6

6 months ago today, we became full-time parents.

6 months ago today, Aila left the Babyhouse in our arms and became a full-fledged Robinson.

6 years ago, we began our journey to Parenthood.
There were days - months, even - when I wanted to give up. I found that grappling with infertility was, at times, too hard, too back-breaking, too disappointing. There were so many heartbreaks along the way that I often wondered if devoting all of our time, energy, resources and focus to becoming parents was really worth it.

6 months ago today, I became Aila's mommy, and now I know.

Every single injection, every single surgery, every single disappointment, every single bit of the pain and suffering - it was ALL worth it. Now I know. I would do it ALL again, suffer through all of the terror, physical, emotional and psychic pain, just to get to Aila.

I have been transformed by the love I feel for my daughter and by her constant, magnificent presence in my life. I could not possibly love her more if I had physically given birth to her. Being Aila's mother is an honor, and I am in awe of her.

And, sharing the experience of being Aila's parent, with my husband (wow, what a lucky girl to have him as a Dad), is enriching and nourishing and exhausting and inspiring and life-affirming like nothing else in the world.

These past 6 months have been the scariest, most intense, most eye-opening, rock-our-world months of our lives. It is my sincere hope that we all live very, very long lives so that we can share as much time together as possible.

- J