Snowflakes gently falling, a beautiful blanket of white…cool crisp air…snow.  Something we don’t get much of around here.

Our room has been made over a few times.  When Justin and I were first married the walls were tan and the bedspread was blue.  It drove me crazy.  Because I did not want to spend money on new bedding I decided to paint the walls white with a tint of blue.  They ended up blue…ugh.  I still did not want to spend money on bedding so I borrowed a douvet cover from my sister.  It was a beautiful Pottery Barn cover, but it just wasn’t me.  Knowing that the solution was repainting the walls, I left the room blue for a year.  Finally I decided it was time to do a complete room makeover.  Justin and I chose to paint the walls a color called Fig (thanks to Maryanne’s bathroom walls).  We loved it.  I then began the hunt for the perfect bedding…I looked everywhere but nothing was what I wanted.  One day a friend and I were out shopping at a local antique store and I spied the most gorgeous bedding.  It was woven in Maine, brand new…I could tell it was expensive  and therefore figured way out of my price range.  I asked the woman who owns the store what she would sell it for.  It had been her mothers, was never used and she would sell me the set for $45.00.  I tried not to look too excited.  (Betty you remember how thrilled I was) I left with my beautiful new bedding and ran to another antique store nearby…bought a bed skirt I had spied earlier…it was $10.  The new bedding was a grand total of $55.00.  God provides.

Here’s what our bedroom looks like today.

The Bedding

The full view

$10 bed skirt.

I love the red (estate sale) mirror against the fig walls

The best accessory

I am from a family of seven.  Dad, mom, two brothers two sisters…one sister-in-law, two brother-in-laws have married into our family.  Justin is from a family of four…Dad, mom, one sister and one brother-in-law.  Along with all these brothers, sisters, sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws come 10 adorable nieces and nephews…the .5 is baby 11 whose sex is yet unknown.

I will introduce them to you in order that they became a part of my life:

Child #1: First born, responsible, caring, imaginative, intelligent, lover of baseball.

Child #2: Affectionate, vivacious, talkative, girly, beautiful, trend setter.

Child #3: Adorable, bossy, determined, chatty, independent, strawberry blonde cuteness.

Child#1: Creative, soft hearted, imaginative, beautiful, friendly, aspiring artist.

Child #2: Smart, energetic, easy-going, in control, achiever, suddenly all boy.

Child #3: Determined, capable, coordinated, mischievous, pretty tom-boy, lover of chocolate.

Child #4: Handsome, chatty, big eyes, big grin, mommy addict.

Child #1: Joyful, busy, happy, fun, excited, future rock star.

Child #2: Enchanting, delicate, shy, dramatic, full of energy, mommy’s number one fan.

Child #3: the .5, the unknown, destined to be adorable and well loved.

Child #1: Smart, high energy, strong, happy, puzzle master, Thomas the Trains most loyal fan.

Before Cora was born…when she was tiny feet kicking my ribs…tiny fists punching my belly…I used to sit and imagine what she would look like.  I wondered how big she was, whether she had hair…did she look like me or did she look like Justin?  I was anxious to touch and hold the little girl that was growing inside my womb.

Because I could not hold her…and still had to wait weeks to see her, I would find myself  looking at her tiny little clothes.  I would take each item out of the drawer.  One-by-one I would her examine her things, imagine them on my tiny girl…I would even put outfits together.  Finally I would fold the clothes and put them away.  The next day I would find myself doing the same thing…holding, touching, loving each tiny garment.

I will never forget the wonder, the awe when I finally was able to see our baby.  One final push and suddenly a red, squirming, screaming baby lay in my arms.  She was beautiful, she was perfect…I could hardly think for the emotions that rose from within me.  As I burst into tears my one recurring thought was that she looked just like her daddy.  Suddenly my baby had a face that I could see, she had a body I could touch.  She was ours…she was familiar.

Before Cora was born I knew her as the baby that would one day wear this tiny dress, or these tiny shoes.  She would sleep in this tiny bed and play with these tiny toys.  Now I get to kiss the little feet that kicked me…feel her grasp at my face with the little hands that punched me.  Every day I dress her in her tiny clothes and marvel at what I see.  What was once a mystery, a fantasy…is now a reality…she is a part of me.

Cora’s room is a nursery/guest room.  I decided that I would keep the double bed in her room until she is old enough to want or need her own space.  I have no clue what I will do when we no longer have that extra bed for guests!  Oh well…I’ll figure that out when the time comes.

Before Cora was born I spent days getting her room ready.  I found an antique looking white crib, beautiful bedding…we painted the shelves white…crown moulding was installed and everything was almost perfect.  However, one thing was missing…a bedside table.  I looked and looked for the perfect table but could not find it.  I spent nights sleeping in her room putting a glass of water on the floor….knocking that glass of water over in the night and as water soaked the hardwood I would think “if only I had a bedside table!”

About three weeks ago I decided to stop at a second hand store near my mom’s house.  I instantly spied two adorable blue tables.  I looked at the tag and saw they were marked 2/$25.00.  I snatched them up (fearing they might suddenly vanish), bought them…and walked out feeling satisfied.  I got home, put one of the little tables beside the bed in Cora’s room and let out a sigh of relief.  I had finally found the perfect bedside table…

Before Cora came into our world I always wondered what kind of daddy Justin would be.  I knew he would love her…but I did not realize the extent to which he would love her.  Our baby girl has her daddy wrapped around her plump, dimpled finger.  Let’s just say that he is over the moon for her.  Do boys steal their daddy’s hearts the same way girls do?

Daddy's Girl

Last night Justin and I were able to go on a double date with some dear friends of ours.  We went to an amazing restaurant called The Terminal…had to wait a long time to be seated but it was worth the wait!

