Welcome Baby Hollyn

In May, the Lord gifted our family with this precious baby girl.

Meet Hollyn Joy. 8 lbs. 8 oz. of pure sweetness!

I heard recently that coffee, homemade bread, clean linen, and babies are the top smells that make people happiest. I don’t know about the first three, but the last is absolutely the best! How is it that I have been blessed to experience a newborn nine times?

I feel. so. lucky!

When they laid her on my chest and I inhaled that fresh infant scent, my heart swelled.

Our kids adore her. The day she came home, it took nearly an hour for everyone to “get their turn” holding her.

I love watching my husband hold her with pride in his eyes.

On occasion…. if you have more than the average number of children, people give you looks of pity or make sarcastic (but probably well-intended) comments.

“Are they all yours?”

“You just can’t do it all! Don’t you ever want some time for yourself?”

“You poor thing. Do you have help?”

When people say things like this, it can be easy to doubt yourself and wonder if maybe they are right.

Because it IS hard. And I HAVE needed help from time to time. And, yes, sometimes I would LOVE more time to myself!

Laundry, meals, homeschooling, diapers, dishes…the barrage of interruptions.

There were times I almost let it get to me.

I’m so glad I didn’t.

I would have missed out.

Who would not be here? I can’t imagine NOT having one of them. The thought makes me heartsick.

This time of having and raising children is relatively short in the whole span of a life. It will end. The nest will be empty and I will have plenty of time…empty spaces to fill.

Investing in our kids is an investment in our future. Giving our kids a sibling is an investment into THEIR future. After all, a sibling is a gift for life! We will be gone one day, but they will have each other for many years to come!

We have the fullness on both ends. The midnight infant snuggles. The early rising toddlers… testing the boundaries and full of questions. Happy-go-lucky, imaginative middles fascinated with living things and building forts outside. Teenagers with late night energy and conversations that start just as you are ready to hit the sack.

It is SO full and I LOVE it.