Happy Halloween

Our little bird as....a little bird (:

Wren [1 month]

Little bird, what a sweet, special beginning we've shared together. 

Thank you for teaching me daily to become a better mother.
And thank you for being my daughter.

I love you with all that I have.

Happy 1 month!

Happy list v24

480. Of course my cup overflows with love and happiness over our new daughter, Wren.
481. Little bird, 481 will always be my favorite for it's the happiest of them all!
482. That Wren shares a birthday with Sully Bink
483. Sweet cuddles that last for hours. Time has never seemed so fleeting.
484. Our special bow beanie from our favorite nurse 

485. When Wren puts Daddy to sleep

486. Stroller walks with two of my favs

487. Nutella once a day...for the milk (:

488. Mike using the baby monitor like a CB radio - little bird come in, over.

489. Wren's poop face. Her teenage self may very well hate my commitment to thorough documentation.

 490. Our first hike in Hendersonville with sweet friends

491. Seeing our families and friends love on Wren - it is so very special and we are grateful that her heart is already so dear to so many

492. Oowa singing the funny face song on repeat

493. The most special letters and their perfect timing

494. Baby wearing - the gifted freedom of using two hands

495. Mike's hit single and when it gets stuck in my head during the day

496. Chatting with my dad about becoming a parent - so neat to finally share some perspective

497. The way Aunt Shellee beams at Wren

498. Sweet baby toes

499. Moonlight communication with other new moms - camaraderie is key.

500. A mid-afternoon decaf coffee as big as my head to make me feel like a real person

Blessed far beyond what I deserve.

What keeps you smiling, sweet friends?

Welcome, Wren Mikaela [our sweet, sweet little bird]

In the most special way, my mother once told me that a daughter is simply her mother's heart walking around outside of her chest. On September 14th, 2014 at exactly 1:30am, after 21 hours of labor, I came to know and understand this truth. Abruptly and all at once. 

And since that moment that little hand found mine life has begun to pass by so quickly. Too fast for my heart to keep up, I can already recognize that. It's almost funny how magnified life seems now. Sure, messes are messier, days and nights (oh, the nights) are busier. Honestly, our house somehow just now seems to be truly lived in. But my heart, forever tendered, now holds a joy that far exceeds any capacity it has ever known. My truth. 

Another note from my mother's book - parenthood means you are no longer your own person. Sure, our children belong to us, but really we belong to them. And I've certainly learned the raw truth of that, too. You take the tasks as they come, sometimes with your best, loving attitude, full of God-given patience; sometimes as the tired and weary, new (and often clueless) parent that you are. Somehow you build your confidence and feel a surge of pride as needs are met and this new, precious life is further sustained. 

Right now, Wren wants us, needs us and later will seek us out for such things. No matter how unequipped I may feel from time to time, I just pray she never doubts that her daddy and I will forever be available. At the least, always, always, always available. Every.moment.forward. 

Welcome to our family, Wren Mikaela! And thank you for appeasing your sappy mush of a mama and arriving when you did...the day I had a hunch that you would, on your big brother Sully's birthday! I'm going to have fun with that year after year after year.