Wednesday, September 21, 2011

One year ago today.....

On September 21st, 2010, I was student teaching in the first grade.  I will never forget the moment, when I was reading Hazel's Amazing Mother to a carpet full of precious, toothless 7 year olds and a wave of nausea hit me.  It lasted about an hour and was gone.  I thought to myself, "That was odd.  Almost felt like morning sickness....."  My heart skipped a beat.  No way.  Could I be pregnant again?!?   The rest of that day I spent daydreaming of what life would be like with two babies.  As quickly as I allowed myself to get lost in a daydream, I would just as quickly push the silly thought away.  I mean, we weren't even trying for baby number two even though I was getting a fairly severe case of baby fever for the second time.  That was one of the longest afternoons of my life.  I could not wait to race home and take a pregnancy test.  Technically, it was a little early for a pregnancy test, but to heck with it.  When you have that "what if" running through your brain, what is a $5 test? 

It was four days before Harrison's first birthday party, and Matt and I decided it would be so much fun to wait until the party to tell our families together.  That is the longest I have ever kept a secret that big.  When I found out I was pregnant with Harrison, I waited a whole 37 minutes (enough time to run to Walmart to buy a second test, drink more water and pee again) to tell my family.  This time, there was no need for a second test.  I had bought a digital test that flat out read PREGNANT.

   This is what motherhood looked like for me one year ago.  What is so awesome about this picture is that I was pregnant and didn't even know it yet.  I knew I wanted another baby, but that was up to God.  Harrison was a year old and I wanted so badly for my children to be close in age.  I wanted Harrison to experience siblings the way that I did growing up.  I loved having sisters so close in age. 

Here Matt and I are three days before we found out about blessing #2.  We were happy and in love.  Life was good, but it was about to get a whole lot better!

And this is what I have to look at one year later.  God is so good.  She is perfect, and everything I could have ever hoped for.  She is happy, easy, cuddly, and happy!  Everyday I fall more and more in love with this little girl.  With sweet grins and contagious giggles, it is hard not to be head over heels in love with her.  I know from my experience with Harrison that this love continues to grow and deepen in ways that are unfathomable.  I am looking forward to each new experience with my baby girl.  I know how blessed I am to have a healthy son and daughter and I thank God everyday for trusting me with these sweet souls.