reflections...

as ben's arrival gets closer and closer {any day!}, ryan and i spend a lot of time reflecting on what we were doing this time 21 months ago.  pregnant with our little emma, we had been bombarded with the typical advice that all new parents receive.  we had dutifully read all our baby books, had purchased all the "necessary" baby gear, and were convinced that we were "ready" and that we "knew" what was coming.  remembering the way our eyes welled with tears the first time we heard her heartbeat on the doppler or saw her black and white outline wiggling happily on the ultrasound screen....we thought we already had an understanding of our love for her.

and then she was born.

she was born and life changed in ways there are no ways to prepare for or explain. the love we felt before she arrived was replaced with the most overwhelming, all consuming love we could ever know. one that i can't ever describe but that has changed who we are as people, as a couple, and as a family.  a love that has made every moment of our life more meaningful and exciting. a love that has taught us about compassion. sacrifice. exhaustion. and fun.

a love that has kept us up at night listening to make sure she was breathing. that made us sick with nerves over her first fever, first doctors visit, first tantrum.  a love that knows no limits or bounds.  it's the most beautiful love in the world.

there are many things about being parents for the second time that are a dial down on the worry notch.  having gone through it once before makes it seem more doable and less full of surprises around every single corner.  but the love and excitement remains.  the wonder over how this new step and this new person will change us and our family remains. and the anticipation and eagerness to meet this little life and start a new journey remains.  

here's to the love that only a new life can bring :)

{photos shot by Jenn Hopkins of jennhopkinsphotography.com}