JPs Birth Story

As a disclaimer...I actually wrote this right after coming home from the hospital, but I have just now been able to add pictures to it.  A birth story is just not complete without pictures.  :)

Monday, September 8th, was a normal day. We were prepping for your arrival on Wednesday, via induction, so I was making my lists of things to be done on Monday and Tuesday.  I kept Big Sister home from school that day with the intention of giving her some special attention, since she would be going to spend the rest of the week at Gigi's house on Tuesday night when we were admitted to the hospital. 

What I didn't know is I was possibly already in labor.  

When Your Daddy woke up Monday afternoon, I was in a frenzy, cleaning, complaining, arguing, slamming cabinet doors....it was not my finest hour. And then I became quite emotional when I was around Big Sister, knowing that everything was about to change and our little family of three was never going to be the same ever again.

But then Your Daddy gave me one of his big, world changing hugs, and I got a hot shower, and I felt so much better.

We decided we were going to have Big Sister Day, and take her to all her favorite things before we turned her world upside down. We had dinner at Chick Fil A, went to Home Depot to ride lawnmowers, and to the mall to ride the "gowiwa" and have a cookie....or two. 

 When we were at the mall, I started to notice some low, sharp pains, but didn't think much about them. I had been in false labor for three weeks and I've had lots of strange pains and pokes and contractions that got my hopes up too many times. Plus I had been on my feet all day. I thought it was just time to go home and rest.

So we put Big Sister to bed around 8:00, and Your Daddy and I settled in on the couch for a tall glass of root beer, a box of oatmeal cookies, and one of our favorite shows on tv that makes us laugh uncontrollably. I had been texting Your Gigi about the strange pains I had been having, and how I wished I would just go into labor that night so I wouldn't have to guess anymore.  I even took a bump picture randomly because I thought my outfit was cute.  I had no idea it would be the last one!

Around 9:15, I was about to tell Your Daddy it was time for us to go to bed when I felt a big sharp pain and a POP! I jumped up off the couch and exclaimed, "I think my water just broke!"

I ran to the bathroom to confirm that yes, in fact, my water had broken. Your Daddy and I took a dumbfounded minute to realize that I was actually in labor, and he ran to get his phone. I called Your Gigi to let her know my water had broken and she hopped in her car to come pick up Big Sister. I called the doctor and he told us to head on to the hospital.

After a few frantic minutes of packing the car, waking up Big Sister, putting my hand to my forehead to try to think clearly, and laughing with Your Daddy at the irony of it all, we eventually gave Big Sister goodbye kisses and headed to the hospital.

We were admitted and taken to labor and delivery, where they confirmed my water had broken and hooked me up to all the machines. My contractions had not yet started, but it didn't take long. Your Daddy got comfortable in the impossibly uncomfortable chair. Dr. Cleveland checked my dilation, and I was around 3cms, so that meant we had a long way to go. He told me to get some rest. Ha. 

By then, we were past midnight, and I realized we were going to have a due date baby! That never happens!

Around 3:00, my contractions began to really get intense. I had progressed to 4, almost 5 cms, so I asked for my epidural. Being in the middle of the night, we had to wait for the anasthesiologist on call to get to the hospital. Let's just say I was angry labor woman when he got to my room 45 minutes later. But he administered my epidural and I immediately began to feel relief.

Your Bebe and PawPaw arrived about that time, but I had had zero rest at that point, and neither had they, so they went to the waiting room for a few hours. I was able to close my eyes for a few minutes to regain some strength and to bolster my adrenaline. Your Daddy will tell you he didn't get much rest either, but he's a big fat liar because I listened to him snore all night. 

Around 6:00, Dr. Gilchrist came in to check my dilation. My body had relaxed so much that my cervix wasn't making much progress and my contractions were very irregular, so they began a dose of pitocin. Contractions picked up quickly and I could tell it wouldn't be long. 

I woke up Your Daddy and told him if he wanted to get some breakfast, now would be a good time. I sent a text to Your Gigi to see how things were going with Big Sister, and in true Big Sister fashion, she was taking her dear sweet time getting ready for school, causing Your Gigi to be a nervous wreck.

