Whether or not you planned to breastfeed your baby who died, when your milk comes in after loss it's a stark reminder of what you lost (like you needed another one)...  It's like every other part of your body got the horrible news except your breasts. Your heart is heavy, your belly is deflated, your arms are aching. But your breasts are full of life-giving milk you had hoped to give to that baby and there's very little you can do about it. If you're ever so blessed to have the chance to breastfeed a living baby after loss, like I was, I was surprised by the emotional toll it took on me. So if the idea of "breastfeeding after loss" isn't "a thing" we talk about, it should be, and I'd like to take this last day of international breastfeeding week to tell my story.

I'll begin by saying, I have always believed that "fed is best." Since I was pregnant with Ryan I knew I wanted to try to breastfeed. But if it didn't work, or I didn't enjoy it, I would be happy to bottle feed formula. I maintained that philosophy with each of my children. So when Brayden was born, and breastfeeding hurt more than I anticipated, and was so incredibly stressful -- was he getting enough, was he getting ANYTHING, why was this so awkward, shouldn't it be more natural???? -- I lasted one week. I turned to the pump, and I pumped and pumped and pumped for him for 3 months. When I decided to stop (I'll never say "quit" -- that's such a failure word), I basically was only making a few ounces per day for him and the rest was formula. It was a lot of work, a ton of commitment, and for very little milk. Some might ask why I even pumped for that long (and 3 months really isn't that long compared to what some mamas do -- hats off to them!) if it wasn't even a lot of milk being produced. The answer is simple. I needed to feel like I was doing everything I could for him. That putting myself through some pain and stress and the demanding schedule of pumping was worth it because he was here -- alive! I cannot tell you the torture I put myself through when I stopped trying to breastfeed after 1 week. It was this battle between, "I didn't get to do this for Ryan so dammit I'm going to do this now." And "It's so stressful and hard and I just want to relax and have an easy time now that he's here... ALIVE." So when I made the choice to switch to bottles and pumping it wasn't this easy choice that I had always told myself it would be. "...if it didn't work, or I didn't enjoy it, I would be happy to bottle feed." Not so much the case. I felt let down by my body when Ryan died, and now my brain was trying to tell me I was somehow letting Brayden down.

I'm here to tell you, nearly 3 years later, that is simply NOT TRUE.

The very same way I did everything I could for Ryan, I did for Brayden too. My heart, my mind, we all made the decision to bottle feed Brayden and that was the absolute best and right choice for us then. 

Enter Brianna. 2 years later.

I'm filling out my hospital paperwork before her birth and there's that question: Breast or Formula feeding? I tentatively checked breast. I'd come a long way in my grief since Brayden was born. I could handle trying this whole breastfeeding thing again, right?

And I was right.

It hurt like I remembered. At first. And it was as stressful as I remembered. At first. But my heart was more ready to persevere through some pain and some unknowns. It doesn't mean I care more for Brianna than Brayden. It doesn't mean I didn't still wish every single time she latched that I had the opportunity to share that closeness with Ryan. I was just in a different place than I was when Brayden was born (a mere 13 months after Ryan died, I should add).

And now, 8 months later, our breastfeeding journey is coming to an end. And oh my goodness, I am much more emotional about it than I ever could have anticipated. Because it has been a journey. From that first time I was discretely told I had leaked through a shirt after Ryan died, and I cried and I cried. To those nights I cried with Brayden in my arms wanting so much to feed him but not having the emotional strength to. To the afternoons spent singing to him and reading with him on the floor hooked up to that pump filling the room with its mechanical rhythm. To that first time Brianna latched in the hospital and I thought, I might actually be able to do this. To the awful blister, the middle of the night engorgement, and short but unforgettable period of cracks and bleeding. To the endless hours rocking together in her room. Quiet moments in a life with too few quiet moments these days. To the night that I know is getting so close -- our last time whenever that will be.

I don't know what it's like to breastfeed a baby when you haven't experienced the death of a baby. I do think, like with most things, it just adds this extra layer of complexity. Desperation. Another layer of guilt if it doesn't go the way we hoped or planned.

