Just Some Stuff
Well, the girls are back in school now for the final seven weeks! I'm thankful they like school- when I announced on Sunday night that we would be in bed on time because we had school the next morning they both shouted "YAY!"
Yesterday was our 13th Wedding Anniversary! I can hardly believe it's been that long, in some ways it feels like just a few years ago. Am I not 21 anymore? I told Marc yesterday that I knew I had found a good one (husband) but didn't know how good! I love him today more than I did on our wedding day, and I didn't think that was possible. We've had our ups and downs like every married couple but the past few years have been really good. Full of laughter (he always makes me laugh, even when I don't want to!) and growth on both our parts. We went out for dessert last week while Marc's parents were here so yesterday was just like any other day. I took the girls to school then went birthday shopping for Bailey and we ended up eating lunch (hot dogs) at Costco because it's cheap and right next to the toy store. Plus Addison was about to lose it, so it needed to be quick! But I'm thankful we were together yesterday, even running errands with Marc is fun! (Yes, I'm being serious. I just like being around him.)
Bailey turns 5 years old tomorrow! How can this be? Let me just tell you about the events surrounding her birth. Cerys was 9 months old and we had just moved back to the States after living in Wales for three years. We had no house, no car, no furniture, no money. A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant with her and I cried for a lonnng time. I was also just coming out of some post-partum depression and the thought of having another baby made me ill. Or maybe it was the hormones? God did a mighty work in my heart and our lives while I was pregnant with her. It was a tough few months of living with family and Marc trying to find a job- turns out no one wants to hire someone with a college Biblical degree and Masters of Theology! God used every one of those circumstances to break us, teach us, and love us. It was a broken, beautiful mess. I was so scared of giving birth again after everything that happened here with Cerys, but my doctor in Dallas was fabulous (and very loud, I think everyone on the floor knew everything about my labor progressing) and our little 7 pound 1 ounce Bailey was born with one fist in the air as if to say "I'm here, now move over!" She sure lives up to her name - "fortified, able." (That is, until Addison arrived. She's pretty "able" too) The epidural was real nice too.
So tomorrow, June 8th, I will think of that early morning driving to Medical City Dallas with Marc, both of us absolutely terrified... and then seeing her sweet, tiny self...and I'll also think of how wonderful Medical City was. It was a vacation compared to my experience here. I remember asking my doctor if she would let me stay a few more days. She laughed her outrageous, loud laugh and I said, "No, I'm serious!" The chocolate cake I got each night for dessert was pretty awesome. But no, I had to go home and face reality. An 18 month old and a newborn. And I wouldn't trade it for anything! I had no depression after Bailey- it was amazing. I kept saying "So this is how you should feel after having a baby!" It's amazing what a clean hospital, a wonderful doctor and being surrounded by friends and family will do for your hormones! God is so good.
I read somewhere, in a book or her website, that Jen Hatmaker referred to one of her son's as the family mascot. I thought that was so funny, and I think it's true for Bailey. She is most definitely our family mascot...always having fun, saying funny things and snuggling up to us.
One last thing. The Queen was in Cardiff today and we missed it. I knew she was coming but Marc ended up having a meeting right at the same time and it just wasn't going to work out. It's also been raining a lot today, so Addison and I went to the (indoor) pool instead. I just watched the lunchtime news on BBC and I'm kicking myself for not going to see her. They said the crowds were "modest" which means not many people were there. Oh well. Maybe she'll be back again and I will make it a point to see her!
Hope you have a great week!
Thanks for caring enough about our lives to read!