I told her to get here quick because we were having a baby soon. 

Around 8:00, I started feeling a lot of pressure. The nurse came in and said I was almost fully dilated and to let her know when I started feeling the urge to push. By then, you were being a booger and kept slipping off the external fetal monitor, so they put one on the top of your head. The nurse called Dr. Gilchrist to let him know we were getting close. I sent another text to Gigi because she hadn't gotten there yet. 

She finally arrived and was able to spend a few minutes with us until I got that strong urge to push. We kicked Gigi out of the room, the nurse paged Dr. Gilchrist, and we began practice pushes. You would crown with each push and retreat, so the nurse knew with some strong pushes, you would be out in no time. 

Dr. Gilchrist arrived and we started pushing...hard. Your Daddy got brave and took a peek. One peek was enough. "Yep.  He has hair." and he was back up by me. One big push, and your head was out, and the next big push, you were there!

You weren't crying, and we saw the umbilical cord was wrapped all around your shoulder and your legs. It kinked the cord, so you were without oxygen. Dr. Gilchrist cut the cord and gave you to the nurse who put an oxygen mask on you. 

I don't think I was able to breathe either, and I almost broke Your Daddy's hand from gripping it so hard. They assured me you would be fine, but I prayed out loud, "Breathe, baby, breathe." 

And then you did. First little gurgles, and then a big giant breath, and that first glorious cry. I have heard many beautiful sounds in my life, but there is nothing that will ever compare to the first cries of my children.

Your Daddy joined you by the nurse while they ran your tests - you were born officially at 9:22am, after almost exactly 12 hours of active labor, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces, and measuring 20 inches long. You have a beautifully perfect head of dark hair, but your face looks just like Big Sister's. Button nose, big blue eyes, and thin little lips. You are long and skinny with little wrinkly hands and feet.

And when they laid you on my chest finally after what seemed like hours but was only mere minutes, I got to tell you how much I love you and you are the perfect piece of me I never knew I wanted. 

Your grandparents all came in and held you and snapped pictures. They moved us to our permanent room and your grandparents all went to get some lunch. 

And as my favorite part of the day.... 

Gigi went to pick up Big Sister from school. And my whole family was in one room for the very first time. 

She was a little unsure what to think when she came in. She was a bit overwhelmed by all the people and the cameras, so she didn't say much. She asked about the IV in my arm and looked at you skeptically, while we tried to explain that you were the baby in Mommy's tummy we had been talking about all this time. It's quite the concept for a two and a half year old. 

We gave her a bit of time and she opened up some Big Sister presents. Once Mrs. Patty came in the room, she decided she was ready to hold you. 

And my heart exploded.

You had lots of visitors come in and love on you and pray over you for the next few days.  I spent a lot of time praying over you too when we had a few moments to ourselves.  We also spent a lot of time napping.  :)

We were discharged on Thursday and you have been the sweetest little guy. 

We've taken to calling you "Bud," just like we call Big Sister "Bug." You are a laid back dude, and you really only get upset when we take too long with your bottle or when we change your diaper. You're eating and sleeping like a champ. You had a little jaundice, but not enough to warrant anything but a little sunbathing in front of the window. 

We are so in love with you. I was afraid I would feel a sense of mourning when this was all over, knowing that we will more than likely not have any more children. But I don't.  I feel complete. Our family is complete. You are every little piece that was missing. I praise God for the gift of two beautiful and healthy babies.  My heart has doubled in size and I could not be more thankful.

I love you, my sweet son. Welcome to our world, John Paul Parrish. 

Waiting for JP

Dear JP,

Today my heart is a bit heavy.

You are quite the booger.

For the past two/three weeks, you have been tricking me into thinking I am in labor.  I have been back and forth to the doctor so many times that the front desk staff knows me and my birth date by heart, and I have joked with the doctors that I am just going to set up a cot in the back until you decide to really show up.

We have been to the hospital twice - once for an infection, and another for false labor that they had to give me meds to stop because you were about a week undercooked, and they wanted you to stay longer.