But the way my journey -- our journey -- played out feels right now. Complete. And I can stand comforted knowing we always did what was right for us. And that decisions fuelled by emotion, by grief, got us right where we are. I'll always be sad I didn't have a choice with Ryan. I don't regret not breastfeeding Brayden. Not anymore. And I'm so grateful I had this opportunity to breastfeed Brianna.

What a beautiful journey it's been.

I used to cry in the shower. Not exclusively, but it provided the safest place for the most intense kind of cries where my sobs would be muffled and I couldn't tell the difference between the water coming from the spout from the tears falling from my eyes.

I used to have to convince myself to get out of bed in the morning. I'd lay there thinking about how my life had somehow turned out and how I thought it should look instead. I'd open my eyes, the ache would start, and Ryan would be the very first thing that came to my mind.

I used to write every single day. I blogged. I journaled. I would take an hour or so and sit and reflect and dream and miss and grieve. I'd allow myself the time to feel the things I needed to feel.

I used to be really angry. I was mad at God. I was mad at life. I was mad at myself. I was mad at my doctors. I was mad at the people who stepped out of my life because my pain was too much for them. I was mad at the people who didn't understand my grief.

I used to feel hopeless. How could I be hopeful for anything when the worst thing that could happen to us had happened? How could I believe that good things could still happen? How was hope even possible in the face of such trauma?

I used to think it would always be that way.

Now I cry when I feel like it, but the tears don't come as often. I haven't cried in the shower in ages. I cry when the moments become overwhelming. I cry on the milestones. But crying is okay.

Now I get out of bed in the morning to the sounds of my children calling for me. It's usually hours before I have a moment to think about myself, for myself, or for Ryan. I think about how my life is right now in that moment. Ryan comes to my mind in glimpses throughout the day and that is okay.

Now I write when I can. I haven't blogged since Ryan's birthday. I haven't journaled in months. I keep a list of things I wish I had time to write about. I just don't always have the time and that is okay.

Now the anger has subsided. My relationship with God is still a bit fragmented. Life is too short to be mad. No one is to blame for what happened. I cannot control the actions of other people. Being honest, occasionally still I feel the ripples of the anger that once burned furious inside of me, and I'm reminded that it's still there sometimes, and that is okay.

Now I have found hope once again. I can't recall the specific moment I started to feel hopeful, but it happened and I'm grateful. Because now I can look into the faces of my children and feel hope for their futures. I can look at my husband and despite any challenges we have faced or will face again I know that in time more goodness will come. Sometimes I still feel weighed down by life despite all of the blessings we have been given since Ryan died, and that is okay, too.

I used to shake my head in disbelief when people told me I'd be able to manage the pain, that grief would not always be so heavy.

Now I'm here, and I see that they were right. It's still grief. It's still pain. Just a little different now.

And it's okay.

In contrast to the 6th of September, I felt quite relieved to wake up this morning and have it be the 7th. Your day. Your most special day of the year. It's a day I spend so much time thinking about and planning for and today was absolutely perfect. With the exception of you not being here, of course. 

I woke in the middle of the night, crept down the stairs with RyBear to read to you by the light of your candle, "On the Night You Were Born." At 1:05 am, the moment you were born, I sat quietly by your photo, snuggling your bear, and thought sweet thoughts of you and that first time I held you in my arms.

When morning came, and I got your brother to daycare for the morning, I busied myself with preparations for your day. I found 3 blue roses and arranged them by your photo. Just like the roses we got for your memorial. The ones we made wishes on and laid with you that day. I baked your birthday cake -- chocolate zucchini like I craved before we lost you. I finished our donations for the hospital, writing notes for the moms and dads who will one day receive them. I even managed to do a bit of fall gardening prep in your garden before your dad got home at lunch time. We had a little visit with your Gramma and Grampa, relaxed a bit, and then headed off for the rest of the day's celebrations.

