My Baby Girl's First Birthday

It's so hard to believe that it's been an entire year since I gave birth (you can read my birth story here) to this beautiful little girl. It's such a bittersweet time. I'm so sad at how quickly this year has passed. I've tried to soak in and cherish every moment, but the reality is that it feels like I just blinked and now my little baby is a 1 year old little girl. This year has been filled with so many ups and some downs as well. I have been able to experience the joy of breastfeeding for a full year now, and I don't see our breastfeeding relationship ending anytime in the near future.  I have also been able to experience many sleepless nights, and I honestly have no idea how I survive on as little sleep as I do.

Our sweet Lyric is one of the sweetest and funniest babies I know. She loves to smile at people, and it's not unusual for her to get the happiest of reactions from people when we are out and about. I think she likes to make others feel good, and I hope she keeps this sweet spirit her whole life.  Lyric loves to wave at people and if someone is laughing, she laughs right along with them.

Lyric loves her big brother more and more now that she is getting older. He makes her laugh more than anyone, and she loves it when he plays with her, chases her, and tickles her. It's pretty much the sweetest thing ever.

Lyric also loves to crawl everywhere now, and she is so curious about everything. She can walk a little too, she actually took her first steps at 7 months old, but she definitely prefers crawling since it gets her where she wants to go faster.

Lyric is also using American Sign Language to communicate with us now. It blows my mind how much babies can learn. So far, Lyric can sign more, please, milk, finished, thank you, and eat. I love being able to communicate with my baby before she can really talk, although she can say Momma and Dada, and she has said "thank you" a couple of times. She babbles and talks away all the time now, and it really seems like she's trying to have a conversation with you.

At 1 year old, Lyric has 6 teeth, and she seems to be trying to cut even more right now. It took her 10 months to get her first teeth, but then they all decided to come in at once, which is one of the reasons we experience some sleepless nights. I can be so exhausted, and honestly so tired of dealing with Lyric after not getting any sleep, but then she wakes up and gives me the biggest smile and giggles at me, and my heart just melts. It's impossible to be annoyed with this sweet girl for too long.

Lyric loves her Daddy so much, and man does he adore her. Lyric melts Eric's heart like I've never seen before. I don't know what it is about a daddy and his daughter, but it's definitely one of the most precious relationships to observe. Lyric has her daddy's big blue eyes with her daddy's long eyelashes. She is always getting compliments on how pretty her eyes are, and I do have to agree.

Although Lyric does love her Daddy and big brother, she is a Momma's girl, which most of the times, I love. She always wants to be with me, and she does have a hard time when I leave her, but she's getting better. I do believe breastfeeding and babywearing has made us have a very strong and close relationship, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I can't tell you how thankful I am to be able to breastfeed because I know some women have such a hard time with it.

 So these are just a few of the things Lyric is now doing at a year old. She has made our life brighter and has brought so much joy to our family. I am so thankful God saw fit to answer our prayers for a baby, and that the baby He blessed us with is this beautiful little girl. I am in awe of the love of my Savior for His children. The way he blesses us with these precious gifts is beyond my comprehension. It blows my mind that He entrusts these little lives to us. I just pray we can lead our children in a Godly way and raise them in the way that they should go.

So Happy 1st Birthday to my beautiful baby girl! Here's to hoping we have many more together!!! I love you more than you'll ever know my sweet Lyric.

Lyric, You are 6 Months Old!

"The love of God is evident, in the miracle of you!"

Photo credit: Ruby Peoples Photography, www.rubypeoples.com

Lyric: having the form and musical quality of a song, and especially the character of a songlike 
outpouring of the poet's own thoughts and feelings...


6 months have come and gone so quickly. This time last year I thought that I'd never feel like myself again. I wondered if I'd ever stop throwing up or stop feeling like I was going to throw up every minute, and now here you are, 6 months old, and the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen. It sounds so cliche, but time has been flying by much too quickly since you've been born. 

I have been trying to soak in every minute with you. You see baby girl, I didn't know if I'd ever get the chance to have a baby. I prayed for you for 4 years before you finally arrived. Being pregnant and giving birth to you were the most miraculous things I've ever experienced. It blows my mind to look at the above picture and to know that you grew inside of me for almost 9 months.

