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Willa's Story
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Chapter 1
Mike and I became the proud parents of our first child, Willa Elizabeth Tomchuk, on August 24, 2014, at 9:52 p.m. Weighing 6 lbs 12 oz, she was absolutely perfect. I remember looking at her for the first time and thinking she looked like a porcelain doll. She had the sweetest little face, beautiful features, and a full head of hair that everyone commented on.
Willa was named after my late father, William, who passed away in 2010. Giving her a name that honoured him made her even more special to us. In many ways, it felt like a piece of him would always be with her.
As a baby, Willa was incredibly easygoing. She discovered her thumb early on and quickly decided it was her preferred soother. By just eight weeks old, she was sleeping through the night, something every new parent dreams of. She was a happy baby with a calm and content personality, although she often wore a serious expression that reminded me so much of her dad. Even then, she seemed to be carefully taking in the world around her.
Mama was her first word, followed closely by Dada at eight months old. She was bright and curious. She met every milestone right on schedule, and I documented each one.
As a first-time mom, I knew how quickly the first year would pass - I wanted to capture every smile, every new skill, and every precious memory.
My maternity leave with Willa was one of the most treasured times of my life. We spent our days together learning, playing, cuddling, and creating the bond that only a mother and daughter can share.
Just before Willa turned one, Mike and I took her to Newfoundland - where I was born and raised. It was important to me that she meet my side of the family and experience a place that held so many of my childhood memories. As expected, everyone instantly fell in love with her. We introduced her to aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, all of whom were captivated by her sweet personality and bright eyes.
One of my favourite memories from that trip was watching Willa dip her tiny toes into the Atlantic Ocean for the very first time, she found it very cold! Standing on the shoreline with her felt like a full-circle moment—sharing a piece of my home and heritage with my daughter. At the time, we imagined many future visits to Newfoundland and looked forward to creating more memories there together. Sadly, this would be the only trip Willa would ever make to my home province.
Her first year was filled with love, laughter, milestones, and dreams for the future. We had no way of knowing what challenges lay ahead. At that moment, our world was filled with the simple joys of watching Willa grow, learn, and become the little person she was meant to be, and we treasured every second of that beautiful first year.