Charlie

They didn’t know they needed her.

With 5 girls, they thought they were already full of love. These girls cracked Jeff and Rikki open and redefined every part of them.

Rikki told me she remembers looking at the test and saying, “Well I guess we are doing this again!”

But then she came.

Wild, wonderous Charlie. 

She came in like a second wind.

Suddenly Rikki and Jeff found themselves not only reliving parts of parenthood but meeting another new version of themselves. 

This was the baby they didn’t plan for but somehow she was right on time.

Two years ago, Jeff and Rikki lost their daughter Madelina. Continuing in parenthood while leaving one behind crushed them. 

But just before they thought their hands were too full to hold anything more- Charlie and the joy she brings came sneaking in the back door. 

She’s the giggle in the mama-roo.

The smile in their arms.

And the reminder that sometimes the best things in life happen after the worst.

She changed everything. 

And not because they had to,

But because they got too.