embrace the ordinary // a little love journey

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you.”
-Jeremiah 1:5

Dearest Precious P,

Meet your family! Here we are just weeks before you were gifted to my womb from the One who loved you first. We are a little family of four and we all couldn't be more excited that you have made us a family of five. 

In fact, I had a mama-hunch. The kind that just moved my little heart to think there was something greater than I happening. I just knew you were with us - or would be soon. Your siblings had been praying for you. Especially your oldest sibling. How he's been waiting and hoping for you! Your daddy and I had held prayers in our hearts for a while before God decided it was time. Time for you! 

At first, I thought I'd take that pesky little pregnancy test on your daddy's birthday. I thought it would be the most perfect little gift I could share with him. Only, you weren't just yet ready to be revealed. 

Then, come Mother's day, I decided I'd check once more. I thought how sweet it would be for you to be made known to me on a day that honors the very vocation I spent years upon years praying for. 

Sure enough. I was right! You were here. With us. Your little family. 

I made daddy a card. He was completely unsuspecting and shed some pretty beautiful tears of Joy and Delight when he made sense of my drawings and words. I shared in his tears because when your given the grace to embrace a miracle, sometimes the only way our soul can express itself is tears. Not tears of sadness, necessarily. Not when there's a miracle! But rather of goodness and beauty and joy! Sometimes your senses just get overwhelmed by it all and there's nothing else to do.

Since that day lots has happened. We've shared with family and friends about your beautiful presence. We've shared your beating heart, time and time again. We've shared pictures of you every time we get a new one because we love seeing you grow. And we've shared moments. So many moments, precious one!

So many, I think it only right to show you all that you've been present for. Mind you, you may not be fully aware of all that is going on but I can surely tell you that those around you do know you are there and it's all kinds of wonderful. 

So let's start here. You were present when your brothers were dancing, bouncing, and playing around on another rainy. Mama knew you were there from various telling symptoms. Symptoms I can only be thankful for because they kept me present to you.

 Then there were family visits. You've been prayed for and loved by your grandparents.

 And great-grandparents! GG couldn't be more excited for you!

OH! And then there was your Uncle getting engaged to a wonderful woman.

 You were there with me while I snapped these photos.

You're brothers got some buzzy-cuts that everyone is a huge fan of. Not sure if you'll need this or not. Only time will tell. 

Daddy likes taking your brothers to a nearby wood workshop. Sometimes they stay and work there and others Daddy brings the supplies home to work here. There were loud bangs happening for sure.

And then there was your announcement. After sharing the gift of you with family and local friends we decided to share you with mama's friends through this beautiful online community she has been blessed with. Everyone is so excited and praying for us!

I started feeling your flutters pretty early. It's a thing with me. I felt your brother's flutter pretty early on too. We're about 10-11 weeks here. We traveled to a few beaches and saw some family as well as spent some vacation time with dear friends.

All those symptoms we were talking about earlier kind of hit mama hard this week as she wasn't used to the hustle and bustle of travel. Nor was I used to missing naps. But even though the week was physically trying, my heart was so full.

 I know you're going to love all these trips when we make them again once you're in our arms. Especially the beach. You'll love the beach. Everyone in your little family loves the beach and I'm glad I could share the sway of the ocean and all of it's grand sounds with you throughout the week. Just trying to give you a head start for some delightfulness that is to come, precious one.

You went to your first baseball game for your oldest brother's birthday. He turned four! Can you believe it? I still can't! He adores baseball and all things sports related.

 Donut cakes are his thing! Can't wait to find out yours!

We also spent some time with your youngest brother's Godparents and kiddos. We all had such a great time and guess what! You got to spend time with your new little friend. We don't know her name yet, but she is just a week older than you at this point. We'll see come y'alls birthdays if that will change at all or not.

 Here we are and there you are. My little precious bumpity bump.

 You're brother's love the water. Pray you do too! It's your mama's favorite place next to an adoration chapel.

 And look at you here. You'll come to see that your brother's are both jokers. I know they can't wait to share their goofiness with you. I also know they will absolutely love making you laugh every chance they get.

We spend a lot of time reading. It's a good snuggle time. Usually when we're all reading together, one or both of your brothers have a hand on your present home - my womb. It's pretty sweet.

 We all went to the theater for a movie. First time ever!

 Uncle Myke and Erin came over for Mousetrap. Lots of fun times ahead, precious one!

 We've spent so much time outside. Mama sipping on one of her favorite drinks while enjoying two of her favorite things - your brother's playing and enjoying each other and reading.

Lots of sunshine this summer. I'm a huge fan and know you will be. Your oldest brother would live outside if I let him. While your youngest brother has a knack for the arts. They're both pretty wonderful and I can't wait for you all to meet!

Precious one, this has been your journey thus far. It's been a full 20-weeks and now we have another 20 to go. Pray you're cozy. Pray you're feeling held. Pray you know the love we have for you. And pray that God continue to bless us with the grace to grow in love and truth as a family so that we may be fully prepared to share those same blessings with you, sweet one.

I'm thankful for your journey. The highs and lows. The constant fatigue, stretching, and growing. It's all good. It's all sanctifying. It keeps me learning and gaining perspective on life, love, truth, suffering, joy, and so much more. And I'm grateful.

Thank you for your presence. Can't wait to see where the rest of this journey takes us. Pray that God continue to hold us in His Perfect Love and Goodness, come what may.

i love you. every bit of you. so very much.

“I understood that every flower created by Him is beautiful, that the brilliance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not lessen the perfume of the violet or the sweet simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the lowly flowers wished to be roses, nature would no longer be enameled with lovely hues. And so it is in the world of souls, Our lord's living garden.”

― Thérèse de Lisieux