I wake up with contractions, I go to sleep with contractions.  When I move, I have contractions.  When I lay still, I have contractions.  Sometimes a few times a day, sometimes less than 5 minutes apart for four or five hours.  The last time we were in the hospital, they got as close as 1 minute apart.

That really freaked out the nurses.

But through it all, my body is not responding to the contractions.  I've been walking around these past few weeks dilated in between 1 and 2 cms, with no real changes.

So today at my doctor's appointment, we set your eviction notice.  If you have not made your appearance by my appointment next Tuesday, we will more than likely induce on Wednesday.  My doctor seems to think that my body may never respond the way we want it to, and I may not go into labor very easily, despite the weeks of false labor.

My body is tired.  I am tired.  I am not sleeping, I am not resting comfortably, and I am not taking well to the "You haven't had this baby yet?" questions from everyone I see.

So why am I sad?  We have a tentative birthday!  A means to the end!  I should be excited!

I am.  I am very excited to meet you and finally hold your little body and see exactly who you are.

But I kind of wanted that rush in the middle of the night, my water broke, are we going to make it to the hospital, movie scene feeling.  I didn't get it with your sister, and it looks like I may not get it with you.  

And we are not having any more babies after you...

So I'm a bit in mourning.  It's not exactly what I pictured.

Every day I have woken up with such anticipation, and such frustration, wondering if today would be the day. Timing contractions for hours on end, and going to the doctor only to find out that these contractions weren't accomplishing much. 

At least they confirm I'm not crazy. 

Now just because we have set a date doesn't mean if you want to come earlier than Tuesday, you can't.  You are more than welcome to. In fact, I'd prefer it. Our bags have been packed and are waiting. Your room is all ready for you. Your grandparents are checking their phones for a phone call. And Your Daddy is working his long week, and would love not to go in this weekend.   :)

But if you want to hang on a bit longer, I guess I'm ok with that too. 

But if you're a bit scared, just remember this: 
Your Mommy is so beyond ready to meet you. To hold your tiny body close to her chest. To count your fingers and toes. To watch all your wriggly and writhy newborn movements. To look deep into your eyes and tell you just how much she loves you and how we think God has big plans for you. To see Your Daddy hold you for the first time and beam with pride over a son - a different emotion than when he held his daughter. To see Big Sister discover that there really was a baby in Mommy's tummy and the look of amazement as she studies you. To feel those empty parts of me fill up that I really didn't know I had. 

So come on, JP. We are ready to meet you!

How to Survive a Marriage

It's strange to think that I am writing to TWO children now.  Some letters will be to you individually, and some will be to you both.  And I guess when it comes the day to print these into books, I'll sort it all out then.

Your Daddy and I are approaching our sixth wedding anniversary in just two weeks.

And since I plan on giving you these letters when you are older and considering relationships and marriage, it's time for some honesty.

There were several times I didn't think we were going to make it here.  Our marriage has had quite its share of ups and downs.  I know - people say every marriage has ups and downs, and that's very true.  And while I won't go into specifics of what our marriage has been through, I can tell you that we've each made some mistakes that cost us a lot of wasted time and love on being angry and lonely.

We've learned some very, very hard lessons in the six years that we have been married and the eight years that we have been together.

One of those lessons is that marriage is never, ever 50/50.  Let me tell you why that ratio is wrong - You should never only give half of yourself to your spouse.  You should always give 100%.  There will be times that it will be 60/40, or 80/20, or even 95/5, and that's ok.  A partnership only works when one partner is able to pick up where their partner is lacking.  Trying to make things equal is draining and hard and you will always be disappointed. 

And if you focus on giving 100% of yourself at all times, the reciprocal is usually the same.

Another lesson is learning when to talk and when to shut up.  In our case, I am usually the one needing to shut up, and Your Daddy is the one who needs to talk.  There's no fault in this - it's just how we operate as individual people.  

I'm a talker - I express my feelings, all of them, all the time.  I complain, I praise, I yell, I scream, I tell you exactly what I think before I've even processed it.  Your Daddy is a thinker - every word that comes out of his mouth has been carefully thought about and mulled over, so much so that he loses himself in his thoughts during conversation and tells me things that have nothing to do with what we're talking about (that part is pretty cute).

