Mother’s Day 2023

My first Mother’s Day with the hope and promise of a baby of my own to hold in my arms later this year. This day brings a variety of complex emotions for many, and if you’re hurting today, know that I see you and my heart hurts with and for you.
I became emotional with Andrew last night, thinking about how our baby will be 6 months on this day next year - already so old! Already starting to eat solids! I said to him “I don’t want them to grow old! I want them to be my little baby forever”.
But then I remembered a sentiment I read about not blinking: people will tell you not to blink. That your babies will grow older before you know it and they’ll soon be out of the house and in the world. But there can be joy in watching them grow and gain their independence too! Thus the paradox of motherhood. Wanting your baby to stay little forever, but knowing they can’t and ushering in their growth with eyes full of tears and a heart full of joy as they become who they are in this world.
So I will blink. It’s inevitable. But as I blink, I’ll have my eyes wide open to watch as they take their first breath. And discover their hands and toes. And smile and laugh for the first time. And eat their favorite foods. And take their first wobbly steps. And then as they become more sure of those steps. And all of the other huge, miraculous, heartbreaking, and lovely milestones to come along the way. #16weeks

Found these beautiful lilac bushes in our neighborhood and had to document this sweet moment with my growing bump! We hope to recreate this photo year after year with Baby Nelson.