This baby's heart beats, too

Almost exactly two years ago, I heard Mary Kate's heart beat for the first time. The wonder of being a new mom and all signs pointing to a healthy baby overwhelmed me. I was so excited that my baby's heart did indeed beat. Today, that wonder and awe flooded back. Today, I heard my second baby's heart beat. Today I saw a beautiful little profile, a perfectly oversized head and little arms. Today, I realized I did not have an awful case of the flu, as I have felt for the last many weeks. What I do have is another glorious, blessed, God-given life inside of me.

There aren't words to convey my sheer gratitude at being able to create another life. Like many of us, my heart breaks into pieces for those for whom parenthood comes with more difficulty. When I feel like I will go crazy with one more minute of nausea or fatigue, I see the face of friends who would welcome that sickness with open arms. It is not pity, just a genuine ache for them to have their hearts' desires fulfilled. I am doing a much worse job than I had hoped of handling these discomforts with grace. But I have a husband who is simply heaven sent (who went out the other night in 35 degree weather at 9:30 pm to get me a popsicle) and a baby at the end of all this ickness.

To my next precious babe,

Thanks to your uber rambunctious sister (who has forgotten how to sleep through the night this week?!?),  I don't spend as much time reflecting on the miracle that you are as I should. But today, I saw your profile and heard your heartbeat and cried at exactly that- the miracle you are.  You are the next integral piece to our family and your dad and I could not be more thrilled that somewhere around September 19th, we will see your sweet face. You are loved beyond words, beyond measure. Welcome to the world little person!

the first photo of my precious second baby

and your big sis. She is wonderful and wild and I am so thankful to give her the gift of a sibling (you may not consider her a gift at times but that will come later, I'm sure!)