My Dearest Zachary,

6 months ago, I was preparing for yet another journey. A familiar road that I’ve taken before, with the outcome uncertain, and to be sure, I was scared. It was 9 below zero that night, 6 months ago, when your nannie & pepe snuggled in, nervously waiting for the morning when we’d all go to the hospital - me, daddy, Anthony, Libby and them, to greet our new baby boy. You were busily kicking me that night, as if somehow you knew that your time had come. I worried that you wouldn’t be OK - that throughout the whole pregnancy, something had been missed somewhere, and you’d face a life of difficulty. I worried that I wouldn’t be ok, and that you and your brother and sister, would face a life motherless.

The morning of your birth, we set out to the hospital long before the sun rose. Your brother & sister so anxious to welcome you, they actually bounded out of bed (which is SO unlike them). Daddy & I took a few minutes before waking up the rest of the house to just be alone and reflect on what we were about to do. To bring a new life - a new person - into this world - such a monumental task for two people who didn’t even go to college! (Ok, well, DADDY did, but he didn’t finish yet :) )

Then the house was a flurry of activity as my lists were checked and rechecked. We paused for one last photo of “the Belly” and your big sister giving you a kiss. As we drove through the cold, snowy morning at a balmy 4 degrees ABOVE zero, I secretly hoped it wasn’t my last time. Once we got to the hospital, things went on autopilot as I was ushered into my room and … prepped (such a un-fun word) to bring you here - to let you outta that little womb without a view. We were so nervous and excited! Another round of kisses and we were off to the operating room - more waiting as daddy forgot the camera in the dressing room - and finally - FINALLY, at 9:04am, Dr. M announced “It’s a Boy!” (which of course, we already knew!) and you were ours. Ours forever.

The past 6 months have been a blur. You’ve grown and changed so much, you hardly look like that little tiny boy who just stared at everyone from the french-fry warmer, not crying, just looking, wondering what all the fuss was about. Now, you’re up and about, working on crawling every time you get up on those hands and knees and rock back and forth. Working on walking, having finally figured out that if you push your body forward when in the walker, You MOVE! Working on joining the family dinner table by trying something new here and there and letting me know with no uncertainly whether you like it or not.

You’re a perfect example of a perfect baby. You’re my baby boy. And thanks to some wonderful work by Dr. M, you’ll always be My Baby :)

Love, Mama