Before we could do anything else, we of course, had to pick up your brother. Brayden was so attached to RyBear all day. Wanting him to sit next to him for photos, carrying him from one place to the next. It was sweet and I couldn't help but wish it was you, his big brother, he was so bonded to, and not "just" a stuffed bear. But to him, it's all he knows, and it warmed my heart all the same. As a family, we started at the cemetery.. A watermelon picnic and our annual reading of "Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You." There was no wind to fly your butterfly kite, but perhaps we'll try tomorrow. When it was time to leave, Brayden held my hand and walked with me to your stone. He said "Bye Bye" and put his hand solidly on your name. I smiled. He doesn't really get it yet, but I know that some day he will, and he'll miss you fiercely without ever having met you. 

Our final family stop was to the hospital to deliver this year's gifts! 2 this time, and I felt so honoured that you could help two families in need this year. One bereavement box for another family who will someday leave the hospital without their baby in their arms, and a second smaller package for another family who will face the same heartache. We were able to create two gifts this year thanks to the generosity of other members of our local community and a special family member.

This year in the box we included: a teddy bear, a journal, a candle, an imprint kit, the book "Surviving My First Year of Childloss" (that my own essay was published in last year), and some specially donated gift cards for personalized items by local "makers" -- one piece of sonogram art, and a necklace or bracelet. The second gift was a framed piece of artwork hand-painted by your great-Aunt Tania, a journal, and two more donations of personalized items: a mommy necklace and daddy keychain. I'm so grateful to Chelsea Creates, Karamella Designs, and Stamped Memories by Amanda for their selflessness and thoughtful contributions. 

As always, the way your life inspires others and helps families through the darkest of times takes my breath away. And this year was another year where you have reached so many people in so many beautiful ways. So again, I'd like to recap the incredible ways you've touched the lives of others since your last birthday.

• 2 donations to the Surviving My First Year book
• 1 donation to Hospice Niagara
• 4 hospital donations: 1 bereavement box, 1 bereavement package, 1 donation to a Collingwood area obstetrics ward for a newborn baby, and 1 baby blanket to a Children's Hospital PICU.
• 1 donation to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto
• 2 toy donations
• 1 clothing donation
• 1 food bank donation
• 3 books donated to a local library
• 1 gift of diapers, baby formula, and other essentials to a family in need
• ...and countless other kind gestures that I may not find out about, but am still so grateful for...

As always, you make a difference, Ryan. And not just in the babyloss community. To people who need love and kindness and generosity in all stages and places. You matter. And your life continues to make an impact on this world.

Thank you to everyone who has spread love and kindness in Ryan's name this year. Thank you for saying his name, for including him in your lives, and for remembering him not just today, but always. It can't be said enough that one of a mother's greatest fears is that her baby will be forgotten, but I know too well that in my circles at least, that won't happen. He has too many incredible people loving on him to ever forget him.

Thank you for the phone calls, the texts, the messages full of his name and bright blue hearts and butterflies.  Thank you for checking in on us. Thank you for sending cards. Thank you for addressing those cards to him. Thank you for visiting him at the cemetery. Thank you for visiting him in your hearts. Thank you for the public acknowledgements of his life. For loudly proclaiming your love for him, and for how much you miss him. Thank you for the balloon releases, the cupcakes, the writing his name wherever you may have written it. Thank you for spreading kindness in his name. Thank you for singing Happy Birthday, for blowing out candles. Thank you for talking to your kids about him and including them in your celebrations -- even if they're too young to remember him. For toasting him over a glass of wine. For saying his name out loud. Thank you for lighting candles. And thank you for all of the quiet ways you might have remembered him today.

Ryan, your third year has been another gift to us. Another year to see the good in people. The love that surrounds us always. It's a difficult thing to consider myself lucky to have you in my life -- because it's so not the way it should be. But it somehow is still true. I'm lucky to be your mom. You've taught me more in 3 years than some kids can teach their parents in a lifetime. 

Keep shining your bright light on us and this whole beautiful world. 

Happy birthday, baby.

You are loved.
You are loved.
You. Are. Loved.

I'm sitting here tonight with one hand firmly on my belly, feeling the rolls and wiggles of Baby Sister.