But in a marriage, the things I blurt out can be quite hurtful, and the things he doesn't say can be hurtful too, especially because he won't say certain things because he is afraid of hurting me.  We've had to seek some help on our communication and I can tell you that we are so much better about it.  Fights are MUCH shorter and are more like conversations than screaming battles.

But perhaps the a-number-one most important lesson we have learned is that in a Christian marriage, we cannot love each other by ourselves.  The only way to truly love one another is THROUGH Christ - the ultimate example of love.

For instance, in the last epic we may not make it fight, I was very, very, very angry.  I was so hurt that I legitimately ached in my body.  I spent a lot of time on my knees, crying out for relief from the bitterness and anger.  I couldn't even bear to look at this man that I knew to be my husband, and yet, I was supposed to love him?

Yes.  I was supposed to love him.

In a day and age where it seems so easy to just give up, sign the papers, and start over, I was supposed to defy what has become a social norm and love my husband through good AND bad?

Yes.

How can I profess a love and forgiveness that comes from Christ, who loves me when I am most unlovable, most unclean, most undesirable?  How can I tell others how Christ's love saved me, if I wasn't willing to love my husband, my partner, and ultimately my brother in Christ through the pain and hurt?  How am I supposed to feel free in forgiveness from my own sins, when I was so reluctant to give that same forgiveness to my husband?

So I made my decision right then.  I am supposed to love my husband for the rest of our lives.  Not because he's cute, or makes good cheeseburgers, or treats me in any certain way that makes him "worthy" of my love.  But because I am commanded to love because I was loved when I was least deserving.

God gives us marriage as a gift and a treasure.  We are meant to be blessed with partnership, encouragement, forgiveness, faithfulness, and just plain ole fun.  

I love the man I married.  He knows me better than I know myself - he can sense an emotional meltdown coming from a mile away and jumps in to see what he can do to overcome it.  He lets me eat the last of the chips and he tells me I'm beautiful, even when I know I'm not looking my best.  He gives the best hugs in the whole world.  He protects our little family, and serves us well with his kind heart.  He has given me two beautiful children, and he is an amazing and devoted father.  Plus, he is ridiculously cute and he really does make good cheeseburgers.  

Our love is comfortable.  I love coming home to his warm embrace and knowing exactly what we will do all evening, which is typically veg out in front of our favorite shows on tv.  I love when he comes home in the mornings and rolls me over for a sweet kiss before he promptly passes out from exhaustion.  I love that I can typically predict what he will be wearing, and that his towel is always going to drive me nuts where he places it.  I love that there is only one way to position our hands that is comfortable when we are walking hand-in-hand, and that our hands naturally fall into it.  I love that I can put my head on his shoulder, and he wraps his big arm around me and it just FITS.  

Without a doubt, we were made for each other.  We bring out the best and the worst in each other.  But we've gotten a lot better at bringing out the best.  Our marriage is stronger than it has ever been because we are communicating and being honest in ways that we never were before.

And sure, it's a lot easier to love him when things are good.  Absolutely it is.  But I'm so much more prepared to love him when things are bad.  Because we are human and inevitably, he will hurt me again.  I will hurt him again.  We will argue and we will fight and we will disagree and we will make poor choices.  We won't always put each other first and we won't always be our best selves.  But we can love each other through it.

I pray for your future spouses every day.  That God already has or will be creating them for you, molding their hearts to be the perfect complement to yours.  That your paths will lead to each other in an uncomplicated, safe, and unmarred journey.  That you will seek Christ's love first before seeking each other, so that when you do find each other, you have a firm foundation and perfect example to follow to know HOW to love each other.  That you will always know love and joy through your spouse, and that pain and anger are limited.  That your marriages will be blessings and not obligations.  That you will always see your spouse how God sees them - worthy of love and forgiveness, even when it seems to be the opposite.

