One.

Everly was born a year ago today, at 11:30pm. Her birth will forever be one of my bravest, most powerful accomplishments. I find myself retracing the places I was last year. Re-living such a fast yet powerful two hours. 8:00pm - finishing dinner and thinking I’d be pregnant forever. 9:30pm - my first contraction 10:30pm - finally driving down the road after Tyler made sure he had the car payment taken care of and a good shirt on. 11:00pm - made it to the hospital and met my parents in the parking lot. 11:30pm - I had yet another amazing and beautiful little girl placed in my arms forever changed once again.

I remember being so worried about how my heart would divide the love I had inside it for a new family member. But I quickly learned that a heart doesn't divide up love like that - it's not like time... you only have so much time and it is divided between the many tasks that must be done in a day. It's just not like that at all. My heart grew another place for our sweet Everly Jean that night. She has a whole new place in my heart that beats just for her.

It's funny how I had absolutely no idea how much I desperately needed her in my life before she was born… Everly, you are every bit as full and bright in spirit as that great big moon was on the blessed night one year ago today. You have taught me new things about myself, what it means to be a mother and how to care for two beautiful daughters. You are joyous, peaceful and gentle.

Happy birthday my darling songbird. I love you.