Kiss me!

Just because I all I do is kiss him....it's a good thing we are in March and Ryder Jeremiah has a bit of Irisih in him! 

Flashback Friday

Jeremiah 1:5 

Before you were in your mother's womb, I knew you.  Before you were born, I set you apart. 

Having some flashbacks today of March 7, 2013. The day we went in for Ryder's 20 week ultrasound. The day we heard "we see some abnormalities on this ultrasound and we're going to have to conduct further testing to see if there are more concerns". The doctor had really said it all with his face. I remember being in total shock as I laid on that table, belly bared, eyes welled, not knowing what to do, how to react, what to say....I did the only thing that felt right at the moment - cry. My husband, my mom and father-in-law were all in the room. They were all there to see the ultrasound but didn't expect to hear that news either. 

The days that followed were filled with an amnio, waiting, genetic counseling, waiting, doctors appointments, waiting and more waiting. Because of Ryder's cleft lip and palate further tests were conducted to make sure there weren't any chromosomal defects. Words no mother wants to hear "there's a high chance that this cleft could be signs of bigger issues and your baby may not survive". What do you respond to that? Again, I did the only thing that felt right at that moment - cry. 

What most people didn't know at the time is that I had just seen one of my best friends lay her precious baby to rest after her baby was identified to have a cleft lip and palate during her 20 week ultrasound. Her baby was diagnosed with a chromosomal defect. My situation felt way too familiar and way too surreal. 

Fast forward to March 7, 2014 I have this handsome stud of a baby before me and my heart overflows with so much love I smother him daily! Yes, God knew my Ryder Jeremiah before he was in my womb and He has set him apart! He's perfect! 

And the greatest of these is LOVE...

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This post should have been in February but those 28 days sure flew by faster than expected. What a month it has been! 

Quick update - Ryder officially sleeps in his crib (all through the night might I add), has two teeth, and has successfully started to eat solids - it's a work in progress but at least we can say it's in progress. We meet with a therapist every few Fridays to evaluate Ryder's feedings. It has been going slow but steady. Mommy/daddy and baby are all learning together and we are so proud of the strong boy Ryder is becoming. 

Of the many things Ryder has taught me throughout his short 17 months of life (9 of which were in utero) LOVE has been such an important part of this journey. I've learned about a love that is so unconditional that only a parent could truly understand its full meaning. It makes me think (and think often) of God's unconditional love for little ole, fail-time after-time....me.  I've read 1 Corinthians 13:13 a million times but as a mother, I now read the verse through a different pair of eyes - "...and the greatest of these is LOVE"....yes it is! Thank you my Ryder Jeremiah for teaching me how to truly love! 

Next month just might include an update on crawling...