But I'm thinking of Ryan.

As bedtime creeps closer and closer, I'm remembering this night 3 years ago. I can remember the movie we were watching. The snacks I was eating. The very slight movements of Ryan inside me. The "it must be almost time -- he's running out of room" thoughts and feelings. But they were really his last movements. His weak little way of saying something's not right. His last living moments. The 5th was Ryan's last day alive.

When I wake up tomorrow, on the 6th, it will be the day he died. Inside of me. The 6th is always a hard day -- it's even harder pregnant. Half expecting it to all happen again. I won't sleep much tonight, I know. If it's anything like with Brayden, I'll wake often, and poke and adjust hoping to feel her sweet and always treasured movements. Hoping that history won't repeat itself. Worrying that it will. 

These are the hardest days.

I have so much to say and I am struggling to put it all out there in a way that makes any sense at all.
 
Today is the 7th. Do you know what that means? It’s the day I mark special on the calendar for your oldest big brother, Ryan. In the early days of missing him the 7th was sacred. I seldom did much else but think of him. As the years move on though, reality changes, and the 7th of the month becomes a “regular day.” Still marked by a butterfly on the calendar. My heart still full of thoughts of him. But the minutes of my day are spent doing all of the things I have come to love these past few years: making Brayden smile, spending time as a family, and now, sharing thoughts and tender belly pats with you.
 
I wanted to write this letter to let you know so many of the things that have been on my mind these past few months with you.
 
This pregnancy has been so different compared to Ryan’s and Brayden’s. People are always asking: “How is this pregnancy compared to the others?” I always say it’s more or less the same. But there are lots of differences I don’t talk a lot about. I tend to keep quiet about how guilty I feel that the past 5 months have not been all about you as they were with Ryan and Brayden. With each of them I had little else to focus on. With Ryan, it was the wonder and mystery and excitement of it being “the first.” With Brayden, the “rainbow.” Simultaneously grieving the raw, fresh grief of Ryan and hoping hard for Brayden’s little life inside me.
 
With you, it’s different. Same fears. Same hopes. But so much less time for introspection and reflection. So much less time to lay still, feeling the flutters of a new life growing inside me. So much less time to just be with you and feel connected to you. I’m sorry about that.
 
We are so anxious for you to arrive safely. Up until recently, I haven’t felt your movements – at all. No initial flutters or subtle pokes. Just stillness. This has been owed to the unfortunate position of my placenta which has been called both anterior AND previa. Which essentially made me a slave to my Doppler and checking for blood from about 11 weeks until now. It never once occurred to me how fortunate I was with both Ryan and Brayden to feel their movements constantly from relatively early stages in my pregnancies with them. It’s only been in the last couple of weeks that I have felt the wonderful and unmistakeable sensation of life moving inside of me. Each kick and roll and wiggle brings a smile to my face and my hand to my belly to feel as much of you as I can. I’m hopeful in a few weeks when I go for a follow-up ultrasound for good news that my placenta is in a more ideal position.
 
Another question I’ve heard a lot of which I admit always feels like a bit of an accusation is why I have not taken or shared more “bump photos.” People tend to laugh this off to me as a “3rd child problem.” And yes, I know there aren’t many pictures of us together right now. I haven’t been doing obsessive weekly bump documentation like I did with Brayden (may I remind everyone I didn’t do many with Ryan either, though, but I digress). Again, this is something I’m sorry about, but that I blame on anxiety. With Brayden I didn’t want to take a single second for granted. I anticipated losing him at any moment so wanted to document and share every moment we had. This time, I’m once again balancing on this thin wire of hope and knowing that bad things happen. The trepidation with which I entered this pregnancy – that we were “pushing our luck” to hope for another healthy baby – is very much still there. Yet, I feel it’s important to say that I am enjoying you. I am treasuring our moments. But I’m scared to flaunt them too openly. I think that’s the best way I can explain it.
 
