Do you remember this interview from last year? I treasure the words that my mother gave me when I asked her these questions, so I decided I wanted my kids to have this knowledge about themselves and about me. I love the idea of passing down information from generation to generation. Now my children can know more about their Mimi and their mother, which in turn will help them know and understand themselves. Some of the questions were difficult for me to answer since my own children are still so young, however, I answered them as honestly as I can at this stage of life. I hope to come back to it in a few years to see how things have changed.
How has motherhood
changed you?
Although my kids are still very tiny, I have to say that
motherhood has opened my eyes to the world. I’m less selfish (and more selfish at the same time- I know, confusing to me, too), more worried, and
more fulfilled than ever before. I want to do more for others, because I can’t
imagine what it must be like to have to do without. I want to help single
mothers because the thought of having to do all of this on my own is terrifying.
I want to help young, helpless children because it’s only by God’s grace that
mine aren’t among those. I never knew love so strong before I had children. I’ve
loved many people, but there’s something different about the love you have for your
own children. It has opened my eyes to God’s love in a whole new way.
What ages were your
favorites?
I mean, let’s be honest. I haven’t lived through many ages
of my own children yet. I can tell you that four is NOT my favorite. I love my
son, but his whininess and persistence made me weary at times. He's really starting to outgrow some of that. Thank you five. But what's that I hear? Amelia Jayne still has to be four? Pray for me.
I do love
babies and I even love toddlerhood. And though 4 isn’t my favorite,
I’m sure I’ll look back with many fond memories and thoughts of him at that
age. Like the cute things he says, the sweet hugs and kisses he freely
distributes, and his amazing ability to focus (which I would dare say most 4
year olds do NOT have).
Do you miss having kids in the house?
Not Applicable at this time...can I be honest and say that sometimes I wish they weren't in the house? Ha!
What was the most
difficult part of being a mom for you?
Again, these aren’t really fair questions since I’m just not that far into this
thing. However, I will say that the hardest part of being a mom of preschoolers
is feeling like I’m a failure 90% of the time. Children are unpredictable. I’ve
never been a mom before and my 5 years experience has certainly not made me an
expert. I have to continue to remind myself that I’m doing the best I can. I
love my kids and I want what’s best for them which is why I’m so hard on myself
to be the best mom I can be for them.
What was the most
rewarding part?
The most rewarding part of being the parent of a preschooler
is seeing the innocence and amazement in their eyes. They’re still so little
and everything is new and exciting to them. I love teaching them something or watching
them experience something for the first time. Oftentimes it’s not just the
first time, either. Children are so beautiful in that they can do things over
and over, and many times the excitement never fades. I also love to see the
abilities that God has given them emerge right before my eyes. I can see that
Xander is focused and intent on details. I love Amelia Jayne’s spirit and energy. I can tell that God has great plans for
them because he’s given these gifts.
I’m continuing to see their gifts and purpose bloom right in front of me. It’s
a miracle and a blessing.
Tell me the story of
my birth.
Xander-
Oh, Xander. Your birth was a bit complicated. You were 5 days
late, so my doctor decided to induce labor. Daddy and I woke up at 4:30 in the
morning on Monday, February 23rd to get to the hospital before 6. Once
there, they hooked me up to monitors and tubes and wires. The contractions were very small
and inconsistent. I was anxious to get this show on the road, but I was so
thankful to have Daddy, Mimi, and Erin there to visit with me. Around 9am, Dr.
Ward came in and broke my water which caused the labor to intensify. Around
noon I got an epidural which seemed to slow labor down again. Grandma arrived
and the group of us all just sat around and visited. Granddaddy, Nana, and Papa
all came to visit, too. As the contractions got worse, everyone left except
Daddy, Mimi and Erin. I was so glad to have them there. I’ll leave out some of
the details, but after many hours of intense labor, back labor, an epidural
that didn’t work right, and an hour of pushing, the doctor came in and told me
that I could continue to push, but that it didn’t look like my little baby’s
head was going to crown. They asked if I’d like to do a c-section. I was
terrified. I didn’t know what to do or what to say. The doctor recommended I do
a c-section, so I decided to go with her advice. I remember Daddy leaving to
prep for surgery and I remember being scared to death. As they wheeled me out
of the room toward surgery, I remember asking Mimi to pray for me. Once in the
operating room, I remember Daddy coming in all decked out in his surgical
costume. I was completely out of it. They kept asking me questions about my
epidural and I remember continuing to tell them that I didn’t think it was
working right, so they gave me more drugs which made me pretty loopy. You were
born at 3:10am on February 24th. I remember hearing your first cry
and asking Daddy if that was our little boy. They quickly handed you to Daddy
who immediately brought you over to me so that I could look into your face. Then
Daddy took you to the nurses to get you cleaned up. Apparently I was exhausted because
Daddy said I fell asleep and snored through the rest of the procedure. Once
they wheeled me into recovery I got to hold you for the first time. It was a
beautiful moment. It was just you, me and Daddy. We tried nursing but you weren’t
very interested, so we just snuggled together. You were so sweet and little. We
had an hour in recovery all to ourselves. Then Daddy took you out just before me
to introduce you to your family. By the time we got back to our room it was
around 5am. We were all exhausted so we slept for a couple of hours. They
brought you back to me around 7 or 8 to nurse again. And I remember looking at
your little bruised head and thinking how thankful I was that I didn’t continue
to try pushing! But overall, it didn’t matter how you got here, just that you
were here. And I was so thankful for the little boy lying in my arms.
