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.
