Dear Camila,
The first year of having our first set of our very own bundles of joy seemed to pass so fast. They grew up with different facial features and very different personalities yet they were still very much alike. You and I were often running around the house, out of breath, chasing Bella and Finn or rushing to get things for them to calm them down. I would say we barely slept a wink that first year. But in all honesty, it was so worth all of the restless nights and all the sweat that we produced. It was worth it just to have them in our lives.
We were what I would call a happy family. And we really were.
I nearly cried on the day of their first birthday. Camila, you know me. You know that when you first met me, if I was caught crying it was such a rare and special thing because it took a lot to make me cry, but I almost cried seeing that one digit on their birthday cake.
I remember getting all teary-eyed in the kitchen as I looked through the pictures I had taken of them on my phone throughout the years. Selfies of me and Finn. Pictures of Bella and Finn, and a picture of you and I the first day home, holding them in our arms, smiling.
You came up from behind me and wrapped our small arms around my waist and then rest you chin on my shoulder, looking at the picture I held up in front of me. "One year down. Many more to go. Are you ready for that?" You asked me.
I nodded "It pains me to see them grow up. They're my babies."
You chuckled "It happens, Laur."
We had a huge party at the park with all our friends and family. We spent the day swinging Bella and Finn on the swings and taking them down the slide. They would both giggle that sweet little giggle of theirs and I couldn't help but smile and suddenly look forward to the future. Yes I was looking forward to all those great things in life that they would get to experience and do, but I was also very upset that they were growing older and so were we.
Looking at you that day, beside me, swinging Finn, I would have given up anything to stop time and live in that moment forever. But all good things come to an end. Some sooner than others.
Sincerely,
Lauren Jauregui
