Today Elle is 9 months old. 9 whole months. I honestly can't believe it. I can't believe how beautiful and how sweet and how precious she is and how blessed we are to be her parents!
In honor of this milestone, I spent time reading through our posts on Caring Bridges. In many ways, it seems like a lifetime ago but looking through the pictures and reading the journal entries brings so much of it back. I teared up seeing how tiny Elle was and reading about the excitement we felt at every little step she made, knowing full well that behind that optimism and hope was exhaustion and fear. It has been a long journey so far and I know Elle's story is not over yet. I recognize how important it is to me and Aaron, and hopefully someday to Elle, to remember these days as much as possible, and that perhaps this blog is one way to do that.
Many of you that followed our Caring Bridges site had asked if I would continue to post updates about Elle after we left the hospital. I had great intentions to do that but than life happened. We returned to Michigan, we were busy figuring out how to be parents, we were sleep-deprived, we were driving all over Michigan for doctors' appointments several times a week, and then we moved to Virginia. And now it's been 5 months! So many of you were so supportive when we were in the hospital and have been so kind in asking after Elle in the days since we've been home. This blog is also a thank you to you because your love and prayers helped us get here.
Today, I close with the reason I chose to name this blog 'Bright & Beautiful'. When I think of Elle, I don't always think of the tubes and needles and machines and medicines and the hospital first. I think of how we felt on the day we brought her home. I remember the day that we left the hospital we were anxious and nervous and everything that every other parent feels when they take home their babies for the first time. But we had 118 days behind us and armed with encouragement from our doctors and nurses and so much love from our friends and families, we walked out that day with the hope and the faith that she will indeed have many wonderful days ahead of her and that her future would be bright & beautiful. And that is still true.
So happy 9 months, Elle. We love you!
Love,
Anya
