I have mentioned many times recently that 2013 has been quite a year of change. We had a couple big changes and then many small hurdles to overcome. Through all of this, I have seen just how blessed I am, and I wanted to take a moment to thank people who need some thanking.
The day before my labor was induced with Mae, I was struggling. Things were very hectic and I felt the world swirling in chaos around me. Then TJ called me and told me that his co-workers had all gotten together and made him a diaper cake. This instantly changed my mindset and the trajectory of my day. While I had two baby showers before Magoo was born, I had never actually gotten a diaper cake, and I was quite excited! This was made even more exciting after she was born and we hadn’t had a chance to buy a lot of what we needed — this was the most practical cake I had ever received! And there are zero calories.
(And they were sweet enough to personalize it knowing that I have a blog!)
In all honesty though, it was the sweetness of the intent that meant the most to me and quite literally made me cry on that hectic day. I see how amazing TJ is. I see it every day. But it’s so nice to see other people appreciating him and making him feel special. I’ll blame hormones a bit for those tears, but really it was just the magnitude of their kindness that brought them out.
Along the same lines, my sisters and my mom threw me a “sprinkle.” And yes, that is the technical name for it. It’s like a mini-shower. We do it for all of us before we have a second or third baby. It’s just a little mini-shower with just the five of us. There was so much going on this year that we didn’t actually get to have the party until after Mae made her (early) arrival. But it was so much fun, and it was so nice to have such nice, new things for the baby. As the third daughter, Mae has quite a few hand me downs and probably always will. (Well, that is until she overtakes Goosie and becomes bigger than she is, something we anticipate in the not so near future!) It’s nice to have some new things for her.
Plus, how can you go wrong with pink, and tulle, and tu tus!
I’ve also had another unexpected blessing over the last few months, and that is all of you. When I started this blog almost a year ago, I never really thought anyone would read it. And I have been so honored because not only are people reading it but people are responding. Some of you respond on the blog, others on Facebook or Twitter, and others in private emails to me. All of them literally mean the world to me.
I’m pretty open about sharing my struggles on here. Sometimes I wonder about the wisdom of this, and always it is a risk and leaves me feeling a bit apprehensive. But almost without fail, if I share something that is difficult to share, I will have at least one person email me and let me know that they have been in a similar situation. And quite honestly, this is priceless to me. People debate the value of social media, but for me, this aspect has been an unequivocal blessing. Within the next couple of months, I am hoping to expand the reach of my blog, and I’m sure when that happens, not all comments will be as kind. But for now, I am so honored by all you have shared with me.
(By the way, I am REALLY behind on comments, so if you posted a comment to the blog and have not had it approved and have not heard back from me, this is not because I haven’t read it. I have read them and I’ve taken heart and advice from them. But with the pregnancy and everything else, I am just really really behind on responding. But I will do this via email as long as you provided an email with your comment.)
And finally I would just like to say how thankful I am for everyone who has walked or is walking through my life. When my grandfather was dying, most of my extended family spent nearly every hour with him in the last few days. Needless to say, that is very hard. But it was also a blessing in a way. It was quite comforting to know that there are other people there, who I have known my whole life, who were going through similar emotions. In a way, it was a very peaceful and transcendent experience despite its sadness and its difficulty. I wish we hadn’t had to be there. I wish things would have turned out differently. But things being what they were, I am quite blessed to have gone through that experience with the people that I did.
(My three ladies with the stuffed animals Grandma bought for all three of them.)