A Mother is Born

This is a beautiful email I got a long time ago right after I had my DD. It makes me tear up every time I read it.

A Mother is Born (By Regina Phillips) My first child, a daughter, was born on July 27th, 2000, and I found I was completely unprepared. I thought I was ready for her birth. I had read my books and articles on childbirth and baby care, I had bought everything on my shopping checklist, the nursery was ready for use, and my husband and I were anxiously awaiting her arrival. I was prepared for wakeful nights, endless diapers, sore nipples, crying (bother hers and mine), and the feeling that I can’t get anything done. I was prepared for sitz baths and hemorrhoids. What I wasn’t prepared for was the way the entire world looked different to me the minute she was born. I wasn’t prepared for the fact that the sheer weight of my love for her would reduce me to tears on a daily basis. I didn’t know that I wouldn’t be able to get through my first lullaby to her because I wouldn’t be able to sing through my tears. I didn’t know that it would seem like a new place had been created inside of me, just to hold this incredible love. I had no idea what it would feel like when the nurse wheeled my daughter in to me saying, “She’s looking for you” and the way the image of her deep blue eyes looking right at me would be seared in my heart forever. I didn’t know that I could love someone so much it literally hurts, that a trip to Wal-Mart would make me feel like a protective mother bear guarding her cub or that my first trip to the grocery store without her would break my heart. I didn’t know that she would forever change the way my husband and I look at each other, or that the process of giving birth to her and breastfeeding her would give me a whole new respect for my body. No one told me that I would no longer be able to watch the evening news because every story about child abuse would make me think of my daughter’s face. Why didn’t anyone warn me about these things? I am overwhelmed by it all. Will I ever be able to leave her and think of anything but her, or see a crust in her eye or spot on her skin that doesn’t make me nervous? Will I ever be able to show her and express to her just how deep and all-encompassing my love for her is? Will I ever be able to be the mother I so desperately want her to have? I have heard it said, and I now know that it is true, that when a woman gives birth to her first child, there are two births. The first is the birth of the child. The second is the birth of the mother. Perhaps that is the birth that is impossible to prepare for.

If you give a mom a muffin

Saw this and thought it was cute (and very true!).

If you give a mom a muffin, she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.

She'll pour herself some.

Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.

She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks.

She'll remember she has to do laundry.

When she puts the laundry in the washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.

Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.

She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.)

The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.

She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.

She will look for her checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.

She'll smell something funny.

She'll change the two-year-old.

While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring.

Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.

She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee.

Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.

She will pour herself some.

And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

I was just thinking about you guys and how I haven't checked in recently. WOW, I can't believe it's been almost 10 mos since I gave birth to my beautiful Addison Grace. To every woman who is struggling and confused. My best advice is to follow what you feel. I felt my baby inside me and just couldn't have an abortion. The father is my best friend again and we are terrific parents together but it took time to get here. Will we ever end up together? Possibly but I wanted to focus on being the best parents we could be first for our daughter. Life is great and if you can believe in yourself and have faith that things will work out the way they should, they will.

This site saved my daughters life!!!!!! I will forever be appreciative and grateful.

I have been fortunate to stay home with Addison since she was born and have loved every minute. Even the hard ones.

All the best & many , many thanks,

Valerie

Sarah's Babies are HERE!!

Here is an update I got from Sarah's friend this morning. Congratulations Sarah and Will!

Quote:

Noah James Isaiah and Isabella Rose Marie were born at about 9:30 this morning! They are BEAUTFIUL! Very tiny! (noah is aLOT bigger than Isabella!). And have quite a lot of hair! They are going to be in neonatal for this week and then in the hospital for another week. Anyway! i really really really want to tell the WHOLE story, but that's for sarah to do! so just letting you know that is all is well and that mommy and daddy are very impressed with themselves! love, Rose