I pray that you will see this love evidence as you watch our relationship while you grow older.  That our marriage is one to be envied and emulated.  That we will teach you how to treat your spouses by our example, and that our example will be a GOOD one.  That we will always be careful of how we speak to each other in our children's presence, and that you will understand the difference in disagreeing in love and arguing in selfishness.  That our joy will overflow from our marriage and into our home so that you can be safe in knowing that you not only have parents who love you, but love each other as well.  

I pray that Your Daddy and I will always remember the covenant that we made to each other six years ago - to be together for the rest of our lives, to respect each other with our hearts and minds, and to be a partnership that builds up and doesn't tear down.  I am supposed to be Your Daddy's #1 encourager and helper, and he is supposed to be my best friend and protector.

And that he will always make me cheeseburgers.

Dear John Paul

Dear John Paul,

I should introduce you to this little blog of mine, since we are quickly approaching your arrival into our world.

So hi.  I'm your mom.

And I still can't believe we're doing this again.

You see, you were sort of a surprise.

Your Daddy and I had kind of decided we weren't going to have any more children.  Your Big Sister was going to be our only child.  We were in a rocky place when we found out about you - finances were extremely tight, our marriage was coming out of one of those valleys, my job was stressful, and Big Sister was entering toddler-hood.

So when I looked at the calendar and realized something was "off" a few days after the New Year, I found a pregnancy test under the guest room sink that I have no idea how old it was.  Your Daddy was still asleep and Big Sister sat on her potty in the bathroom with me while I cried and panicked over the little word on the test - "PREGNANT."

Oh, holy cow.

How were we going to do this?  We're barely making things happen with just ONE baby, let alone two.  I just had knee surgery a few weeks beforehand and had taken strong painkillers - Are you even ok in there?  How is Ben going to handle this news?  What about Brooke Allen?  How is MOM going to react?  What do we do?

And in those few moments of freaking out and talking to my wonderful mom friends in our little Facebook group, I began to realize a few things.

People much poorer than us in much worse situations have babies all the time.  People in worse marriage positions than us have babies all the time.  People who do drugs have babies who are ok.  Babies are never a mistake.  Babies are awesome.  Your Daddy and I are two loving and capable people who can make this happen.  And most importantly...

God never makes mistakes.  We read this over and over in scripture.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. - Jeremiah 1:5

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

- Matthew 6:26

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. 

- Colossians 1:17

So if God never makes mistakes, and you are born with a purpose...

Then why am I so worried?

So I gave up worrying.  

I don't have to worry.  God gave us yet another gift of life as a product of Your Daddy's and my love for each other.  We are going to have a BABY.  Another precious piece of Heaven that we get to care for and love on and raise to be a productive human being who we pray returns the praise to the God who gave you to us.

That old saying, "God never gives us more than we can handle" is totally not true.  He gives us so much more, so that we rely on Him for our needs.  And our needs throughout this pregnancy have been fully met.  We have a home and more than enough food in our fridge, really great insurance, we are working on our financial stability daily, our marriage is more intact than ever, and Big Sister is slowly (ok, not really at all) getting the picture of actually being a Big Sister.

So here we are at 36 weeks pregnant.

At my appointment last Tuesday, you are head down and engaged, and I am dilated 1 cm, which is more than I was dilated with Big Sister at the time of her induction.  And with the way you have been MMA fighting my pelvis and hips for the past 24 hours, I'm going to assume when I go to my appointment on Monday, that we've made some more progression.

Everyone is telling me you will be here by Labor Day weekend, which I am starting to believe myself.  

Which would be pure poetic justice - you see, Labor Day weekend and August 30 is our wedding anniversary.  Six years to be exact.  I was born on my parent's anniversary, and my whole life, I have heard nothing but, "I never got an anniversary after you were born" from Your Gigi.  She is not so secretly hoping you are born on the 30th so that she can rub this in my face even more.

Honestly?  I don't care what day you are born.  I just want to meet you.  There must be something extra special about you for God to give you to us at such a time.  I think you are going to do great things.

It's funny, when I was pregnant with Big Sister, she would go bananas in my belly when music was played.  She loved church music and Tom Petty, specifically.  And now that she is here, she loves dancing and singing so much.  She sings along with the radio and we catch her singing to her babies all the time.  She dances whenever music is on and yells, "DANCE, DADDY!" even in restaurants.  She's even trying to match pitch with me while I sing.

