03/14/2026
Three years. One thousand and ninety-five days of watching my heart walk around outside of my body. It feels like only yesterday I was counting your tiny toes in the quiet of the hospital room, wondering who you would become—and today, you showed me. You are a whirlwind of song, a collector of ‘treasures’ from the backyard, and a little girl with a spirit so bright it rivals the sun. I’ve watched you transition from a baby who needed me for everything to a fierce, independent three-year-old who wants to conquer the world—but still sneaks into my bed in the middle of the night for comfort. You and your siblings are my greatest teachers, showing me how to find wonder in a ladybug and joy in a puddle.
Happy 3rd Birthday to my beautiful Lainey Bug. If I could give you one thing in this life, it would be the ability to see yourself through my eyes, just for a moment, so you could see how truly miraculous you are.