Despite holding back in some areas, I’m cautiously charging ahead in others. We have begun to prepare a space for you. This means making pretty big changes to what was originally Ryan’s room. It’s harder than I thought, even after 3 years, even after it’s belonged to Brayden for 2 of those years. It’s the end of a chapter in a lot of ways, but a hopeful start at a new one. We didn’t have to prepare a space for Brayden. It was there. Ready. Waiting for him. Creating a nursery for you is a big commitment to the hope that you will get to come home with us. It’s scary and takes my breath away to think of for too long – so I will leave it at that. But I want you to know we are preparing for you.
 
You are such a treasured gift to us. We take nothing for granted. And we want you to know how loved you are already. The timing of this letter is intentional. You're 24 weeks this week. Your first "viability milestone." And although milestones like this bring me little comfort, they're worth acknowledging. So today, share in Ryan’s special 7th day because you are so very special, too.  

There’s an examination room at my OB’s office that I’ve nicknamed “The Butterfly Room” because the artwork is butterflies. Creative, I know. But it’s my little Ryan Room there, and I’m always so happy when that’s the room I’m placed in at my OB visits.
 
I’ve been seeing my OB again since I was only 7 weeks pregnant. Much too early for a regular pregnancy. And even though Brayden’s pregnancy was smooth sailing and as of right now there’s nothing to indicate any troubles with this pregnancy, my OB is still open to treating me like I’m high-risk. (Mostly because I’m high risk of a mental breakdown, I’m sure, but I’m still grateful for her).
 
Usually my OB visits are uneventful. It’s the same OB I had with Ryan and Brayden. She knows me. She lets me ask crazy questions and make unnecessary requests for ultrasounds I don’t physically need but that mentally get me feeling good, so I’m happy that we decided last pregnancy to stick with her. I see her every 4 weeks. Which is a change from Brayden. I saw her every 2 weeks then, but told her for now, I feel comfortable going the regular 4 weeks. It is largely thanks to my home Doppler for this. Until I can feel movement, I need to hear that galloping sound of a baby’s heartbeat to have comfort everything is okay.
 
I didn’t get the Doppler with Brayden until I was about 17 weeks along because everything I had read told me I wouldn’t be able to hear anything until then. It was a long 17 weeks only hearing him every 2 weeks at the OB. This time, though, I gave it at shot at 12 weeks – my OB heard the baby with little difficulty at 11, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to try. And there it was. The faint repetitive thumping of a tiny little heart. It’s done wonders for making me feel like a “normal pregnant woman.” Not incessantly worrying to the point of being unable to focus on anything else, as was the case with Brayden a lot of the time in those early weeks. Now, if I’m worried, I listen, and I relax.
 
I had been getting comfortable in our routine, this new baby and me. A tummy rub in the morning. Racing around to get Brayden off to daycare, me off to work. Small pauses throughout the day – was that a flutter? A typical evening at home with Brayden and Rich. A quick listen in to baby’s heartbeat before bed. I am managing – thriving really. I can do this.
 
Routine is good that way. It keeps your mind occupied. It keeps you focussed. It’s the changes in the routine that can sometimes be problematic.
 
My OB’s office is not usually as busy as it was yesterday when I went in for my routine check-up. It was a packed house of women in all different stages of pregnancy. We had the “waddlers” ready to go at any moment it would seem. Those at about the halfway mark, chatting away to each other about home renovations and prenatal classes. And then in walked the post-partum check-up, mom, dad, and 6-week old baby in tow.
 
And it just hit me.
 
Remembering sitting there in an empty office, my sad 6-week post-partum body, with my useless empty arms. I’m sure Richard was there with me, but I was still such a zombie back then that I can’t really quite remember.
 
I just saw this little family walk in and before I knew it, I was thinking, “That should have been me. That should have been us.”
 
But I’ve HAD that moment since then. I’ve had the 6-week check-up with Brayden in tow, the nurses making a fuss about how sweet, how big, how peaceful he was.
 
And yet, here I was now, tears sprung to my eyes, at the remembrance of the time I was robbed of that moment. And then the spiral effect of resenting the casual way everyone around me seemed to be talking of birth plans and nursery colours. (Don’t get me wrong, I still think of these things too, but it’s always with caution. “If baby comes home…” “If all goes to plan…”)
 
I’m repeating to myself, “Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry,” when the nurse calls my name.
 
