Reddit reviews Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons

Hello, all! This is my new username (formerly /u/infertilitythrowaway). I wanted to explain my new name, because it has a lot of meaning for me.

After our first loss, we donated a children's book to our public library in memory of the baby. The head children's librarian picked out a book she thought would be good: Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon Muth; it's a book of haiku for kids. A little bookplate was put in the front cover; it says "Presented to [library] in memory of Baby [last initial]. Love, Mama, Dada, and [#1]." The thing that let me know that this was the perfect choice for us was in the author's intro: "Haiku is like an instant captured in words." This is what I wanted--the brief time of my pregnancy, memorialized with the book. It was really meaningful to me to eventually go to the library and read the book. It was a way for me to do something positive with the loss, contribute to a cause I believe in (yay, early literacy!), and ensure our baby isn't forgotten. Whenever I check the book's status online, it is checked out, so I know people are reading and enjoying it, and that makes me happy.

Anyway, a while ago I asked the librarians to pick out a book we can donate in memory of our second loss, and they emailed me back this morning with their choice: Bluebird by Lindsey Yankey. I've asked that this one's bookplate read: "Presented to [library] in loving memory of Baby [nickname] by Mama, Dada, and [#1]. We will always wonder where your wings could have taken you."

In the midst of trying to hold back tears while confirming with them that this book is a good choice, I realized that the two books together make a good new username for me. They capture my sadness at our losses, my love for all our babies, and my hope for our future.

Thanks for reading my wall of text! I feel so connected to so many of you and wish I could give you all hugs IRL.