Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven, Annie

Dear friends, it seems like just yesterday that I was writing a post about Annie’s birth, and now it has been one full year since we welcomed her into the world. We are celebrating Annie’s birthday today by going to Mass, making a visit to the cemetery, and then having some fun together as a family. I have a feeling that we may be making a trip to our favorite cupcake spot, spending some time at our neighborhood pool, and just enjoying each other’s company.

I have tried on several occasions to write a thoughtful post leading up to Annie’s birthday, but words seem to be failing me right now and I decided to share some pictures instead. We were blessed to have pictures taken by a photographer from the organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, which I would recommend to anyone going through a similar situation, and these are the pictures that I am sharing here.

Part of what makes it hard to share about Annie’s birth is that there is so much to say. We felt tremendously loved and encouraged on the day of her birth, and we were overwhelmed with gratitude for the support of family and friends. We also treasured every moment that we spent with our sweet daughter, whom we had waited so long to hold in our arms. At the same time, the day was also tough on many different levels, and we had to do battle against our exhaustion and our sadness so that we could make the most of Annie’s day, for truly, we felt that this day was entirely about honoring her and introducing her to our loved ones. Even as I write this post, I can feel the weight of that exhaustion from a year ago.

We chose the name Anastasia because it means “to stand again,” and we joyfully believe with all our hearts that Annie is standing in the company of the saints, alongside her big sister Lucy. God is so good that He has allowed us to be parents to these two precious daughters, and we are honored to celebrate Annie today.

Lucy Rose and Annie Rose, pray for us! Holy Mary, Mystical Rose, pray for us!