You?  You love preaching.  I can barely sit still during sermons and Sunday School lesson because you are squirming so much.  So will you be a great preacher?  A teacher?  A politician?  Who knows!

All I know is you are special.  You are so loved.  You are going to be something great.  And you will be ours for a little while by the beautiful provision of the Great God we serve.

Son, I love you.  As we count down these last few weeks/days/hours, I sit in prayer and vigilance, waiting for you.  Waiting until I see that beautiful and perfect face of yours that we have only seen through ultrasound.  Waiting until I hear your first breath and first cry.  Waiting to hold you close to my chest and cry for our wonderful little miracle.  Waiting to be YOUR Mommy.

And I still can't believe we're doing this again.  How great is our God?

Big Changes, Little Brother

It's been a very long time since I've written on this blog to you.  I'm sorry about that.  Life has up and run away with us since...well, YOU up and started running.

If there's one word I could use to describe you, it is "spirited."  You are full of spirit.

Just about everything makes you giggle uncontrollably, especially when we tickle you right under your neck.  You run everywhere you go, whether it's down the hall at home or down the aisles at Target away from Mommy and GiGi.  I have to remind you often that we are inside, and screaming is reserved for outside.  You love to play and explore and climb.  You are busy from sun up to sun down, taking care of your babies and Mousey and cooking and reading and watching your favorite shows.  You are friendly and bubbly and talk to just about everyone you come in contact with.  

In fact, you talk all the time.  You talk about what you see, what you're doing, what I'm doing, what Daddy is doing, what you think BanBen might be doing, what's on tv, what's not on tv...You never really STOP talking.  I've even heard you talk in your sleep.

You may not look much like me, but your personality is SO.  ME.

With our personality comes the not-so-fun side of being "spirited."  It also means you are VERY strong-willed.  We've always known this, even from your gender scan when I was 20 weeks pregnant with you - you sat backwards Indian style for over an hour while we poked and prodded you to move to find out who you were.  You continued to show it with your stubbornness to sit up on your own, crawl, and walk, waiting until you were 17 months old to take off.

And then once you did, we can't stop you.  You have very specific opinions about what you like and what you don't like.  You also are on your own time frame.  It's brought us both to tears on multiple occasions, leaving your poor Daddy, "Da-Da" you still call him, to pick up the pieces of us both.  I hope he's prepared to do that for the rest of our combined lives.

But we're working on it.  We've had to come up with a solution to you telling us "no" or not coming to us when we ask.  Unfortunately, that solution is popping you on the leg gently, which really hurts your feelings more than anything.  And we're working on being content in our surroundings.  Just because you are through with your plate and cup doesn't mean you need to push it off the table.  We go through a lot of marshmallows as rewards for things.

Like I said, we're working on it.

But we can't push you very hard.  You have to decide on your own when you are ready for these things.  Potty training has been pushed to the back burner because I know that forcing you to do it will more than likely backfire on us rather than be productive.  You ask to potty occasionally, and sometimes you don't care at all.

We are learning to manipulate our schedules to allow you ample time to "take care of things" before we leave the house - tuck Mousey into bed with a sweet kiss, brush your hair without tears, let you tell us "no" to five different shirts before deciding which one you will wear.  

We're trying to allow you to be YOU, without crushing that "spirit" that I love so much.  That spirit will take you so very far.  

The sweet side of your spirit has made you a favorite among your daycare teachers and friends.  I love hearing how sweet you are at school and seeing you interact with your friends.  They give you big hugs every morning and you play so kindly with them.  Except when Mickey Mouse is involved, and then you had to go sit up front with the Director...

The playful side of your spirit has given you the ability to play independently without Mommy or Daddy right by your side.  You love to play in your "big girl room" and are just fine to play in there for hours with me just checking on you every so often.  You have a huge imagination and I often catch you chatting on your phone and going on trips to see family members within the confines of our home.

