Woke up around 6am this morning with my to do list running through my head. Still need to run a load of laundry before we leave for the day, Avery needs a bath, Michael needs to finish the lawn and edgeing, keep nice clothes on hangers until we get to Manhattan, what is everyone going to wear for the trip to Manhattan, dogs in or out, are their feet clean, what still needs cleaned on the house.... On and on the list goes, it seems like my mind won't stop. Then I realize, today is Avery's birthday. :) And while I still turned the laundry, the rest of the list seemed to melt away as I began to reminise on this cool, fall morning one year ago.
By 6am Avery still wasn't close to getting here. I hadn't started pushing yet, I was just trying to catch up on some sleep from the long day before. My epidural was in and working and I was comfortable with the exception of the having a nurse come in once every half our to poke my stomach with something sharp to make sure the epidural wasn't numbing too far up.
It's crazy how time has flown by. I have a beautiful 1 year old daughter and each day that passes with her just makes my life all the more wonderful and worth living. I am such a lucky woman to have such a spectacular life! As if an amazing baby weren't enough, I have a handsome husband who cares very deeply and thoughtfully for Avery and me. He's gentle and kind. He cares about my safety, health, happiness, and spirit, and that of Avery's as well. He's a dream come true and I am a very lucky woman to have crossed paths with him and got him to notice. I love him so very much.
But my blessings don't end there!! I have 2 beautiful dogs! One smart as a whip and too smart for her own good. The other not nearly as smart, but as loving and friendly as you'll ever find. They have been my babies for years and will always hold a special place in my heart. They help me watch after Avery and they love her as much as they love me. They are patient with her and don't get upset when she's a little rough. I could not ask for 2 better pets and family members. :)
So much has happened in the last year!! (Some of these memories may go back a little farther) Exactly 1 week after we found out we were pregnant with Avery, we put an offer in on our house. 2 months later we were moving in. On our 3 year anniversary Michael lost his job. And while the thought of our big new house and our baby on the way worried me with where the finances would come, God was faithful, and 4 hours later Michael had a new job. That new job has taken good care of him for the last year and a half. They've given him time off when Avery was born and when we had our miscarriage, they sent a chocolate dipped fruit basket after Avery arrived, they've given him uncharacteristically large raises, and they're sending him to Vegas in 2 weeks and I get to come along! :D (Back to the last year-ish) We had a healthy pregnancy with Avery. Her arrival went well and she and I both came out doing great. And then Michael's and my world changed forever when we welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our family. She was so tiny. She was (is) so perfect. That first night, even after all I'd been through, I didn't want to sleep. All I wanted to do was stare at my beautiful sleeping girl. All mine, ours. What a blessing! And she grew and learned quickly. It started with tummy time, pulling her head up. Then she got her arms under her, then she turned herself over. She would bat and grab at the toys dangled over her on her playmat or in her carseat. She loved the ones that sang! She began holding her own bottles quickly and had quite the death grip when it came to getting food, it should have been a hint to us early on how much she loved to eat! After she got her hands under her, her knees came next. For a while she rocked back and forth, anxious to move, and then, finally, the crawling came! She had a number of teeth pop through, averaging about 1-2 new teeth each month from 6 months on. Crawling didn't last long and she was pulling up. She would walk along the furniture, but was always timid when it came to that first actual step. She began saying a couple words like Mama and Dada, along with a lot of other babbling. She gave up the pacifier on her own around 6 or 7 months. This was fine with me, because it was much easier to see her beautiful face without it, and hey, at least I didn't have to fight her to wean her off of it. She began eating solid foods and never looked back. There was hardly a thing she wouldn't devour. She still remains an eating machine. And at 11 months she was only up to 19 pounds! Where does the weight go?! From cruising along the furniture she finally began taking those first steps at 9 months. It started with just 1 or 2, but soon it was 5, and then 10. By the time she hit 10 months old she was a pro walker! And once she began walking, she never looked back! She walks EVERYWHERE! She has no desire to crawl at all anymore. :) She began climbing on top of things; the fireplace, her toddler bed, the chair in her toyroom... It took a while to figure out how to get back down, but she can do that now as well! ;) She giggles and laughs. She mimics sounds and says more words, especially "dog". And each day she's learning more, getting bigger and stronger, and more beautiful! She is the biggest blessing Michael and I have ever received!! So on this day, 1 year after she joined our family, I pray this prayer for my sweet baby girl...
Father God,
I thank You for this sweet child that You've blessed our lives with! She brings us overwhelming happiness and joy! I know that her life is a gift from You, because nothing from this world could be as perfectly formed, wonderfully made, and beautifully created as our daughter. The past year has been so rewarding! It has been an honor to be her parents and to guide her in life and watch her grow. She has come so far. Lord, I pray that You will continue to guide us and her as she becomes the woman You have designed her to be. She's in our lives for but a moment, but she is forever Your child. Lead us as we teach her about You, Your love, Your mercy, and Your goodness, Lord. Thank You, Lord, for this beautiful baby girl. We love her so much and give You all the glory for her stunning little life. Please keep her safe all the days of her life, Lord. Walk by her side and keep a hedge of protection around her. Make her into the true woman of God that she has the potential to be. And forgive us, Michael and I, when we fail to be the perfect parents to Your incredible blessing. We are human, but derive our strength from You. And through You all things are possible, even decent parenting from sinners like us. :) So, Lord, lead us all to You. Protect us along the way. And please help my fabulous little daughter to have a truly blessed 1st birthday and 2nd year of life. I love You, Lord!
In Jesus' precious name I pray,
Amen.
Have a wonderful Saturday, folks. :) And a very happy birthday to miss Avery Rose Voss. :D
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