Man, it's been forever since I've written. Guess that's just a sign of how relatively smooth things are these days, how I don't need this outlet right now like I used to. We just recently passed the one-year anniversary of Payton coming to live with us. Hard to believe it's already been a whole year, but then again, I can't imagine our lives without that little bundle of joy and energy anymore. Recently I went back and re-read some of the posts from a year ago-- what a difference a year makes! I'm so glad I was writing so much back then because it all feels like a blur to me now. At least I have those to remind me of the sweet, crazy early days with her. On New Years Eve, Shannon and I stayed home since we were both recovering from a nasty stomach bug. We were reflecting on the past year and how much Payton has changed our lives for the better. He turned to me and said "You know, it's not even like someone gave her to us anymore, it feels like we actually had her ourselves." I agree. Sure, we know her past and will share it with her in appropriately ways when the time comes. But she's a part of us in a way I never could have imagined. Here are a few recent pictures of her:
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| She absolutely loves playing outside |
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| So happy :) |
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| My beautiful girl... |
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| Waching football with Daddy-- too cute, I know |
My biggest news recently is that my sister-in-law just found out she is pregnant. They had been trying for awhile and we were the first people they told. She called to ask me questions like if all her symptoms were normal, should she go to an OB-GYN or a family doctor, what should she not eat, etc. I find it incredibly ironic that
I am the family expert on pregnancy. Sure, I've gotten pregnant four times, but clearly none of them ended pleasantly. Then again, I've probably done more reading and research on pregnancy than most people ever dream, so I guess I am sort of an expert. It's sad in a way to imagine that with all that knowledge, I may never get to experience it in any real, positive way personally. But then again, I'm glad I can share my knowledge and my experiences with others. I'm so happy that my sister-in-law reached out to me and chose to ask me for advice. After all our ups and downs, this could be the thing that finally brings us together. I told her she's more than welcome to all my pregnancy books. I mean, they're just collecting dust at the top of my closet. I am happy and hopeful for her. I know seeing my nephew (from my my brother) helped to heal a lot of the hurt from my losses. Just being able to see myself in him, knowing that somehow my genetic bits are being past on in some way makes such a difference to me. I only hope this baby from Shannon's sister can do the same for him.
