Butterfly Kisses

Monday, April 10, 1995 was a glorious day. I'd been having contractions and in labor (on and off) for the last week, and I was finally admitted to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH). 11:00 am right on the nose she was born: Princess KNB. She was a pill from the onset! A bought of apnea, a subarachnoid hemorrhage, 24 hours in critical care in the NICU, a shaved head, and a freaked out 20 year old mom we finally got to take her home 4 days later on a beautiful spring morning.

I could write about all the memories I have about this wonderful little girl, and this post would be pages long, both happy and sad. She has been a roller coaster ride of emotions, and I am sure that won't change.

I will say this: I love her just as much now as I did the day I first laid eyes on her.

She is a constant source of happiness and consternation in my life, and I am grateful for that. She has taught me how to be a parent, how to be an adult, how to make sacrifices, and how to experience the real pleasures in life. I am proud that she has turned out to be a good, loving person who cares about others but isn't a doormat. She is smart, articulate, witty and so much damn fun to around. She isn't perfect but that is what makes her awesome! She is a work in progress, and the sad part is that my role in her life is slowing down.

As she enters adulthood she will learn to carve her own way and make her own decisions. I simply hope she knows how much I love her and how important she will always be to me. I hope she always knows that my home and my arms will always be open for whatever she may need them for. For everything I hope I have taught her, she has taught me more.

This last year will be difficult as I learn to let go and love her the way a parent loves a grown child. I am not sure how to do that though. But I do know that the time went by way to fast and if I had to do it over, I wouldn't change a thing.

I love you baby girl.

Here is what I hope she takes away from her first 17 years.

   

She had loving parents since she was born. She was conceived in love. 

She's had everything she needed and more. 

She has known the love of good friend

She always has fun in everything she does. 

She will always have me close to her side. 

She has known the love of two Dads.
She has been fortunate never to remember a time where she was without one or the other. 

She has known the love of two brothers.

She has been taught to treat herself with respect and dignity so that others will do the same. 

She has always had her family by her side.

She has traveled the world and seen what it can offer. 

I just hope she realizes how much we love her and how we will ALWAYS be here for her. 

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