ONE!

A special moment with Ah Kong @ 20th February 2011

To my dearest daughter, the light of my life, Zara Aaliyah...

Today, you're officially a year old! Mummy simply cant believe how fast the year has sped by.

I remember, like I'll remember for the rest of my life, the first time I ever saw you. Dr Alex pulled you out and placed you - plop - on my chest. Your eyes were open - deeper and wider than I've ever seen them since - and you stared right at me, alert, unblinking... as if you too had spent the last 10 months wondering about the face behind the muffled voice. There you were, exactly as I had seen you in my dreams. I blinked in shock - and then I gasped "My baby!" - maybe I thought saying it out loud might make it feel more real. And then you blinked back.

I knew then, as I know now, that you and I are forever bound. The cord may have been cut, but my heart is wrapped irretrievably around yours. And though someday you will want your freedom, your independence, there will be times when you'll want to, need to, look to your heart and seek solace. There I'll be, as I've always been, since we shared that quiet unblinking moment on the first day of your life.

I love you, as I always will.

Happy Birthday my darling girl! Mummy will always be proud of you...