 The adventurous side of your spirit lets us drop you off with extended family without fear of separation anxiety.  You spend long weekends with GiGi, BanBen, and BeBe and PawPaw with no issues.  You say, "Bye Mommy!" and that's all!

The smart side of your spirit makes you so inquisitive and has instilled a love for learning.  You ask so many questions and want to know what we are all doing at all times.  You love to watch me put on my make-up and ask what each thing is for, before asking for some of your own.  You love to read books and ask what the pictures are about.  You also love your Bible stories, and learning parts of the stories so that we can quiz you about them.  You know all about Jonah and his whale, Noah and his animals, and Joshua blowing his trumpets, but you get a little confused on whether it was David or Daniel who was in the lions' den.

The tender side of your spirit has feelings that are hurt very easily, even by harmless lady bugs.  I have to give you many hugs and kisses because you bumped your elbow, Goofy fell off his bike, or Charlotte's tail popped you on the leg.  

There are so many other precious parts of you that I could go on and on all day about.  I love every bit of you - even the trying and frustrating bits.  I know that those are actually more few and far between than I realize.

And I guess that's what terrifies me most about this next step in our family life - You are going to be a big sister.

And when I say that, I mean, fairly quickly.  I'm 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow.

When people have asked if you have figured out that things are going to change, I tell them honestly that you have no idea and we are going to rock your world.

Because we are.  I'm not worried about me or Daddy.  I know that you don't split love between two children - instead your love doubles.  I already love your Little Brother in ways I never thought possible, and I've never met him.

It's YOU I worry about, and how these big changes will affect your spirit.  I don't want to lose an ounce of anything I have described about you.  I need that spirit to keep us all going as we transition into a family of four.  I need to know that you're going to be ok.

Your GiGi assures me that you'll be just fine.  But I know how much you love snuggle times in Mommy and Daddy's bed in the morning, spreading Pop Tart crumbs across our sheets while we watch the Today Show.  I know how you love to run down the hall yelling incoherent sounds.  I know how you love to leave your toys all over the floors because we all ignore them until it's time to clean up.  I know how you love spending time with Your Gigi on "Gigi Days."

Every aspect of our lives is going to change with bringing home Little Brother.  You are going to have to share toys and food and Mommy's lap.  You are going to have to be quiet when you don't want to.  And you're going to have to be someone's Big Sister forever.

Heck, you're even going to have to share this blog.

I hope you realize how much of a blessing and a gift a sibling is early on in life.  I didn't realize it until MUCH later.  I am so thankful for my brother and all he provided me with growing up - good and bad.  

I know that you and JP will be big buddies and you will love to have a playmate around.  You two will get in lots of trouble together.  But you will always have another person in the family to rely on.  A special relationship with secrets from Mom and Dad that you will keep for years to come.  You will make sure you are the only one who is allowed to push him around, and threaten to beat up any bullies who mess with him.  You will ignore him in the lunchroom, but be so proud of his accomplishments.  You will complain about attending his sporting events, but be upset when he can't be at yours.

There's nothing like a sibling relationship.  I'm so glad we get the chance to give it to you.

And through all of it, I am going to do my very best to make sure we don't dim the light of your spirit.  To give you all the praise and adoration that we absolutely can so that you know you are special because you are who you are.  JPs spirit is going to be so much different than yours.  Both of you are perfectly made and formed by a God who gives us each different personalities and skills and talents.  You are both unique.

I love who you are now.  I can't wait to see who you are as a Big Sister.  I can't wait to meet your Little Brother.  I can't wait to see what our new family dynamic will be like.  I can't wait to fall in love with Your Daddy all over again.

I love you more than ever, my Sweet, Sweet Girl.

My Confessions to You

This post has been weighing heavily on my mind as I have been reflecting back on my life, my spiritual life, and the ways I wish I could have changed it.  This is so very hard for me to admit and I am opening myself up for criticism as I write this and publish it for all who know me to see it.

In all honesty, I have failed to make a good example for you.

I've done things that I am not proud of.  I know we all say that, but as I look back at my life, there are things I wish I could take a big pink eraser to and pretend they never happened.  Things that people don't forget.  A reputation I created for myself.  A life that I am trying to overcome as I grow into womanhood.

