All For A Baby

Dear Kids,

My heart is full of empathy tonight for someone I love.This post is for her.

She is pregnant with her first baby and had some false labor this morning. Everything was going great and she was progressing, then it just stopped. I saw her this afternoon... her eyes were full of tears. Oh how hard it is to have babies! 

Because of seeing her and feeling her pain, frustration and exhaustion I have been having flashbacks ALL DAY of my pregnancies and deliveries with all of you (I realized I need to write all of your birth stories on this blog, will post those later). I tell you what, WOMEN ARE AMAZING for bringing children into the world.

How is it possible to even describe what we go through? The sickness, nausea, rollercoaster of emotions, fluctuation of hormones, hurting joints, numb hands, aching ankles, side effects, unexpected disappointments, varicose veins, desire to binge constantly, annoyance at life for just being pregnant...and the constant waiting and waiting and waiting for that baby to get here.

But then also the amazement of feeling the first kick, elation of hearing that heartbeat, seeing the ultrasound movement, carrying a soul, feeling closeness of the spirit, God holding us in His hands... and the indescribable moment of holding and feeling your baby on your chest for the first time. Nothing is closer to heaven.

We are the closest to Christ, those of us who have given birth ... given our lives for YOU. For our children. Only we understand what it is like to pass through the shadow of death to give another human being life. Only we understand what that means. We are the magic of the world. We are the strength of the nations. We are the hope of the future. We mothers, we are they who hold the greatness of giants upon our shoulders.

So Gabriel and Elijah... be prepared to love your wives and all women in your life who give everything to have a baby. And Natalia, you alone will understand what it means to be a mother.

This baby of her's will come, it has to! He will be here before we know it. She is great and powerful for going through everything she is, and I love her.

And I love you, always, powerfully and forever,

Your Mom