The Mother of Sisters

I am about to be 33 weeks pregnant with our second daughter. It is hard to truly understand all that comes along with being the mother of two girls. The day we found out that our next child would be a girl, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I would be the role model for two women. They would look to me as their example for so many things for the rest of their lives. That is an immense amount of pressure and an amazing opportunity at the same time.

I have had the wonderful fortune of being one of three sisters and of having an incredible mother who raised us all to be kind, generous, loving, forgiving and happy women. Aurelia has not known a single day of life without the influence of one or more of us. I am so grateful that she gets to see me live my life with my sisters, and hopefully one day she will understand what an amazing gift it is to have women in your life, so close, so real, so honest.

I hope that we can all provide these little girls with the strength and confidence they will need to face this world. I have to believe that we can inoculate them somewhat from the fears that stand ready to erode their self-esteem, the pressures that will build and chip away at their will power. Surely every day we spend loving them and teaching them is insurance against that world of uncertainty I know they will face one day soon. I know for certain that a sister is one of the most amazing gifts a girl can get and one of the best resources when those uncertain times hit. These girls are going to go far in life. I just hope they realize that they can go farther together than they could ever get on their own. I owe so much of who I am today, and what I am able to do today, to my sisters who I rely on every single day.

Thank you, Whitney, for your constant daily efforts with Aurelia. Without your willingness to be here for Aurelia every day, I could not enjoy the career that I have worked so hard for. I do not worry because I know that Aurelia is in the hands of an amazing, caring woman, who loves her dearly. You cannot comprehend what that means to me or what an impact it will have on my daughters' lives. Thank you.

Thank you, Jeri Lynn, for always sharing the beauty and wisdom of your experiences. You have been the first to experience so many of life's big challenges and I have always had the benefit of your experience. Sharing pregnancy with you has been such a comfort. Watching you birth and then raise Koruna showed the way for me with Reli. There have been countless days since we returned to Austin that I didn't think I would get through until I talked to you. You will always be my touchstone. Thank you.

SIGH.

Now, for some comic relief.

A video of Aurelia at the dinner table tonight. All afternoon she would say rhyming phrases and then say "Koruna says that". It made my heart laugh. This video made my eyes water.

Daddy kisses

Tunnel time

Swimming this afternoon

Kaplan-Ingram-Heald Breakfast: Pre-familial expansion

The other night Reli took her first bubble bath. I can still remember what bubbles feel like on my face and what it feels like to try to blow them away.