I have lived a life dirty with sin, and sometimes I am afraid that people still see those stains all over me.  That I am a falsity to what I say and do now, because my past still haunts me.  I am afraid that because I "played church" while living a life contrary to what I stood for, that when I am living right for the first time in a very long time, people still see the church player.

I need to apologize to you for this.

For so long, I stood on the stage at church and sang solos, sang in the choir, and performed in church plays while proclaiming the name of the Lord, and it was all empty.  All of it.  

I didn't know it at the time.  I thought my relationship with God was healthy.  If the church doors were open, I was there.  I am, after all, a product of a minister and a church musician.  I am a Bible Drill champion, can sing most hymns and praise choruses at the drop of a hat, and can quote scripture endlessly.  I've been on mission trips, to soup kitchens, Habitat homes, and Disciple Now weekends.  

But it was empty.

I am saved.  I have accepted Jesus.  I know I will go to Heaven when I die.  But there was no evidence of that in my life, besides my outward actions at church.  There was no good fruit.

Pastor Paul has been challenging us at church.  Is a life saved by grace really saved if there is no fruit?  If a life truly is saved, shouldn't there be evidence?  Do people know you are a Christian?  

As I began to examine my past, I realize that there is little to no evidence that I am a true Christian unless I verbally spoke it to you.

Oh, how I wish this wasn't true.

So I begin my journey into real Christianity.  True discipleship.  A meaningful relationship with God.  I know that I am changing, and these kinds of changes can only be for good.

Now, I warn you.  I warn you against the challenges of life.  My past is my past because of my own choices.  I chose the path.  

But you don't have to!  I pray to see you live a pure and holy life.  Yes, holy.  To be holy is to be set apart.  Full evidence of Christ in you.  To interact with people and for them to know that you are different, and it creates a desire in them to find out what makes you different.  That you would be bold in speaking out in your faith.  That you can spread the love of Christ with your actions and your words.  That you would never shy away from an opportunity to be a light or salt.  That you would strive to please God before pleasing boys, your teachers, your coaches, your friends, even me.

It is amazing what choosing to live a life pleasing God rather than your boyfriend or fashion magazines will do for your self esteem and self image.

Because you are child of the one true King.  You are made in His own image.  There is nothing more beautiful than the fullness of God, and you are a reflection of that!  How wonderful!  Do you still question your beauty when you read that?  You shouldn't.  Read it again if you do.

My heart aches when I think about the choices you will have to make in life.  Choices when you date, choices when you make friends, choices when you go to college.  Will you say yes or no to things that aren't pleasing to God?  Will choose the party over Bible study?  Will you disobey Your Daddy and me?  Will you give in to sexual temptations?  Will you blatantly show your disobedience to what we are called to and everything Your Daddy and I will teach you?

Or will you be a church player, like I was?  Hiding sins behind a pretty face and a nice singing voice.  Partying on Saturday and praying on Sunday.  Preaching an empty gospel.  Bowing your head to pray but daydreaming about what happens after church.

I promise you, being a church player is worse than blatant disobedience.  Being a lukewarm Christian will cause you to be spat out.  Be hot or cold, but don't be in between.

I hope you forgive me for my past.  I pray that you don't see me as a hypocrite, only as one who is repentant.  One who is saved by grace and is choosing to be better.  Not only because I am commanded to be, but because I want to be.

And never underestimate the power of a praying mother.  I can show you full circle the power of my praying mother, Your GiGi.  I can't save your soul, but I can pray that you make the right choices.  And if you don't, I can pray that you will come back around.  

I will pray incessantly either way.

I say these things because I love you.  I love you with a never ending, all time, expansive, powerful love.  But as much as I love you, God loves you even more.  There is no way to ever lose the love of God.  It's there for you to reach out and touch at any time.  You are His.

While a testimony full of tragedy and sin and repentance is interesting and dramatic for people to hear, there is nothing that pleases God more than a testimony of holiness and righteousness.  And we're all in this for pleasing God and bringing glory to Him.

There is no greater cross to bear on Earth, and no greater crown to wear in Heaven.