Ever since the day we found out we were pregnant with our
first child he has been a huge blessing to us. I’m so thankful that God’s
timing is perfect, I can say that ever since about 6 months after we were
married we wanted to have a baby. Just before our 2 year anniversary we found
out we were expecting and even then we had our doubts about being ready to be
parents. I remember thinking, “oh my gosh this little person will be living
with us for the next 18 years.” Those fears subsided by joy and amazement at
how things just went so smoothly. We were so blessed and we never realized just
how blessed we were with a smooth healthy pregnancy. Our baby J fit so smoothly
into our lives. We thought why do all these people say parenting is so tough.
From the day we had J and brought him home from the hospital we were just in
love with this sweet baby boy. We couldn’t believe he was here, happy and healthy.
He is such a great little boy he has always been “easy” he is just an easy
going little guy, he just rolls with things. Our first year with J just flew by
it was a blast, getting to know him and figuring out how everything in this
parenting thing worked. However, that whole first year we thought about how
cool it would be to have our second to give J a little brother or sister. We
always wanted to have our kids close together.
A few weeks after J’s first birthday we found out we were expecting
again. We were excited and of course J had no idea what was coming. The crazy
thing about parenting is just when you think you’re doing a pretty good job
life gives you one of those, epic fail moments. Then you seriously doubt how
good of a job you’re doing yet alone why you decided to become parents in the
first place.
The
time you don’t follow the very important instructions on the carseat label that
says, “do not set the carseat on an
uneven elevated surface.” This of course ends with the carseat falling off the
couch with the most precious gift you’ve been given inside. But thankfully he’s
buckled up safely in the five point harness. Or when you are moving across town
and you haven’t given this same sweet boy enough notice, so when mommy and
daddy are in separate cars and hes stuck in the back seat with his crib and 90%
of his things surrounding him, thoroughly freaked out. Not even food helped
until we unpacked and got his stuff put together in his new room. There are so
many mistakes we make as parents, like how do you explain to a 18 month old
thoroughly enough that when that baby who’s making mommy’s belly grow will turn
your perfect you centered world upside down? Our little J and C are our
greatest blessings and our greatest challenges. They surprise us daily and no
matter what happens at the end of the day everything in our world seems right.
That is when I’m most thankful for “mommy brain” because the good times always
make the bad seemingly disappear.
All
this to say this past year has been tough our little C was a huge challenge, he
has added a whole new dimension to parenthood that J never did. C has kept us humble
and on our toes since before he was born. So this past Sunday when I woke up
with a head cold and my husband passed up his hot breakfast, and then offered
to take the boys to church so I could rest my heart was blessed beyond belief.
He reminds me every day why I married him but this weekend he really ministered
to me. As my hubby loaded the boys up whom DID NOT want to leave without mommy,
he told me to rest and that they would see me soon. So I got my necessary oreos
and Gatorade and went back to our room to rest. As I got in a nap in a quiet
home and a shower ALL BY MYSELF! I thanked God for the gift I have in my two
boys and my husband who made all this possible. Without him I wouldn’t have any
of this. Then I went to the kitchen to start lunch for my sweet guys who just
aren’t the same when they are hungry. J
Shortly after that I heard the garage door open and I went out to help. I opened
J’s door to get him out, and he said, “mommy are you feeling better?” I said,
“yes, sweet boy I am” and he said, “I prayed to Jesus that you would feel
better.” Oh be still my heart, I cannot describe the joy that simple statement
brought to me. Throughout the day he reminded us about his prayer and how Jesus made his mommy feel better. Our life is far from perfect, in fact most of the times its messy, in fact this morning as I'm writing this C is "cleaning" off the coffee table and J is crying because C is eating the rainsins J spilt all over the floor trying to keep them away from him. In the midst of all the chaos that ensues in our lives of toddlers and preschoolers, we end each day with a bath, a story, quiet time, prayers and the hope that tomorrow will be better than today.
Dear friends take heart, you are doing a great job! We all are! your house isn't going to be clean all the time, your kiddos wont get along, you wont know how to respond, but one day they will remind you that you are doing a great job. You got this! Lets just remind each other of that. Thanks for reading friends! we are working on Daniel's stories so we will continue sharing his amazing God Stories!
Lots of love and blessings.
