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. 

39 weeks

I'm positive that motherhood will soon be teaching me lesson after lesson, day in and day out. But with being likely the most impatient person to ever exist I'm surprisingly thankful that pregnancy is teaching a primer in a much needed lesson in patience right now. You see, if this little one takes after me my guess would be that we would have met already. After all, I came 4 weeks early and my mom was certain there was no need for any alarm, that I was just good and ready. But my sweet Mike is most often much more gracefully content with life's reasonable pace and his gentle pull towards that side of the scale has always been a Godsend of a balance in our marriage. What a special thought to ponder that this child may share in that blessing of a reminder, too. That it may be no coincidence, for me, that the first description of love found in 1 Corinthians is that it is patient and then kind.

My heart is full of love for you Baby Bink and I promise to always do my very best to love you well. So while my body has grown tired of being pregnant I certainly wish to extend to you all the time you need - now inside the womb and then outside as we shepherd you through this life. When you're ready, we can't wait to welcome you!

Happy list v23

463. Mike helping me make mobiles for the nursery. Seriously swoon-worthy!
464. Sweet drop by visits from friends with babes and gifted hydrangeas
465. Going back to visit houses that I did a lot of growing up in
466. Impromptu all-day hangouts with friends
467. Our literally multiplying community group (:
468. Hearing Mike tell "our story"
469. Snail mail from my mom and the sweet and simple baby gifts she's included lately
470. Having a dad that keeps up with my OB appointments and hunts for old antiques for me
471. Jumbo cups of QT crushed ice and gifted "preggo" ice from JB
472. Doodling names in my journal, not knowing what our Baby Bink will be yet
473. Friends that give up weekend after weekend to help Mike build our back deck
474. Special trinkets with sentimental value
475. Our PERFECT homemade cake from my aunt and cousins for Baby Bink's final shower with family - so very special, not to mention, delish!

476. Line dried laundry warm from the sunshine
477. Making Mike's favorite meals
478. A happy Sully when he gets to do his favorite things
479. Fried plantains for dinner
480. Doubling up on Chocolate Silk Pie from Adam's with Katie for our last pre-baby hoorah. Halvsies just won't do. 

Blessed far beyond what I deserve.

What keeps you smiling, sweet friends?

37 weeks

I think it's safe to say we officially feel like part of the waiting game. Honestly, I had such a moment the other day in Publix when I bought a carton of milk that had an expiration date past that of our baby's due date! 

We greatly appreciate your prayers during this final "push" (no pun intended) towards parenthood and please know that we are so deeply thankful for all of the love, support and encouragement we've already received along the way. Mike and I cannot wait to introduce our little one to y'all very soon!

35 weeks

This pregnancy is certainly closing in on the end...like it wouldn't hurt to do a load of baby laundry, pack our hospital bag and seriously soak up our last handful of just-the-two-of-us moments kind of end. What the what?! Please don't be surprised if I hit y'all with an overly emotional, surely hormonally driven ode to my Michael here soon because that last thought can catch me right in the throat if I settle on it too long. But don't get me wrong - we are so very happy to be adding our little love to the mix! With great anticipation, little one, we spend our days dreaming of meeting you soon!