Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The First 1,095 Days

3 years ago today, this was me:






Lauren entered our world exactly 3 years ago tonight at 8:50. I went to the hospital at 8:00 that morning after 2 hours of back labor at home, and after 13 more hours of labor and an hour and a half of pushing, this precious baby (if 8 pounds and 14 ounces can be called baby) was born:








After a full day of labor, and a total of 19 family members arriving throughout the day to wait patiently in the waiting room for our sweet girl to make her arrival, she finally did. I love this picture of my mom telling everyone waiting that she was finally here. (I, or course, was slightly preoccupied, but really hated to miss the fun time everyone was having in the lobby without me!)



Fast forward 3 years, and that sweet baby is growing up too quickly in front of my eyes. I cannot believe we've had almost 1100 days together, and I cannot imagine my world without her.

My sweet Lauren,

3 years ago today my love, the nurse placed you in my arms for the very first time. After almost 10 months of waiting for you to grow big and strong, God decided it was time, and out you came - not without a little bit of a struggle though! You get that stubbornness from your Daddy I'm sure. As we exchanged glances for the first time, I swear the twinkle in your eyes said, "I'll be easy on you two...I can tell you're newbies."

From that very first meeting until now, my love for you has only grown more and more. I love the fact that I am blessed to stay home with you, and I am so thankful for the family you were born into. You had 21 people at the hospital waiting to welcome you to us (counting Daddy and me), and numerous other family that came to see you over the course of the next week. You were born into this family, and God placed you here for a reason. And even at the tender age of 3, I am beginning to see more of that reason develop. You are loved little one. Loved by us, loved by your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, your church family, and by God. God has loaned you to us, and I am so thankful for the blessing you are, not just to us, but to everyone you come in contact with. You are my shopping buddy, and even though Daddy thinks we shop too much, you are a joy to the regulars at the stores we visit. One sweet woman at Target brags about you to other customers even when you're not with me.

You have a purpose sweet girl. You are caring and gracious. Even today, as people have wished you "Happy Birthday," you've made sure to tell each one of them "thank you" in return. You are a sweet, sweet girl that loves being around others, and I am loving seeing the compassionate side of you develop - which I know isn't easy at this age. Should God choose to bless us with another child, I have no doubt that you will be a wonderful big sister - you are practicing up with your friends C. and L. whom I can tell you love dearly, and who smile and laugh at you in return. You are growing so very quickly, and while I may grow weary somedays (which is a wonderful word to describe it) I have to catch my breath and go on knowing that the days of being weary will be over all too soon, replaced with just memories of the few short years I have you as my baby, but hopefully not replaced with days where you cannot believe that God gave you the stupidest parents on earth. I am so thankful that God has blessed our family with you, and that He chose us to be your family on this side of Heaven. I have loved having you as an only child the last 3 years, and should our family grow from 3 to 4 in the future, my love for you will only increase. (And no dear readers, I have no big news to spill on my blog :) - I've been cornered once at church for that already - which I believe is how rumors get started!)

So, as we celebrate your 3rd birthday, know that you are loved by so many people - all blood relatives - some by the blood that flows in our veins, and others by the blood that flowed on the Cross. My prayer for you my precious girl is that God will continue to bless you with the sweet spirit you are already cultivating and that God will bless us with wisdom and patience as we strive to raise you in His shadow to become the child He wants you to be.

WIth all the love in my heart,
Your Mama

2 comments:

Phillips Family said...

Happy Birthday, Lauren! Hope you enjoyed your special day...can't wait to see pictures from your party!

Amy said...

Happy Birthday, Lauren!