April 19th, 2018 at 12:02pm I gave birth to a beautiful chubby cheeked, 7 lbs and 12 oz. baby girl. She showed up with a head full of hair and a side eye that can still kill to this day. (LOL) She’s also my snuggle bug. We have been snuggling and hugging since she came into this world. I’m still not sure how 365 days have gone by already, but here we are on April 19th, 2019. Happy 1st birthday, Riley!
When I was pregnant with Riley I felt so many different emotions. I was dealing with the happiness of being pregnant with our second child that we so patiently planned and waited for. While I felt the slight panic of wondering “how will I love another child as much as I love my first baby?” I thankfully had the relief of both baby and I remaining healthy throughout the pregnancy. While also being fearful of the complications that could happen within a few minutes for both baby and myself during pregnancy and childbirth. Oh, and did I mention I was nauseaous the entire pregnancy? Glass half full, I didn’t gain a lot of weight. Ha!
Fast forward to the day I saw Riley’s little face and heard her first cry: my heart and our family had never felt more complete. Every worry was replaced with joy. I was quickly reminded my faith is greater than my fear. She had an enormous cry, a head full of hair, and she looked like me! Y’all, I finally have a child that doesn’t look exactly like her Daddy. I wasn’t just the incubator for this one LOL. However, she’s already starting her turn towards being a Daddy’s girl very soon. So I’m going to enjoy my small frame of time that she remains a mommy’s girl.
Riley is full of so much joy and so much passion. She already expresses herself strongly and loves even stronger. Her smile can light up an entire room and the room next to that one. She loves having a big sister and is the fourth (human) piece of our family puzzle. She will be a trailblazer and will shatter so many ceilings with her intelligence, passion, and virtue. Did I mention she is hilarious? Watching her grow into this head strong beautiful human being has been one of my life’s greatest accomplishments. I’m so happy to be Riley Naomie’s Mama and I’m so thankful for her abundant love. She has only been here a year and has changed all of us in ways we never deemed possible. She makes us all want to be a better parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparent etc.
Part of my daily prayer, that started with Jordyn but now includes both girls, specifically concentrates on them. For 5 years I have been saying this exact prayer over my girls:
“Lord, I pray that you continue to watch over my baby girls. I pray that no weapon formed against them shall prosper and you protect them from all sickness and illness. That their lives and their works bring people to know you, Lord. That they know your unconditional love and share your unconditional love with those around them. I pray they grow from children of God into women of God. I hope they continue to bring peace, love and joy to those who encounter them, Lord.
My prayer is that they continue to grow and be kind, loving, caring, intelligent, beautiful girls. When given to choice to do right or wrong I pray they always do right. I hope they know how loved they are by you and their loved ones and they share that love with those around them. Lastly, I pray they leave a lasting legacy on this earth that will change this world for the better.”
Every single day I say this prayer because I hope they always feel God’s love and our love in every way possible. These girls have no idea how many people’s lives they have made better by just existing. Then you get to know them and know God has made them special in His image with love.
So today we celebrate you, Riley. Here’s to many more birthdays and days filled with love. Your Mom, Dad, big Sister, and fur-brothers love you more than you’ll ever know. Happy 1st birthday baby girl!
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