... A Year Old (for us)

Well, we did it. By this Thursday we will have kept BabyK alive for 12 whole months. What has it been like? Indescribable. What have we learned? A LOT!

My main takeaways (in the event we ever do this again) are as follows:

1) The first 40 days are like nothing you've ever experienced before. No one talks about this part because they don't want to scare you. I now feel a greater appreciation for each of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. You will never be ready for this, but that's ok. Just do it. It will be hard, but so worth it.

2) Sometimes, babies just cry. This too shall pass.

3) Sleep is for mere mortals. Yes, that's you. Take it when you can and when you can't; caffeine.

4) Say yes to help. Any help; dinner, laundry, even an offer to sleep on the couch (you know which friend you are and this is still one of my most life-giving memories. Thank you).

5) Take lots of photos. Almost any phone can take decent pictures and digital photos come with many benefits. There are all kinds of options for storage, you can view your images on a regular basis without having to spend additional fees to develop them and they are super easy to share with loved ones who are far away. Google Photos album for the win!

6) Be ready to learn; constantly. No two babies are exactly the same. You will need to learn all kinds of things about baby, life and even yourself. Be open to hear other people out because God can use anyone. Insight can come from the most unexpected places if you're humble enough to listen.

7) Enjoy. Lines like; "time goes by too fast", "the days are long but the years are short" or "first they're in your arms and then they're going off to college" may seem cliché but they have already started to ring true.

All things considered, I'm still in shock some days when I realize that being a mom is a reality. It's hard to remember a day without BabyK and yet it feels like she only just arrived. The only thing left to say is "thank you". Thank you God for blessing us with a baby girl, for being there for us every step along the way and for giving us a hope for every new day.

And thank you dear readers for taking this journey with us. Here's to another glorious year of motherhood!

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2 Peter 3:8

"With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day."