I practically sprint through the office doors to step on the scale and take my blood pressure. I manage to small talk my way through this once again familiar routine. She leads me to the examination rooms, and settles me into The Butterfly Room.
 
I sigh and inwardly smile, starting to regain my composure and feeling more like myself. Bringing myself back to the present moment.
 
The nurse leaves and I sit down and continue to wait. But this time, comforted by the baby who didn’t come home, smiling at me from those butterfly prints on the wall.
 
He’s got me.
 
And I’ve got this.
 
Even though it turns out pregnancy after loss, even with a beautiful rainbow already in my arms, is still no joke.
 
23 weeks to go.

November 7. The last time I wrote. It's not for lack of anything to say. I have much to say. And much that I feel. But, I've hit a point in my grief where it has stopped feeling okay to share so much, so openly. There's a self-consciousness inside me that worries, again, how this kind of open grief is perceived by the bystanders and onlookers. People who want to see this kind of grief and know that "it gets better." People who love me who want to know that I am "okay."

I intended to say that it has "gotten better." And that I am "okay."

But those phrases don't seem quite right.

Because, you see, if I wrote every time I felt the need, I would still be writing every day. And I guess that doesn't seem much "better" or "okay" than I was 2 years ago.

If I wrote every time I experienced something -- a moment -- tied to my grief over Ryan, you would read about all of the times I watch Brayden playing on his own and knowing in my heart that it's not right. He shouldn't be playing alone.

You would read about the deep connection I hope so hard that they have or will have every time I see him give hugs and kisses to RyBear.

If I wrote every time the urge hit me, you would know that trying again for a third child is as anxiety-ridden and scary as it was right after Ryan. You'd know why I may seem so emotionally charged lately.

There's so much more than regular life going on in my head and my heart these days.

If I wrote every time I felt hurt, you would be here reading more frequently. Because somehow, 2 years later, I still feel like sometimes I'm just not getting this all "right," 

How can I still be stumbling over questions about my family? How can I not be more sure of acknowledging him?

If I wrote every time a thought worth writing about came rolling into my head on a long commute alone, I would hardly find the time to do anything but write.

And I can't help but wonder if I wrote every time I wanted to if I would miss him a little less. Would I miss him even more? Could I possibly?

So for the bystanders, and onlookers, and people who love me -- I'm okay. I am. But I still miss him. And there's rarely a quiet moment in my heart when I'm not missing him. Maybe if I wrote more, you'd know. And I'd feel "okay" about writing.

I'm having a hard time right now. With more than just grief. But isn't it a bitch how other struggles can so easily amplify grief? Frustration with work, financial stress, sickness and tiredness cause me to implode and among the rubble he's screaming for me. My God, how I miss him. I haven't struggled with missing him in a long time. The chaos of the last few months has settled. Ryan's 2nd birthday, Brayden's first. Returning to work. Family things. I've one again carved out yet another "new normal" routine. And I was adjusting just fine. Until I wasn't anymore.

The routine. The normalcy. It jars me sometimes. How little my life has changed. I mean, my life has changed a lot. Yes. But now Ryan's two and we're starting this third year without him here, and my life looks so normal. So much like it did before he died. The part of my life that everyone sees. We walk around and live our lives looking like a normal family of three. Except we're not. How we look on the outside just does not match at all how I feel on the inside.

Especially when I'm struggling. 

It kills me when I'm having a hard time coping with the realities of life and everything looks so normal. Because it is this illusion of "normal" where my biggest fears start to happen. 

I'm overwhelmed lately with this feeling that people are forgetting. Maybe not forgetting, but certainly not engaging with his memory. On the 15th of October, we lit candles for Ryan and his friends. And I couldn't help but notice that on this third Wave of Light, there were no messages with burning candles pouring in from those who've celebrated in the past. And I'm always so grateful to see the various birthday celebrations (from around the world!) on September 7, but I also can't help but notice when (and by whom) he's not mentioned on that day.

