Changes Welcomed

This moment in our life, we have dreamed about for years. Years of prayers, years of dreaming, and years of wondering when, just maybe when, it would be our time to have a child.

Many have said “oh, just wait until you have to change diapers and stay up with her all night because she is crying” or “just wait until this child takes up your life”.

Call me naive and unrealistic, but our reality right now, is that these changes are welcomed and we have hoped for them for 8 years.

I never knew how much you could love someone without ever officially meeting them. With our first two, we fell in love with them even before we knew they were to be. We fell in love with the two babies that we spent so long preparing for – preparing our hearts for. That is why it was so difficult saying goodbye to them. But that is also why it is so easy welcoming this baby girl into our lives. Our love is ready. Our arms are ready.

I never knew how much fun it would be to plan for a baby. If I could only put into words, the feelings that overflow my heart as I fold little onesies, dust her dresser, make a headband holder, help put together a stroller, and read all about what it means to have a newborn in the home. All of these things fulfill a dream that my husband and I have only thought about and wondered.

I never knew that I would feel so ready to have a child. The thought of changing a blowout diaper makes me laugh. The thought of needing to bathe her after what she ate, excites me. The things that probably most despise, I can’t wait for. I want to take the time to enjoy every moment, like we have been able to do with this pregnancy.

I never knew I would look forward to a sleepness night, spent with our baby girl. And at that, possibly many sleepless nights. Parenting is not going to be all roses, but when kept in perspective of the fact that we have been praying for moments like those, all of those long nights are going to be so worth it.

Will everything go as planned? Not at all. In fact, that is why we are not going into the delivery with a birth plan. Will everything be easy? Not at all. In fact, I will probably cry. I take that back – I WILL at some point. But this new chapter in our life is something I have been waiting and praying for, for so long. Change is not always easy, but change makes one stronger and helps fulfill dreams.

And that is why we can’t WAIT to welcome this baby girl into our life!