Baby Hardy

I've clearly not proven myself to be an effective blogger. However, I'm really hoping to change that in the coming months and years so that our friends and family across the country will be able to watch as our family grows and changes. That's right; we're having a baby! Robert and I took a marvelous two week vacation to Ireland in July and came home with an extra special souvenir. In late March, there will be a Baby Hardy.

The first few weeks were filled with excitement and anticipation and some anxiety and fear too. It was hard to keep it a secret from our family and our friends, but it was like this tiny little treasure that just Robert and I shared. We've enjoyed slowly letting the news out over the past couple of months and have loved the responses, the surprised looks, and the love and affirmation that we have received. Already, this baby is so loved and cherished.

It has been a tough pregnancy for me thus far. I always imagined that I would love being pregnant, being as maternal as I am. But the first few months of nausea and vomiting and pure exhaustion have not suited me particularly well. My energy level is creeping back and we're prayerful that my stomach will settle down some too so that I might enjoy this growing creature a little more. At 16 weeks now, the "glowing" second trimester ought to be setting in soon.

We'll find out on October 28 whether Baby is a boy or a girl. I think that will make it seem even more real as we begin to prepare in more practical ways and can start to imagine our lives with our little bundle of joy.

I've wanted this for as long as I can remember. My mom says my desire to be a mother started when I was about three or four years old myself. Many years of nurturing cabbage patch kid dolls, followed by more years of babysitting and now teaching have brought me to the threshold of my dreams. It still feels unreal to me sometimes that something I could have desired so desperately is really coming true. It's a vibrant reminder that God gives us the truest desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.")

More than anything, I just feel thankful. I am overwhelmed by the feeling of this blessing and the sense of peace I feel when I consider committing ourselves to raising and loving and teaching and nurturing this child. When I pray for him (or her), I find myself praying primarily that he'll be healthy and joyful and will experience love in the many ways that we have. I pray that we will be able to serve as a Christ-like example to him and provide for him in the wonderful ways that our parents provided for us. I'm thrilled to be sharing this with Robert who I know will be an amazing father. I can't imagine it any other way. We are so grateful for this opportunity.

Thanks for following us on this journey and being a special part of our changing lives together. Stay tuned; hopefully posts will begin happening more than once every 14 months. :)