9 months later, and 2 days before my due date, my labor was induced. My best friend at the time, Keri, stood by my side as my contractions grew heavier and heavier. At 2:59pm, Stevie entered the world, and my heart swelled so large that it came out my throat. It was more than just tears of happiness... I couldn't contain myself! I sobbed at how beautiful my little girl was, and I cried and filled with self pride that I'd DONE it. I'd finished a 9 month race to bake such a beautiful little girl. Poor Keri - I think the site of all the "stuff" everywhere just kind of made her want to gag. But I guess it didn't repel her too much - she went on to have a little girl of her own a few years later :)
Stevie - Age New
Stevie was absolutely PERFECT. I'm not exaggerating either. She never cried. She squeaked these cute little noises, and squirmed, and sucked on her fists when she got hungry. She was so quiet, and always curious - wide eyed and looking around. I had to laugh to see my married friends struggling with raising their "normal" children. They always wondered how I did it. How did I hold a full time job AND raise a child with no help at all?? (Well, now you know. My child was PERFECT!)
Another question I was often faced with was "what's the hardest part of being a single parent?" You want to know the answer? The hardest part was getting to experience all of the wonderful things that babies do when they grow, and having absolutely no one to share them with. Stevie's first steps, witnessed only by me. Her first laughs and giggles. When she learned to crawl. My heart would swell, and I'd look around and there was no one but me. How can one contain such emotion??? Fortunately I had a GREAT friend in Emily, who had a daughter just 5 weeks older than Stevie. We were inseparable for a while, so I took every advantage to share all of Stevie's firsts with her... and she shared most of Jillian's with me :)
Another question I was often faced with was "what's the hardest part of being a single parent?" You want to know the answer? The hardest part was getting to experience all of the wonderful things that babies do when they grow, and having absolutely no one to share them with. Stevie's first steps, witnessed only by me. Her first laughs and giggles. When she learned to crawl. My heart would swell, and I'd look around and there was no one but me. How can one contain such emotion??? Fortunately I had a GREAT friend in Emily, who had a daughter just 5 weeks older than Stevie. We were inseparable for a while, so I took every advantage to share all of Stevie's firsts with her... and she shared most of Jillian's with me :)
Stevie - Age One
Emily was a sister to me... a best friend, and sometimes even a mother. To this day I turn to her for advice. My only regret is that we didn't get to STAY living in the same region of the world for longer. She left Shreveport to move to Virginia, and she eventually settled in Georgia with her husband Tony, and her three children Jillian, Max and Gabby. Em, if you're reading this, I MISS YOU! Below is a picture of Stevie at her 2nd birthday party which she shared with Jillian in Shreveport :)
Emily was a sister to me... a best friend, and sometimes even a mother. To this day I turn to her for advice. My only regret is that we didn't get to STAY living in the same region of the world for longer. She left Shreveport to move to Virginia, and she eventually settled in Georgia with her husband Tony, and her three children Jillian, Max and Gabby. Em, if you're reading this, I MISS YOU! Below is a picture of Stevie at her 2nd birthday party which she shared with Jillian in Shreveport :)
Stevie - Age Two
Our lives would forever change in Stevie's 3rd year of life. Emily would move, and we'd end up retreating into our home, venturing out alone together as a team. We did make other good friends, but none as good as Emily! Shortly after Stevie turned 3, I was faced with my first deployment where I would leave her behind for 4 months. She would go to TX to stay with a friend, and I would fly across the world to Diego Garcia. I can't tell you how strong my daughter is. The adversities she's faced in life, and how little they've affected her over the years. It's to be said that parents are the examples for their children... but I'm not so sure in this case. Stevie has often been my example!
