This is a long one...

On Thursday my little Grady Shepherd will turn 6 months old.  Wow.  It is hard to believe he has been with us for a half of a year already.  I feel like I am really just getting to know him, and I am falling completely in love with him.  I feel guilty because I haven’t shared him enough with everyone.  It seems like every story out of my mouth begins with Owen.  Because, well – Owen is Owen.  But lucky me Grady is Grady.

Grady is tough.  He is serious but when he decides to smile it lights up the room.  He loves his brother and already encourages Owen’s foolishness with laughs and giggles.  He loves his Daddy and finds him immensely entertaining. But when it comes down to it he is a Mama’s boy. 

I had a really tough time this post pregnancy, especially those first few weeks.  I can hardly remember them now and what I do remember hurts.  My brother in law Matt and his wife Lauren had their first, a beautiful baby girl named Ella on December 1^st.  As I was holding her and looking at her tiny little self I felt everything inside me crumble and the tears were on my face before I even knew it.  All I could think of was how I missed those first few weeks with Grady.  It hurts my heart to think about it.  But also, I am thankful. 

Thankful for a beautiful Mom and Sister who helped me so much when all I could do was cry.  

 I am thankful for understanding doctors and nurses who never judged but just wanted me to get better. 

I am thankful for an amazing Grandma who prayed for me unceasingly and who always reminded me that I was going to get better. 

I am thankful for Owen whose sweet smile and beautiful face are what I could focus on and what would get me thru when I felt like I was falling apart. 

 

I am thankful for Andy, who would hold me when I felt like running out the door and would remind me that I was tough when I couldn’t get out of bed.  

 And I am thankful to Grady for being an amazingly laid back baby who just was happy to be along for the ride.

I turn 30 on Saturday; someone recently asked me if it was difficult for me turning 30.  I have to say no, a resounding No!  I am excited.  I am excited to see what the New Year brings me.  I am excited I get to be a mom to two amazing boys.  I am thrilled for every day I get to spend with Andy.  I feel like everything is just getting better and better.

How could I be upset about the future when it looks like this?

Worry about nothing, instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and then thank him for what he has done.

*Thanks to my friends over at Fidelis Photography (fidelisstudio.com) for AMAZING photos!  And thanks to my talented sister, for an amazing photo of her and my Mom.