Our Baby. . .

Can you indulge me for just a moment?  It won’t take long, I promise.  I just have to tell you. . .

She’s more than four months old now.  What?  Four months?  When I say it, I can’t help but think. . . she’s four months already?  And, she’s only four months?  How is it that I feel like she’s been with us forever and there is no way she’s been with us for that long at the same time? 

Really, I can’t make sense of it, so I’ll just celebrate it.  This girl?  She is one of us. 

Just this weekend I asked Charlie and Chanelle if they could remember a time when she wasn’t with us.  In unison they answered, No.  We just can’t.  This sweet little girl has slid into our family and made us better, happier, stronger, and complete.  The question that loomed before her arrival. . . do we have enough love for another?. . . has been answered. . .

By all means. . . yes we do.

Our little Meadow likes to be snuggled, held, bounced, walked, played with, talked to, sung to. . . anything but put down.  Putting her down results in this. . .

Can I be honest?  (Shh, don’t tell Chad, or my Dad, or my in-laws).  I don’t really mind that she prefers to be held.  I carry her a lot.  I pick her up when she cries.  I indulge her often.  I guess what I realize the third time around is that this season passes so quickly and if she prefers to be close. . .who am I to refuse? 

I can’t tell you how much I love getting her up in the morning.  How much I treasure walking into her room and peaking over her crib only to have her face light up and her feet start kicking with excitement when she realizes I’m there to get her.  I really can’t think of a better way to start the day.

Girlfriend (that’s what I call her–much to Chad’s chagrin) is even making friends. 

Meadow and Halle love to hang out.  How cute are they? 

Have you noticed that little mark under Meadow’s eye?  For months I thought she had scractched herself.  Turns out, she has a hemangioma.  Doc says it should fix itself around nine months.  Personally, I think it gives our girl character. . . as if she needs more. 

I could go on forever about how much we celebrate this little life.  They way her eyebrows raise and her arms flail when Charlie or Chanelle get near her.  The way she likes to have conversations with us as she tries out the movements of her tongue.  The way she loves to nestle into her daddy’s chest.  The way she attacks a blanket when it is put over her.  I could go on and on and on. . . but I won’t.  I will just say this. . .

Meadow was meant for us. 

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And one last note, in case you were wondering. . . Remember Sheila? 

She’s growing right along with Meadow and Chanelle is taking wonderful care of her.

It seems that my big girl has some pretty mad mothering skills herself.

I’m not sure that my heart could be prouder.  Shelia is in good, good hands.

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Okay, I’m done.  Thank you for indulging me.

Have a beautiful day. . .