Our lives would forever change in Stevie's 3rd year of life. Emily would move, and we'd end up retreating into our home, venturing out alone together as a team. We did make other good friends, but none as good as Emily! Shortly after Stevie turned 3, I was faced with my first deployment where I would leave her behind for 4 months. She would go to TX to stay with a friend, and I would fly across the world to Diego Garcia. I can't tell you how strong my daughter is. The adversities she's faced in life, and how little they've affected her over the years. It's to be said that parents are the examples for their children... but I'm not so sure in this case. Stevie has often been my example!
Stevie - Age Three
ANYWAY, I put in for an assignment to Germany, and it was approved. So when I returned from Diego Garcia, we moved in with friends for the summer and we made the trek to Germany in August 2006. Nicolas was waiting for us on this side of the world, and he's been with us ever since.
Stevie had asked me when I picked her up after my deployment "Mommy, where is my daddy?" For you see... she'd spent all summer with my friends, and everyone she knew had a daddy except her. Well, little did she know that in a matter of months, she'd have one of her very own. And not just ANY daddy, but the best!
Stevie - Age Four
Since moving to Europe, life has been BUSY ever since. Stevie's 4th year would be her last as an only child. Nicolas and I got married in December and in February, we were pregnant with Ava. I remember telling Stevie that she was going to be a big sister. "Stevie guess what!!" She says "what mommy?" I said "God put a baby in mommy's tummy last night!" She took one look at me and said "nuh uh, you're lying!" HAHA!
Since moving to Europe, life has been BUSY ever since. Stevie's 4th year would be her last as an only child. Nicolas and I got married in December and in February, we were pregnant with Ava. I remember telling Stevie that she was going to be a big sister. "Stevie guess what!!" She says "what mommy?" I said "God put a baby in mommy's tummy last night!" She took one look at me and said "nuh uh, you're lying!" HAHA!Stevie - Age Five
With age 5 came kindergarten. I tried to be strong on her first day of school. I knew she wouldn't cry about it... she's always been so eager to charge ahead and see what's behind all the doors in her life. I wasn't prepared for her independence though. I offered to stand in the hall with her like the other mothers, but she urged me to leave - she'd be fine. As I kissed her goodbye and walked away, I felt my heart strings breaking! Like those on a guitar, the farther I walked from her the more the strings popped! I started the car and turned down the street towards work and I just cried. My little girl is growing up!
With age 5 came kindergarten. I tried to be strong on her first day of school. I knew she wouldn't cry about it... she's always been so eager to charge ahead and see what's behind all the doors in her life. I wasn't prepared for her independence though. I offered to stand in the hall with her like the other mothers, but she urged me to leave - she'd be fine. As I kissed her goodbye and walked away, I felt my heart strings breaking! Like those on a guitar, the farther I walked from her the more the strings popped! I started the car and turned down the street towards work and I just cried. My little girl is growing up!Stevie - Age Six
7 years ago, I brought this blessing into the world with God's grace. She was the start of a million great things to come in my life, and even as I type this the memories overtake me and I get a small lump in my throat. What would my life have been like without her? No wait, I don't even want to know. I know that my life, with her in it, is the best I could ask for. Stevie Lynn is so mature, and stable, and educationally advanced... She's 7 on some days, 17 on others, and 27 when she needs to be. My little 2nd grade wonder. The biggest pain in my butt... Yet the best thing that has ever happened to me. Because of her, my cup runneth over.
7 years ago, I brought this blessing into the world with God's grace. She was the start of a million great things to come in my life, and even as I type this the memories overtake me and I get a small lump in my throat. What would my life have been like without her? No wait, I don't even want to know. I know that my life, with her in it, is the best I could ask for. Stevie Lynn is so mature, and stable, and educationally advanced... She's 7 on some days, 17 on others, and 27 when she needs to be. My little 2nd grade wonder. The biggest pain in my butt... Yet the best thing that has ever happened to me. Because of her, my cup runneth over.Stevie Lynn - Age Seven
Happy Birthday Stevie Lynn! I'll Always Love You!
Happy Birthday Stevie Lynn! I'll Always Love You!
No comments:
Post a Comment