I just had a daughter. She's five months old, and the best thing ever. Sure, she cries and shits and won't let her mother and I get full night's sleep - seriously, it's been 5 months since we've had a full night's sleep - but she's simply the best thing ever. She recognizes me with a smile each and every time. A huge toothless smile. All gums. All genuine. I dare you to name one person or even animal in your life that recognizes you with a huge genuine smile that says, "I'm actually really happy to see your face right now." If you can, you're already richer than most billionaires. Now imagine that person is your own flesh and blood? Now imagine you know that joy is temporary because babies grow the fuck up. So I savor every smile, multiple times per day, for as many days she's willing to bless me with them.
Happy New Year everyone! 2017 is officially here! While my family and I kept it pretty lo key (we watched fireworks from the rooftop of a hotel parking garage and then late dinner at a local diner), many people partied the night away and are waking up with dreadful hangovers today. While they are trying to navigate life without praying to the porcelain god for the next few hours, I was thinking about what I want and need to accomplish in the months ahead.
Even before their arrival, your little people are costing you money. From meals that make their reappearance minutes later while praying to God, “why Lord!?”, doctor’s visits, nursery items and even your clothing. While you really can’t do much about the first two, unless you’re blessed to avoid morning sickness all together and your insurance is amazing, the other two are fairly easy to handle, especially the nursery. It can grow with your child (ex. Crib converting to daybed to full size bed) or be passed on to the next. But with maternity wear, it's slightly different.
34 weeks down ya’ll and time is drawing near to meet our little girl. I know I’ve said this before but I am truly excited about her joining our little family. Her brother loves her so much already and the hubs rubs my belly at least once a day as he “greets” her. Her arrival will definitely be life changing. But until that time, I’m content preparing for the grueling labor that will precede her birth. Having chosen midwives at birthing center over an ob/gyn and hospital, I believe that even if things do not turn out exactly as I had envisioned, I have been empowered throughout this entire process. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the 99% of women who experience birth in a hospital which is why I'm choosing to deliver at a birthing center.
Wait. What is that? Do you hear it? It’s silence. Complete and utter silence!!! Ya’ll, a couple of weeks ago, the mother in law and the boy took a trip to visit her other son and his wife for a week and that ish was glorious!!! There were no “mom can I have this?” or “mom can I do that” or even “I went dancing today down south”. There was nothing!! Although I did miss the random I love yous from the little person.
Guess what man!? You're five!!! Today marks another milestone for you on this journey we call life. You are officially no longer a toddler, but our little boy. Ok, big boy according to you and grandma. You’ll always be little to us even when you're forty.
It finally happened and all it took was a year. Now as some of the more proper folk would say, I am with child. But some of us on the more ratchet end of the spectrum would simply say I'm knocked up. Me? I'm finally preggers ya'll. All thanks to 6 lbs 12 oz baby Jesus. According to the ultra sound its just one.
This past weekend the hubs and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary!! Whoop! Whoop! To be quite honest, about 5 years ago, I didn’t think we would be standing here. But all I can say is, but God. So here we are, another year under our belts. I have no stories for you on the lessons learned this far. Just know that its been work, compromise, communication (actively listening) and whole lot of respect for one another. But it’s also been filled with plenty of laughter and fun times.
