I can’t help but smile when I think about how beautiful she was, lying there in that little basket. She was covered in roses and surrounded by all of the most sentimental objects we have ever collected in our 27 years of life.

She wore my rope necklace - one that I’ve been wearing everyday since Elizabeth and I had started dating. On that necklace hung the promise ring I gave Elizabeth so many years ago. She also wore a single pearl - part of Elizabeth’s own baby necklace and her great grandmothers baby ring. Tucked by her heart was a note, wrapped in beautiful embroidery from her Nana. Under her feet laid a shirt from her granddaddy - “Your Daddy used to wear my t-shirts when he was little”, he said. Her outfit, a cozy sheep-covered dress from her Nan and Papa, and a luckenbooth pin to protect her on her journey.

We tucked her in with my baby blanket. It was my father’s blanket when he was a baby. I’ve cherished it my whole life.

She looked so cozy.

We told her how thankful we were that she held on for so long. We told her how incredibly beautiful she was to us. We told her how much we loved her little nose, chubby cheeks, tiny feet, perfect hand, and swirly soft hair. We told her how important she is to all of us, and how many people that she has already touched around the world.

Together, we kissed her our last kiss. We said goodbye.

We are so lucky that we had a few moments to meet her after she entered this world. We are lucky that we got to hold her while she went to sleep, quietly. We are lucky that she has so many people that love her deeply. We are lucky that she is our greatest teacher, who has taught us the most valuable lessons in life. We are lucky to be her mama and daddy.

We don’t feel completely empty anymore. We feel at peace. The pain isn’t gone and it never will be. The sadness will always linger.

But our hearts are full.

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