Most painful for me, is that I didn't even make time to write him a note on October 7. The very first 7th of the month since he died that I didn't. It was Thanksgiving weekend and he was obviously on my mind. But with going back to work, and family things... I was busy. I was tired. And I was already pretty emotionally drained. I know I need to give myself a break. But when you're feeling like around you, everyone has "moved on from him" the last thing I need to feel is like I'm leaving him behind too.

Grief is lonely.

Even when you're lucky enough to be able to share it so openly. As I am. When it hurts, it hurts. And when you look around you, and see how smoothly the world keeps turning, you feel stuck on an island alone. 

I know time has passed. I know you've got to keep moving forward. And I have. I do. But some days the moving forward hurts. 

That's me this past week. 

So when I saw the 7th on my calendar today, I needed to stop. I needed to sit here. And I needed to write. Despite how tired I might be. Despite my frustrations and stresses. I needed to put it out there and maybe feel less like I'm being swallowed by the loneliness that is my grief.

Because really, I just miss my son.

Storm clouds rolled in and out all day long, but they were no match for your sunshine which continued to break its way through the clouds on this September 7th. Your second birthday.

We started the day at the waterfront. I like to celebrate you, you know. Not always with the heavy stuff. But with some light-heartedness. This desire becomes stronger and stronger every day as your little brother gets bigger and bigger. I want him to celebrate you, too. And so I want it to be fun. I want your celebrations to have spirit and joy. So we picnicked on the waterfront and (tried our best) to fly a kite. A butterfly kite I bought in the spring specifically for this day. 

Kite flying is a skill apparently. Not just a fun activity for kids as I assumed. So naturally, as I struggled to fly while juggling your baby brother and his needs, my anxiety grew and grew. When there it came. The biggest, brightest orange monarch I've seen all summer long. He danced around us for quite a few minutes as the kite struggled to stay in the air, and I just knew it was you. The most beautiful hello. You made me laugh, my boy. Coming to me just when I needed you. Thank you.

After lunch we headed home where we had a visit with your Gramma and Grampa and then Brayden got to nap. (It's tough work flying kites, as I said). After nap we headed off to the cemetery. We brought you some new flowers to get you through the winter (I hope) and read to you, "Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You." I always get choked up when she writes: "You are loved. You are loved. You are loved." Because no matter how many times I say it, I just hope, hope, hope you can hear us. Because you are. So loved, my boy.

From there, we made it to the hospital to deliver our gift this year. Another bereavement box for another family who will someday leave the hospital without their baby in their arms. This year we included: a teddy bear, two journals, an engraveable necklace, a candle, an imprint kit and picture frame, two books that I found helpful after you died (Empty Cradle Broken Heart, and An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination), and a framed quote lovingly donated by a local artist who felt compelled to contribute after hearing our story. I also included this year two resource pages. One, a list of resources for the family to explore when they leave the hospital, and the other a list of gentle suggestions/ideas for how to spend their time in the hospital. Things I wish we had known, had been offered, or told to do with you. We could only create one box, but we brought several copies of the resource pages so hopefully we can reach more families this year.

This got me thinking about your "reach." Ryan's Reach as I've come to think of it. I know your story impacts many in ways I can't really compute. But so much good is done by so many in your name all the time. I always keep track of those tangible ways you've helped others since last September 7, and I'd like to recap them now:

• 5 donations to the PAIL Network
• 3 hospital donations: 1 bereavement box, 1 baby basket of goodies for a newborn baby boy, 1 handmade baby blanket
• 1 donation to the SOS Children's Village
• 3 toy donations
• 1 donation to Christmas Cheer 
• 1 donation to PAL Support
• 3 contributions to the Grieving Parents' Support Network for the Surviving My First Year of Childloss book
• journals donated to the welcome packages for the Nothing Gold Can Stay Retreat in Colorado
• 2 meals shared with those in need
• 2 bouquets of flowers delivered to random strangers in need of a smile

And these are just the acts that I've been told about. It gets me thinking about how many kind deeds are done with you at heart that are done in private. Basically, you make a difference, Ryan. You matter. And your life has made an impact on this world.

