2004-11-21 - 11:24 a.m.
Well, today is the day after our baby shower and it turned out very well. Only a few people on the guest list didn't show up and, for the most part, almost all of them RSVP'd. We had a fantastic turnout and we're very pleased with the outpouring of well-wishes we received. I am amazed and shocked at how thoughtful people can be when they love you and they want your baby to have the best.
I learned a lot about some of my friends yesterday and the days leading up to the event. And I learned even more about my family. I learned that family is priceless. I guess I knew that all along, but I feel it more now than ever. There are no words for the kind of family I have. They are my family and I am one of theirs. We take care of each other and that's what it's all about. It's a great feeling to know that there are people in your life that will catch you when you fall, hold you up high, and make sure your path is well-lit. I've never felt more loved in my life. Only family can do that for you
Our baby will be a part of a wonderful, well-rounded family. There isn't much we haven't seen together and there are a lot of things that we've learned together. We have a lot of history and a lot of love that binds us. It pleases me that I can bring another life into this fold. I can't even imagine raising a baby without this loving network of people in my life. They are the greatest people I know.
The presents we received yesterday are the material gifts we'll see each day. The real gifts, however, are the ones that are etched into my heart forever. It's not about the presents that were bought. Yes, they'll make life easier and more comfortable for my little one. The gifts that matter more to me are the ones that you can't see, touch, or buy...the ones that came from people's hearts. They will last forever and we will have a great story with which to teach our son.
With the shower being over, the Big Event is what I can concentrate on most now. I can relax before my life becomes a whirlwind of diapers, spit up, and sleepless nights. These are our last moments of couplehood. Pretty soon we'll be three. While we've had a lot of time to enjoy just the two of us, we'll be introducing another, much more important person into our life. We will be parents, with a living, breathing product of our love.
Everything in my life has led up to this moment. I will still be a woman, a wife, and a teacher. I will, however, also be a mother. It's a new adventure for me, considering I've only been a mother to dogs. A little person is different. Dogs don't follow your example; children do. And everything I do in my life will matter more because it won't just affect me or my husband. It will affect my baby and his future.
If I didn't have the support of my family, I don't know if I'd be any good at wearing this new hat. While I know that I have it in me, I also know that I'm in territory I've never braved before. With them in my life, I know that nothing is impossible. When I'm up half the night with a crying baby, I only need to remember that they did it, too, and they survived. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I only need to ask them for help and they'll be there 100%. When I need advice, I only need to seek the wisdom of those who love me. Peace in my heart is only a phone call away and I know they'll be there for me.
Each and every member of my family is a gift to me. They are strong, resilient, and they've shown me throughout the years what the power of love can accomplish. I am lucky to have been born into a family like mine, and my son will be lucky, too. He will be a part of this family, as well. And he will learn, through me, what I've learned from them.
This is the greatest gift of all. You simply can't put a price on that.
