but I’ll never forget what it was like to be pregnant with you.  My firstborn  – the little girl who made me a Mommy…all the way back in March of 2012 (even if we didn’t know it until April).

I learn from you every day.  You are the light of our lives, and while it was so amazing to have you all to myself for so long, it’s pretty incredible to share you, too.  I guess this is a different kind of birthday, which is why I find it pretty cool that your cousin (2nd cousin?  I never remember how these things work, so we’ll just go with cousin) Roxanne was born early this morning – also at 41 weeks, 2 days.  It’s a pretty amazing length of time.