Today was beautiful. But it wasn't easy. In fact, this year 2 celebration was considerably more difficult than your first. I woke up heavy and anxious that no one would remember. Or that maybe they'd remember, but not feel it necessary to celebrate you anymore. But as the day went on, and the wishes and celebrations rolled in, I realized that you matter to more than just me. There's a whole world of family and friends who will never stop celebrating you on this day. I will always take a step back from my every day and give you this one thing. This one day. It's all yours, baby boy, and it always will be. From now till forever. 

And with that, I want to take a second to thank every single one of those people who sent a message, called, mailed a card, made a donation, did a good deed, visited my boy, sent up a balloon, sang "Happy Birthday," ate a cupcake, wore blue, sported some butterflies... However you celebrated him. Thank you. "Thank you" actually doesn't seem enough. It's hard to express how grateful I feel when he is so outwardly celebrated. I know he's held safely in the hearts of so many, but to hear his name said over and over today was overwhelming in the most incredible way... "Happy birthday, Ryan!" on the lips of little ones who would be his friends, his cousins... I'm truly at a loss for how happy it makes me. Thank you for not only celebrating him, but for sharing him with your little people. 

I have two special thank yous.

The first is to my October Baby mom group. This is a group I joined for Brayden. It's (mostly) online, but it's been a great support through Brayden's first year. I've been fortunate to feel comfortable enough sharing both of my boys with these ladies. And as I went about my day today, the messages came pouring in from these women who have only known me "virtually" and for such a comparatively short time to others in my life. I read each and every message and was touched to have such love poured into my first born.

The second thank you is for Mariana. Mariana's daughter Olivia is a friend of Ryan's. Ryan was there to greet Olivia when she slipped away from this world too soon. And Mariana reached out to me not long after to tell me how Ryan and I saved her after her loss. I'm still so touched by this sentiment, but this woman lifts me up again and again by her incredible generosity in helping others and always speaking openly about Ryan wherever she travels. I feel so lucky to have a friend in her halfway around the world. Today she surprised several unsuspecting strangers with beautiful gestures and gifts all in Ryan's name for his 2nd birthday. She goes above and beyond and for that I'm so grateful!

I suppose I've said all I can about how special you are, Ryan. And how much you mean to me and to the world around me. I'll just wish you one more Happy Birthday, before I go sip some chocolate milk and snack on a bit of watermelon (your two favourites from my pregnant days).

I can't wait to see what your 3rd year will bring.

Happy birthday, baby.

You are loved.
You are loved.
You. Are. Loved.

Last night I had a horrible dream. The worst kind of dream. I dreamed that Brayden died.. I don't need to tell you how disturbing that dream would be for anyone, let alone someone who's already lost a child. I woke up with my heart pounding in my ears. The image of it still burning vividly in my mind.

Fortunately, I wasn't awake for long before Brayden's cries from his bedroom got me out of bed. Reminding me it was only a dream. It was just shy of 5 a.m. I brought him to bed with me, and we slept, cuddled together, for about another hour.

It's no surprise to me that I had this dream on this weekend. My mind's way of saying, "Sorry. Not enough room to keep shutting this shit out." This is Ryan's weekend. 2 years ago I could tell you exactly how I was spending my Labour Day weekend. This was the weekend he was born.

Fast forward to later this afternoon. We broke a bowl. It shattered when it hit the tiles. I didn't even flinch. I moved Brayden safely out of the way and set to work picking up the pieces. How's that for a metaphor?

September 7th might not fall on Labour Day weekend this year, but Labour Day weekend will always remind me of the time that we too shattered into a bits and pieces and then began the journey of trying to put those pieces back together.

In less than one week, it will be two years. The real countdown to the 7th begins on this weekend. So much changes in one year. My Labour Day weekend looks different this year. As it looked different last year from the year before it. And on and on I assume it will go. But I'll always be thinking of him when Labour Day rolls around.

​Especially that weekend 2 years ago.