We left Cora with Mimi and Beba for a sleepover (thanks again!)…it’s always hard to leave her initially…but as soon as the door closes behind us there is a nice feeling of freedom.  Not a freedom I want to embrace often but one that is needed from time-to-time.

This morning I woke up at 6:45 and felt a little lonely for a certain someone.  I noticed Justin was tossing and turning (unusual for him this early in the morning)  I asked him “What’s wrong.  Why can’t you sleep?”  He said “I don’t know.”  I asked him “Are you missing a certain little chubby thing?”  He said “Yup.”  He managed to doze off again but I counted down the minutes until 8 and called my mom to check on baby.  As usual there was nothing to worry about.  She had slept through the night and my dad was getting her out of bed.

The rest of the morning I was lazy.  Enjoying having no baby to feed, diapers to change…no one needing my constant attention.  My husband on the other hand, kept asking, “So when is Cora coming home?  Do we need to get her?  Why don’t we meet your mom?” So finally I called my mom and planned to meet her and pick up Cora.  We were both pretty eager to see her.

So here she is, back home with us.  We had a wonderful Friday night enjoying each other’s company…no responsibilities, no 8 o’clock bed time to meet…no whispering and tip toeing around the house.  Time alone is needed but how our lives have changed!  This little thing has invaded our home…she’s taken over our hearts.  Excuse me while I go smother her in kisses.

I decided this post would cover the three year history of our little family…

Justin and I met in the fall of 2006.  You are probably wondering how we met…Was it some chance encounter at a coffee shop?  Or maybe while jogging through Chattanooga we serendipitously stumbled across each other?   Was it at church that we locked eyes across the aisles and just knew we were meant to be?  Sorry…but our story is not the material for a chick flick.

Here’s the story of how a Canadian girl met a Southern boy.  One day I logged on to my Myspace account and there was one unread message.  This message was from a guy named Justin and it said “I am going to Canada soon.”  Yup.  That’s what it said…short and sweet.  Usually I would disregard a message from a complete stranger…especially on Myspace.  But this complete stranger had a smile that was a little too cute…and he looked a little too nice…and I was just a little too intrigued.  I responded something like “You will love it.”  Soon we were writing every day and eventually he asked me to meet him at a local coffee shop…and I said yes.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am shy.  Our first date consisted of Justin talking and me listening.  He talked about work, he talked about politics, he talked about art, and he talked about his conspiracy theories.  I was tongue tied because he seemed so mature and was a fount of knowledge.  (He told me later that he was making stuff up to impress me)  I was impressed. I liked him…a lot.  With Justin it really was “love at first sight” or maybe “falling in love while I listened.”  Either way, I was hooked.

Four hours later we parted ways and he promised to call.  I got a call the next day…soon I was seeing him every other day.  We were getting serious. We would talk about marriage and I always assumed it was still in the distant future.  But God and Justin had other plans.

Justin had an alumni rowing event in Savannah during the spring of 2008.  I tagged along…excited to spend time with him and meet some of his college friends.  After his rowing competition he decided to take me on a scooter tour of Savannah.  We strapped on our giant blue helmets, sat on the tiny yellow scooter and drove around downtown.  Eventually our backsides were numb…and driving 25 mph was getting a little boring…so we returned our scooter and headed to Forsyth Park.

I do not remember what I was looking at or why I turned my back to Justin (Forsyth Park has a lot of interesting people)…but when I turned around he was down on one knee with a ring in his hand.  I was totally confused.  I had no idea what he was doing.  Did he say “Will you marry me?”  Did I say “What are you doing?”  I don’t remember.  What I do know is a minute later I was in his arms…I was crying…and I had a beautiful diamond ring on my hand.  We were engaged.

We had a three month engagement and were married on August 14, 2007.  It was a beautiful afternoon wedding…a joyful occasion celebrating our marriage.  It was a simple wedding…it was perfect.  The next morning we flew to New York City and spent a week touring the city, spending money…enjoying being husband and wife.

Two years later on August 20, 2009 God sent us our precious little gift, Cora.  Now we are taking one day at a time…enjoying the memories we have made…excited for what joy, pain and growth the future holds.  I am excited to share the journey of our little family with you.

Since having Cora…I cry more.  I cry when I think about losing her, I cry when I hear stories of other parents losing their child…

Since having Cora…I fear more.  I fear losing her, I fear for her health…I fear for her future…I fear for her soul.

Since having Cora…I pray more.  I pray for her safety, I pray for her salvation…I pray that God will give Justin and I wisdom in raising her.

Since having Cora…I laugh more.  I laugh at her laughing, I laugh at her smiling, I laugh at her playing…I laugh at her chubby cheeks, her chubby thighs…I laugh because I love her.

Since having Cora…I love more.  I love my husband more than I ever thought possible.  I love Cora more than I ever thought possible.  I learn to love more every day…which God has taught me is possible.

Since having Cora…I admire more.  I admire my mother and father for their constant sacrifice in raising five children.  I admire my parents for consistently teaching us God’s word.  I admire my siblings for loving their children well…for teaching them that their purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him. I admire my in-laws for raising a godly son who knows how to love and lead his family.

Since having Cora I stand in awe of God’s creation, of his design. She is not mine, she is His…He knew her from the beginning of time.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

-Psalm 139:13-16

Thank you God for the tears I shed because of the love you have given me for my child, thank you for being the one who calms my fear…her well-being is in your hands, thank you for the gift and the power of prayer, thank you for the joy of laughter, thank you for the example of other believers in my life, and thank you for your the perfection of your beautiful creation.  Thank you for giving us the gift of a beautiful baby girl…may we raise her well, may we love her well, may we teach her well. May she know you.