Parenthood

Parenthood. Jayce and I are parents. There is so much more loaded into the sentence after just two weeks of being a mom. I realized today that I'm just beginning to fully understand the need for a Father's Day and a Mother's Day. The purpose of those two days holds so much more meaning for me now as I realize what my parents went through bringing me into the world. Have you ever realized how human babies are the most dependent on their parents for survival? A human child has no hope for survival without a provider and protector. Talk about a lesson on learning to be selfless. I can't just shower when I want to, I shower when Cameron has been fed and is ready to fall asleep again. That's a petty example and I'm not complaining about caring for Cameron, I love my new darling. :-) I'm just coming to realize more and more what bringing a child into the world really entails. The pregnancy, the labor and delivery, the recovery, the feeding, the waking up in the night, changing diapers, etc. It's certainly no walk in the park, but what an amazing outcome all of the sacrifice has. I love little Cameron more and more each day.

Having Cameron has also been a wonderful bonding experience for Jayce and I. I'll never forget the blurs from the delivery room. Jayce telling me how great I was doing while I was pushing, the nurse putting Cameron on my belly while she wiped him off, Jayce holding Cameron for the first time with tears in his eyes. I loved that part. Not only that, but two days after we got back from the hospital Jayce and I both found ourselves sick. Jayce had practically thrown up his life the night before and as a result his whole body had horrible aches and pains the next day. Jayce could barely function because he was in so much pain, which is incredibly unlike him. On that same day I was feeling dizzy and nauseous and later in the afternoon I noticed I had developed a fever. Jayce had gone into work for an hour and I needed to go get checked out at my doctor's clinic to make sure I didn't have an infection. Luckily my mom was here so I was able to leave Cameron with her and have a friend drive me to the clinic since Jayce had the car. Jayce met me at the clinic and while we both sat across from each other in the waiting room holding hands, we had tears in our eyes as waves of silent communication passed between the two of us. Tired, anxious, beat, emotional, wanting to enjoy Cameron, sick. It was a hard day, but it brought us closer together and closer to Cameron. Everything worked out, just as it always does. Come what may and love it, right? I'm grateful for trials. I'm grateful for Cameron, a healthy, beautiful baby boy. My baby boy. :-) I'm grateful for Jayce and the support that he is to me. Most of all I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who watches over my little family. I have a feeling I just began one of the longest, most rewarding classes of my life. Parenthood.