Photo credit: Paige Broome Photography, www.paigebroome.com

Photo credit: Paige Broome Photography, www.paigebroome.com

You fit so perfectly into our family. I can already tell that your big brother is one of your favorite people in the world. Sometimes you'll laugh and smile at him when you won't even look at me. He makes your face light up, and he loves you so much. You don't see the difference in skin colors. You just see your big brother and you see love. I love seeing the two of you together, and I can't wait to see what future years hold.

Photo credit: Paige Broome Photography, www.paigebroome.com

Lyric, you and your brother are my dream come true. I hope you stay as sweet as you are right now. Your big sparkling blue eyes melt my heart, and your smile lights up a room. Being your mommy is one of the greatest privileges of my life. One day, I hope we can be best friends like I am with my mother. I pray everyday that as you and your big brother get older that God would use you both in mighty ways for His kingdom. 

Photo credit: Paige Broome Photography, www.paigebroom

Lyric, you are loved deeply! Happy 6 Month Birthday my sweet girl!

Photo credit: Paige Broome Photography, www.paigebroome.com

Shaun, You Are Loved

"Just Like The Morning, Your Smile Brings the Sunshine..."

To my little boy, Shaun, on your 2 year adoption day, June 18th, 2014:

I really don't think you know how loved you are sweet boy. I don't know if I've ever told you personally how much we need you. You see, when you came along, I was still so heartbroken over the loss of our first baby through miscarriage. I so desperately wanted to be a mother and I just wasn't sure that was ever going to happen. But God had big plans for us; those plans were YOU!

From the moment I first met you, I knew you were my son. I knew that God in His plan had made you for our family. I don't know why He designed for you not to come to us until you were 6 years old or why you had to be neglected and abused before you came to us, but I do know His plans are perfect. I do know that God is already using you in mighty ways to bring glory to Himself. Yes it has been hard for all of us to miss the first 6 years of your life. I know it is especially hard for you.

It breaks my heart when you wonder about what you looked like as a baby and wonder about all the other things you see your baby sister doing for the first time. Baby boy, I do wish we knew those things. I so wish I could've seen you as a baby, and snuggled you, and kissed your undoubtably chubby cheeks and kissed your little toes and fingers. Oh I bet you were the most gorgeous baby boy that's ever been seen. I do know for certain now that you are the most handsome little boy I've ever seen. You have beautiful caramel brown eyes that I could get lost in and an award winning smile. One day you are going to have girls falling all over you wanting your attention, but please don't use that to your advantage. Treat those girls like you would want your little sister to be treated.

I know we've had our ups and downs over the last few years. I know I'm hard on you, and I know sometimes I take my exhaustion out on you. For that I am sorry sweet boy. I am hard on you because I want you to grow up to be a responsible and Godly young man, and one day a Godly husband and father. Do know Shaun that I love you more than life itself. You need to know that you are so special, so smart, so funny, and the best and most caring big brother. You have the biggest imagination of anyone I've ever met and you are a walking encyclopedia, full of so much knowledge. You are and always will be my beauty for ashes, my joy for mourning. I know you don't quite understand what that means yet, but one day you will.

Playing outside as Captain America. I love you kid!

Photo credit: Paige Broome Photography, www.paigebroome.com

Your name means God is gracious, and He sure was gracious by giving you to us. You have brought so much light and and joy to our family. So Happy 2 Year Adoption Day baby boy! I can't wait to see how you grow and change over the years to come. I love you to the moon and back!

To My Husband

Photo credit Kristen Booth Photography

 Eric, I've been sitting here trying to put into words everything you mean to me. This coming week we celebrate Father's Day, our 8th wedding anniversary, our son's 2 year adoption day, and our daughter's 6 month birthday. Gosh, I have so much to be thankful for, most especially, you! You have been my best friend for almost 12 years. We have been through wonderful and beautiful times together, like sharing our first kiss on our wedding day, living in a camper in New Orleans, living and working together in Bat Cave, adopting our son, and giving birth to our daughter and so many more. We've also been through absolute hell together, but we've made it through by the grace of God and have come out stronger and more in love with each other on the other side.

You are an incredible husband and the most amazing, tender, and loving daddy. Watching you become a proud daddy to our son, Shaun, was one of my favorite things ever. The man who hardly ever showed his emotions, all of the sudden would get overwhelmed with emotion when talking about his son. I've seen you show so much patience and grace with Shaun and also be hard on him when he needed it. He looks up to you so much. He wants to be just like you. I love watching him at church on Sundays copying everything you do, whether that be directing the choir or him mimicking you playing guitar. That kid adores you! Even though he may not always show it that well. I hope one day Shaun will grow up to be a Godly man just like you.

