A Purposeful Peek

Charlotte Ann & Adeline Grace, It is becoming increasingly difficult to do an "update" on one of you without integrating the other...and for that, I am SO thankful! You girls have formed and incredibly special bond very early on, one that I believe will last a lifetime.  So, this month, instead of doing Addie's normal "4 month update" or Charlotte's "toddler update," I want to combine them to celebrate how much you two are intertwined, although still distinctly different! Adeline recently turned 4 months old, and we celebrated her as we dedicated her to the Lord.  This means we stood in front of our church family and vowed to raise her in a way that she would know her identity in Christ, and that we would extend unconditional love to her as we intentionally empower her spiritual and physical growth. It was so humbling and surreal to be standing here with Addie, saying the same vows that we said only 2.5 years ago with Charli! ...

Pure Sweetness.  That is all.

Our Adeline, 3 months is a big milestone for us!!! I say us , because we are entering into a new season as a family at this point. For the first 3 months of your life, we have been home all together (made possible since Daddy works from home) and have spent every waking minute together as a family.  Now, Momma will transition back to her other full-time work (only second to her job as Momma), and you will spend your weekdays in the care of others.  A part of me mourns the ending of this newborn season, but mostly I am looking forward with grateful anticipation of what's to come! We may not have the same quantity of time from here on out during our weekdays, but you better believe the quality of snuggles when I get home from work will be better than ever... We spent the last few weeks before my return to work savoring every chance to visit friends (who just happen to be raising your baby friends!) and enjoy little outings as a family.  On the day b...

Addie Grace, You are two months old now, and I want to tell you something. Lean in close and listen carefully, because this is so important. It's something that your daddy and I haven't shared with virtually anyone, but you should know... When momma was 18 weeks pregnant with you, we had an ultrasound. We were thrilled when it showed that you would be a baby girl! At my next appointment, I saw the report from that ultrasound that listed out all of your body systems and reported "normal" on all of them...all of them except for one. Brain --- see comments below, it read. My heart skipped a beat when I read the details below. Details that said there were cysts on your brain. Cysts that could suggest some genetic abnormalities that may cause some developmental delay. To that point, my pregnancy tests had all been normal, but we wouldn't know anything more until you were born. On the drive home from that appointment, I cried. Sobbed. But through my tears, I began...

Tuesday, November 15th arrived, and I was still pregnant. REALLY pregnant. So obviously about to pop that after my 40 week appointment with my midwife, while walking into Olive Garden with my mom, two ladies passed me and not-so-subtly commented, "Did you  see her?! She looks like she is ready to have that baby any  day..." Don't you just love when people state the obvious...especially  strangers?! Also while eating lunch there, my sweet young waitress asked when my due date was. When I replied, "Today, actually!" she carefully backed away with a nervous smile, and said "Oh...! Wow. I can't believe you're here!" People are so funny around pregnant women...it's as if they think they will be asked to deliver the baby themselves if they get too close to a pregnant woman on her due date...! At home that evening, I began feeling some early labor signs but didn't want to get my hopes up that I might actually go into labor on my due date! ...