Esther Juliette's Birth Story

Baby Esther was born in the early hours on Friday August 24th. It's her one week birthday already! 

I am just drinking her in around the clock. This is the mama who not too many months ago thought her nurturing ability was irreparably broken by grief. We've had babies that demanded more time in arms than others. Esther hasn't had a chance to express an opinion on being put down, thus the delay in celebrating her birth with a post. Granted, I haven't felt too much pressure since Jason does a pretty thorough job updating through FB. He's shared pics and one liners and now I'm here fill in some details of Esther's whirlwind birth story.

As Lydia's gestation and birth month approached I started to get uncomfortable with the idea of a Lydia part 2 delivery. I even started packing extra birthing aides and calling in reinforcements, in case my labor length was resetting (longer) like my gestation. I need not have been concerned. God gave us, gave Esther, a very different birth story adventure than all the others.

Waiting on Go (Ten Things Off the Top)

1. God's unwavering control and goodness became the foundations of my faith as Lydia's mom and beyond. Still lately I keep grappling with my unmet timing expectations instead of resting in His character. I'm geared down now but was mocked by my locket inscription most of the month:

Jeremiah 10:23

Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
    it is not for them to direct their steps.

Just after the gender u/s my first girl name suggestion was 'Providence'. Jason laughed and said that sounded like Puritan for "oops baby", so we moved on. I did think it was pretty.

2. I was just asked several times IF I am pregnant. Ya think? This isn't even an action shot. You should see me walk, or not. What comes after the waddle stage? I'm there.

Summer to School to Baby (Ten Things Off the Top)

1-There will be 4 kids under our roof tonight for the first time in 4 weeks after going 2 by 2 to my parents in FL. Treasured pictures were taken by a talented family friend while down there: