7 months

My precious baby Alethia Joy,

It has been 7 months since we said hello and good-bye to you. I miss you every day.

I can't wait for the day when I will see you and hold you in my arms again. I think about you all the time and my heart just aches. Even though 7 months have passed, the tears continue to flow.

In fact, lately, I feel like they have come even more often.

Last night I spent some time in the room that we spent almost 9 months preparing for you.

I held the blanket that we wrapped your soft, cuddly body in.

I touched the hat that we placed on your little head.

I fingered the tiny pink beaded bracelet that they gave us at the hospital.

I could hardly look at the little dress that you wore that was intended for your first Sunday at church.

But I starred at your precious, intricate hand-prints and foot-prints.

I even chuckled to myself as I opened the closet and was reminded of the hundreds of diapers and wipes that we had stored up for months.

As I opened the drawers full of pink, purple and yellow outfits, I thought of how big you would be by now...already down to the bottom drawer where the 6-9 month clothes are kept.

I rocked back and forth in the rocking chair that has only been sat in a handful of times and thought of how well-worn it would have been by now. And I thought of you. Your daddy and I miss you with all our hearts.

Even in our continued grief, we rejoice in knowing that our Lord and Savior is holding you safely in His arms and loving you even more than we do.

And that's an awful lot.