34.5 Weeks

I'll start off with a doctor appointment update....

Today we had a regular checkup and they decided to let us do an ultrasound.

We found out that Baby Violet is now 6 pounds!!

She's gained about 2 pounds in a month so if she keeps that up, then we're looking at an 8 pounder coming our way...Everybody please pause here and say a prayer for me....LOL:)

Last weekend we got to celebrate our baby girl with her first Baby Shower. I have to admit, I was so excited for this day, not because she would get so many cute presents but, because I was just so grateful to have made it to this milestone. I'm just so thankful that we made it to a point to even have a baby shower. 

 It was a great day and I want to thank my Aunt Trish, Aunt Phyllis and Rebecca for putting everything together and making it so special for our sweet girl. They had such sweet details like her "rainbow" cupcake cake and they even handed out potted Violets for prizes. I also want to thank everyone who came and celebrated with us (here's a shout out to those who traveled all the way from Arkansas!).  She is so loved already...

I also got the privilege to celebrate Mother's Day in a new way this year. This day has long been a difficult day for me as a Mother whose children can't be here with me. I remember my first Mother's Day when I was pregnant with Lila & Cole and it was just a wonderful day for me. I really did feel such a mix of that feeling this year along with the missing pieces I've felt from these three years past.

Mother's Day 2013

I just thanked God for giving me another chance to experience this day while pregnant with our second daughter and I remembered my sweet babies who I desperately miss so much. This is just another example of the weight of  joy and grief. And this is undoubtedly a challenge that we will always face.  And that's ok...

We can find beauty in the ashes and see the rainbow after the storm. It's our choice which moments to grieve and which to cherish. And we take them both together for they are the words on the pages of our family's story. And we'd never dare to erase even one of them...