Welcoming The Love of my whole life - Sumayya Sotomiwa

The day we found out about you is one I’ll never forget. It was March 2023, and your mum and I had planned a quiet trip to Dorset for a little break. But before we could leave, your mum wasn’t feeling well. At first, we didn’t think too much of it, but there was this feeling, this moment of realization when we decided to take a pregnancy test because she has been feeling that way for days. I was sleeping when your mum came into the room, switched on the lights and tapped me. I saw her face blushing and I kissed her, then she showed me the pregnancy kit and I jumped up, screamed hard and carried your mother up. And in that instant, our lives changed. You were there. From the very beginning, it felt like everything had suddenly fallen into place—we were going to be your parents, and it was the most incredible feeling.

From that moment on, everything revolved around you. You became the center of every thought, every plan, and every conversation. We were filled with excitement, and there was so much love already surrounding you, even though we hadn’t met you yet. Every step of the journey was special. We’d talk endlessly about what you might be like—whose eyes you might have, what your little laugh would sound like, and what kind of personality would start to blossom in you. Each day felt like we were moving closer to meeting you, and that filled our hearts with joy.

You were so gentle in the womb. I remember your mum telling me how she could feel you moving, softly and calmly, as if you were already showing us your tender spirit. It was such a peaceful time, just knowing you were growing stronger each day, preparing to meet us. But, in your own way, you kept things interesting. You spent a lot of time in a transverse position, lying sideways, which isn’t the easiest way to be born. But that’s okay—you had your own plan, and we were ready to welcome you however you chose to come into this world.

Your mum was so strong throughout it all. Carrying you wasn’t always easy for her—her sugar levels were high, and it made things a bit more complicated. But she was determined to do everything she could to make sure you were safe and healthy. There were days when she was tired and worn out, but she never let that stop her. She did it all for you, out of the purest love. Every moment she carried you, she was preparing to be the best mum for you. You may not understand it now, but one day, when you're older, you’ll see just how much she did to bring you into this world.

As the time for your arrival got closer, we found out that the safest way for you to come into the world was through a Caesarean section. It wasn’t the way we imagined, but all that mattered was that you were safe. When the day finally came for your birth, the anticipation was overwhelming. We were filled with so much excitement and joy. There was a little nervousness too, of course, but more than anything, we were just ready. Ready to finally meet you, to hold you, to see the beautiful little face we had been dreaming about for months.

And then you arrived. The moment you were born, everything changed. I still remember the first sound of your cry—it was like the whole world stopped for a second, and everything was perfect. You were perfect. When we saw you for the first time, it felt like every challenge, every worry, every bit of waiting had been leading to this one miraculous moment. You were here, in our arms, and nothing else mattered.



Sumayya, you’ve brought so much joy into our lives. From the moment we found out about you, we loved you with every part of our hearts, and that love has only grown with every day. You are everything we hoped for, and more. Watching you grow has been the greatest gift we could ever receive, and every time you smile, every little sound you make, it fills our hearts with a kind of happiness that words can’t explain.

You are our greatest blessing, and we feel so incredibly lucky to be your parents. We promise to always be there for you, to guide you, protect you, and love you with all that we are. You mean the world to us, and we will never stop being thankful for the moment we found out about you and every single day since.

I love you and I will die for you. Love always