Amelia Jayne-
Your birth was a breeze compared to your brother’s! Since I’d
had him by c-section I decided to do the same for you. (I didn’t want to go
through the same experience of many hours of labor just to end up with another
c-section!) Again, Daddy and I got up very early on the morning of October 24,
2011. We drove to the hospital and they hooked me up to some monitors where we
sat in a room for about an hour. Then they prepped me for surgery and Daddy
donned his surgical costume again. Dr. Ward walked with us to the “holding room”
where we waited for about 15 minutes. We were so nervous, yet soooo excited to
meet you. They wheeled me into the operating room where Dr. Ward held my hand
while I got the epidural. It really wasn’t that bad. Then Daddy came in and they
started the process. I was wide awake, lucid and not pumped full of so many
drugs that I didn’t know what was going on. I was thankful for that. We joked
with the anesthesiologist and nurses and doctors. It was a happy atmosphere; a very
different experience from my previous one. The surgery was scheduled for 7:15am
and you were born at 7:27am. Once you were born they handed you to Daddy who,
just like he did with Xander, held you up in front of me so I could see you. I
remember looking into your eyes and seeing your beautiful face. I was in love.
Daddy and the nurses took you to clean you up while the doctors finished up
with me. I was so anxious for them to finish so I could hold you in my arms! Then
they wheeled me into the recovery room where I got to hold you for the first
time. You nursed right away and you were so sweet, right from the beginning. Your
Daddy and I just sat there looking at each other and looking at you. They
wheeled us to our room after about 30 minutes and we sat and stared at you.
About an hour later Mimi and Erin came to visit. You had lots of visitors on
that first day - Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, Granddaddy, Nana. Even Kaitlyn,
Patrick and Nathan came up that evening. Aunt B came. Grandma and Grandpa
brought Xander to meet you. It was very sweet to see him look at you and hold
you. I felt so good after my surgery that I was able to get up and move around
by that afternoon. I was so happy to feel good and to have a happy, healthy
baby girl. I just loved to hold you and look into your eyes. From the very
first time I looked into your eyes, there was a connection. It was like I’d
known you forever.
How did you choose my
name?
Xander – I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit this, but Daddy and I first
heard the name on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We both loved the name - Xander, short for Alexander. I love the meanings of names. Alexander is such a strong name.
It means “defender of mankind.” That struck a chord with me. I wanted my son to
be a defender of people. And the middle name David was an obvious choice. I
knew if I was going to have a son that I would name him after his Daddy. He’s
such a humble, gentle and loving man that I would be so proud to call my son by
his father’s name. Daddy and I never argued about this name. We both
just agreed. It was meant to be. J
And I love
that your name means Beloved, Defender of Mankind.
Amelia
Jayne – it’s kind of funny because we had a girl’s name picked out if Xander
was a girl – Grace Elizabeth. Grace after me and Elizabeth because we liked it –
it means God is my oath. However, when we found out we were having a girl this
time around, somehow the name didn’t seem to fit anymore. I couldn’t really
understand why I wanted a different name until the name came to me. One day I
looked at David and said, “What would you think about naming the baby after our
moms? What about Amelia Jayne?” He loved it. His only concern was if my mom
would be upset that she got the middle name. I told him I didn’t think it would
matter because I loved the idea of a double name. I still continue to call you
Amelia Jayne, as do most people around us. Some family and friends shorten your
name to Amelia or AJ. Keira even calls you Jayne. But somehow I think you’ll always
be Amelia Jayne to me. I was thrilled when we decided to go with this name. I
was elated to name my daughter after two of the most wonderful, caring, loving
and amazing women I know. Your name means Industrious, God is gracious.
