While I love all three of my babies in all different and very equal ways, there is something about my girl.

I was happy. I had my two healthy boys. Maverick made me a mother and Ace has my favorite birth story ever told. He’s also my mini me, and the frattest frat boy of them all and makes me question all the things I must have done as a child to get such a run for my dang money with this one. But still, he’s my favorite. But so is Mav. And so is Veni.

Each special in their own unique and sacred ways, I treasure them. All I ever wanted was to be a mother.

And then I lost mine. And I still had to be a mother. And though every day, both eventful and boring, I miss her. And wish she was here. To help me decorate for the kids birthdays. To be awake in the world at 1am, so I could call her instead of writing a blog post. To be here to have Veni sit on her lap to blow out her 2 candles tomorrow. And 1 for good luck.

My mother always went above and beyond. It’s a weird thing to say, but even since she’s been gone, she still finds her way to me. It was the greatest surprise of my life to find out Baby #3 was a girl.

Once I heard my midwife give me the early test results over the phone, I couldn’t drive fast enough to tell Dan and the boys. Ace fell asleep on the way up, I had pink balloons shoved into a box to tell him because this one was just different.

It was just like my mom to scoot one more baby out of heavens gate and into my womb.

It was just like my mom to give me my very own goody girlfriend.

It was just like my mom to send me another best friend for life.

It was just. like. my mom. To answer my deepest wish.

Venice Alanna Rita, born 4 days past her due date came barreling into this world quite literally riding a wave.

She was every prayer I ever prayed. She was every wish I ever said inside my head when the clock struck 11:11. She was every dream and every hope I had wished for without even knowing it.

The calm that comes over you once you are bridging the gap between heaven and earth is something I can never explain. I’ll never be able to formulate words or articulate a sentence that can explain what birthing a child you carried for months into this world can feel like.

It’s magic. Veni is magic. Ace is magic and Mav. Is magic.

This little best friend of mine was sent to me by the angels I know in heaven. Hand crafted, loved and snuggled by my mom before she handed her over earth side. To me.

I will never know what I did to deserve three healthy babies in this lifetime, but part of me knows I had to make quite possibly the biggest sacrifice, the greatest trade off there ever was.

My mother lives on inside her, and that’s what makes her so special to me. My mother knew I needed to be part of a mama daughter dream team again, even though I didn’t know it then.

But I know it now.

Venice. Veni. Cash money Veni!!! Veni girl! Veniche. My little lady love, the littlest queen of my heart and my favorite girl in the world, happy!!! 2nd!! birthday!! I can’t even imagine a time without you now, and can’t wait to see the way you light up this world with your sass, your big loving heart, and the most beautiful, familiar face I’ve ever laid eyes on.