You are also my hero and a source of strength in my life. I don't know how I could've made it through the last few years without you, and most recently, I don't know how I could have gone through the labor and delivery of our daughter without your love, strength, and support. You encouraged me, held my hand, held me up when I thought I would give out, made sure I stayed hydrated, tried to keep me cool, and prayed for me. I don't think I can ever thank you enough for being such a supportive husband.

You have transitioned into the role of being the daddy to a baby girl flawlessly. You are so precious with our sweet girl, and man does she look like you! Right now you are walking around our house bouncing our girl trying to get her to sleep. :) I know you are exhausted and have been up since 3:30am, yet you are still willing to try and get our girl to sleep for the night. I love seeing how having a daughter has changed you. You are even more sensitive now and just so smitten with her. She adores you and lights up when she sees you. She thinks you are hilarious, and I know she must feel so safe in your arms.You are the most amazing Daddy!

Photo credit: Ruby Peoples Photography

All of this is to say, thank you. Thank you for loving me and our kids so selflessly. You are an amazing man, and I'm proud to say you are my husband and the daddy to my children. 

 I love you much! Happy Father's Day and Happy Anniversary!

To My Kids On Mother's Day 2014

I wanted to write something to both of my kiddos today. I've been meaning to write to them on a regular basis on this blog so that they can always have this when they get older. So here we are today, my first Mother's Day with two children, and I am overwhelmed with how much  I love them both, so I must write to both of them, after all, they are the ones who made me a mother and make this day such a special day to me now.

I will start with my little lady, Lyric.

 Lyric, you are so incredibly special to me. I don't even know how to put into words how much I love you baby girl. You'll be 5 months old in just 8 days, and I really can't believe it. It sounds cliche, but time flies at the speed of light once you have kids. Lyric, you are the baby I prayed for years to be able to conceive. I honestly wasn't sure if I'd ever be blessed to carry a child in my womb and give birth to him or her, but then God gave me you. Last year on Mother's Day, I had just found out I was pregnant with you. I was so filled with joy, anticipation, and fear that something would happen to you. Feeling you grow in my tummy, watching my skin stretch and tear as you grew, seeing your knees, elbows, feet, and little butt poking out all over my tummy, then going through the agonizing pain of labor, and watching you as I pushed you out of my body and were placed on my chest, those were highlights of my life. My body will never be the same because of you, and that's okay. I'm going to be brave and post of picture of the stretch marks that I will try to wear with pride because they are evidence that you once lived inside of me.

Lyric, you are a light in my life in my darkest moments. I can be sad, or frustrated, or lonely, or stressed, and then you smile at me, and you melt my heart. You are so happy and cuddly, and just so precious. 

You love smiling at everyone you meet, and I have seen you bring the biggest smiles to absolute strangers' faces with your sweet smile. I pray that you grow into an amazing woman of God that continues to love people and bring smiles to the faces of others. I pray that one day you and I will have a relationship like what I have with my mother. Little girl, you are so loved. I prayed so desperately to have you, and I pray for you every day now that God gave you to us. I love you my sweet little love bug.

Now to my oldest child, Shaun.

Shaun, if you only knew how much I absolutely love you. God brought you into our lives during a time when I was losing hope of ever being a mother. The moment I met you, I knew God had made you for us. I know you are not my blood. You don't look like me or your father at all, but I still see both of us coming out in you. I know at time it's probably difficult for you knowing that you didn't grow in my tummy. I know it's hard for you that we don't have any baby pictures of you, but now we have so many of your baby sister. I know it's hard for you that we don't know when you laughed for the first time when you took your first step. My darling boy, it breaks my heart that we missed those things, but I hope you know that I love you just as deeply as I love your baby sister. 

I can't imagine life without you. You are the child that made me a mother. You are my beauty for ashes. You helped heal my broken heart after we lost our very first child to a miscarriage. You have a beautiful soul my sweet boy. You love people so much. You are a walking encyclopedia full of so much knowledge. I love you that you love to learn so much, even if your incessant questions exhaust me some days. I know I can be hard on you, but it's only because I want you to grow up to be a Godly man one day; I hope you can understand that one day. I love you so much and all your sillyness! 

You are an amazing big brother to your little sister. She adores you and thinks you are so funny. Watching you be a big brother to Lyric has made me love you even more. You are so good with her my darling boy!

I am so thankful for both of you. Thank you both for helping teach me how to be a mother. I love you both to the moon and back!