Everyone talks about that powerful moment of bonding with your newborn baby. Gabriella's birth was my first chance to experience that miracle. There were two things about Gabriella Kate that gave me an instant sense of "this really is MY child." The first was her intense amount of black hair. Before Gabriella was born I just knew she would have lots of dark hair. The actual amount surprised me a little, but I fully expected a dark haired girl. I even had a dream before she was born where the nurse handed me a baby with just a few light barely-there wisps and I actually questioned whether the baby was mine. In the dream I explained to the nurse that my baby simply did not look like that. The second thing was the way she stretched. During the end of pregnancy I was fortunate never to completely feel as if I had run out of room for my growing baby, but my unborn baby girl seemed to think her quarters were a bit cramped. She would make an excellent attempt to uncurl her body in its cramped quarters and push those pointy little feet as hard as she could right out of my midsection. I can still feel the spot where her feet would practically stick out on my right side. After my black haired newborn was laid on my stomach she stretched out and uncurled. Finally unfurling without resistance. It was such an intensely familiar sensation. She was mine. I was hers.
What they don't tell you is that there will be a million more moments where you fall in love with your child all over again. When she thinks that maybe she got a few more wheat thins than her little sister, so she shares some. When she tells you that she loves Jesus. When she is proud of herself for accomplishing something new. When she protectively grabs her little sisters hand when she thinks that she might be getting too close to danger. When her blue eyes sparkle. When she tells you that she wants to help people who don't have enough food to eat or places to live... that she would like to give some of her dresses to little girls that don't have any. When she makes up an imaginary husband and 8 imaginary children.
Happy Birthday Gabriella Kate.
2 comments:
Grace wants to let Gabriella to know that if she has trouble blowing her candles out she is more then willing to help. That's what friends are for!
Happy Birthday Gabriella!
You are such an eloquent writer Natalie! This was a 10 hankie blog for sure. There should have been a WARNING label to get those kleenex ready before reading. :) How can 4 years have gone by so quickly? How can Gabriella and the word preschool go hand-in-hand already? She is a very special little girl, and her inner spirit shines through in her compassion for others.
Kathryn
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