I remember playing Stevie Wonder for you in the womb. You’ve been dancing ever since…

I remember going into labor with you. Your dad was speeding to the hospital. He ran a red light. Your Nana, who was holding onto me from the back seat, told him to do it. We instantly saw red and blue lights and pulled the truck over. Nana shouted at the police officer from the back seat, “WE’RE HAVING A BABY!” The officer told us to be careful. This was our third trip to the hospital. You were mommy’s and daddy’s first and we were so eager to meet you that we couldn’t tell false labor from real. But everything got real around 2:00 in the morning on December 2, 2010.

December 2, 2010, seven years ago, was when we began building the Sibley castle of love.

I remember when I stopped dilating and your heart rate began to slow down. The doctor told me to to prepare for a cesarean delivery. We instantly began to pray. We’re still praying. Like the blend of crickets, birds and pebbles tossed into a pond on Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed“, these are the sounds of birthing.

After more than 15 hours of labor and undergoing surgery, God used me to bring you into the world. Your first chirp down the labor and delivery hallway is a sound I nor your dad will ever forget.

I told you this on the eve of your birthday: It doesn’t matter how old you get, you will always be my baby. We can cry together. You can always sit in my lap. We can cuddle forever. I will always love you. I will always tell you I’m sorry if I’m wrong. You will always be my sweet girl, with eyes ever so soft and endearing.

Happy birthday, my sweet Kaylee bird.

Clinnesha D. Sibley is an award-winning playwright and published poet/essayist. She is the Literary Arts Instructor at Mississippi School of the Arts in Brookhaven, MS. For more information, please visit: http://onepagerapp.com/clinneshadsibley.