My Baby is officially 1 year old!

Last year, at this point in the day, I was eagerly awaiting the gift that God had grown in my belly for the previous 9 months. We weren't quite expecting the arrival of our precious Laney Belle on that Tues. morning, but as the events of Monday quickly unfolded, which included: a scheduled trip to the hematologist where we received great news of super high platelets as a result from the previous week's IViG treatement, a trip over to my OB/GYN to check out my progression process (which was just 2 short weeks away from due date), the news that we would start the process of induction after being approved for a bed sometime after 8 p.m. that evening, a trip to the Waffle House for a greasy, but oh so craved omelet and the large amounts of calls to family and friends to arrange for care for Jovey and prayers for us all, we were nothing less than thrilled to finally see this precious girl's face! Whooo. . . sorry, that was a super long and not at all gramatically artistic sentence, but how else to describe the feelings that were felt that day!?



As I labored, so much easier than I did with Jovey, thanks to a bit of knowledge as well as a wonderful epidural, I remember Joshua and I being so super content with what God had decided to give in having our 2 girls with us and we felt a peace that all was right and would be most blessed, in both delivery and the days and years to follow.



My first words were, "She looks just like Jovey did. . . but smaller (a whole pound smaller in fact at 7 pounds, 7 ounces!). From the very first breath Laney Belle took on this earth at 3:06 p.m. that sunny Tuesday afternoon, she was full of sweetness. We brought her home and she snuggled with us all, even enduring the "over snuggling" attempts by a 2 1/2 year old Jovey many moments. Laney laughs constantly, smiles contagiously and fills this house with a beautiful, simple, laid back joy that can only be "Laney"! Her eyes are bright and dance when we come into the room and no one can make her laugh louder than her comedic big sister, Jovey Kay!



Laney, thank you for, like your sister, allowing us to play house with you for a while, as you aren't ours, but entrusted to us as a beautiful generosity from a perfect and awesome God! As if the house wasn't lively, loud and girly enough with dress up clothes and a dancing preschooler, you have come along and have given us extra laughs, happy tears, and more reason to thank God each day that He chose us to be called your parents while you are here on this earth! What a joy and a blessing it is for your daddy and I to call you daughter, and no matter what age God grants you to reach, even a bigger joy to always call you our baby!