Bellies and Babies

Miracles...do you believe in them? Or do you believe that serendipitous moments that lead to a joyful outcome are just that...sweet serendipity? 

After that life-altering day in March nearly three years ago, many well-wishers proclaimed that our grieving family had paid our dues...assuring us that difficult days were over and much happier days were ahead. Sometimes I wish I was still innocent and held such naive beliefs, but I understand that life holds no such guarantees. Absolutely no one is keeping score of how many heartaches we each experience in a lifetime. Simply...life is not always fair...to anyone! Sometimes, the true measure of a person becomes evident when the "happily ever after" doesn't happen. 

Enter my beautiful, intelligent first-born child. Amidst grieving for her baby sister, she was quietly enduring another grief...one I have had no experience of. Her empty arms were aching for a healthy pregnancy and she found herself only dreaming about the next chapter of her life...motherhood! I respect and admire both her and my sweet son-in-law for their outlook and knowing that for them, it was time to take a different and positive direction towards starting their family. 

Enter miracle #1...baby Olivia Jocelyn. Through a series of amazing events and circumstances, Olivia found her way to her Mommy and Daddy. With awe and respect I will forever be grateful for those special people that made Olivia's adoption so memorable. She is more than I could ever have imagined in a grandchild. This adorable little cherub has no idea the big bundle of joy she has showered on each one of us.

And this brings us to our second miracle...Miss Olivia will soon be a big sister.

Why is it that miracles happen to some people and not to others? Why are some children saved from horrific accidents walking away unscathed...and others leave this world without even as much as a goodbye? I don't think any of us will understand the exact hows and whys of these baby miracles...but rather more importantly, a Mommy and Daddy with an enormous amount of love will have another babe to welcome to their little family.

And what of the timing...this new baby is due in March. There is not a single member of this family who discounts the magnitude of this birth date.

Talking over the phone last night, Lawyer girl and I remarked to each other of the joy that shines off our new little mother...she practically glows. Head over heels in love with baby Olivia, she is blissfully happy in her new role of motherhood.

Will she have her hands full...yes! She'll have them completely full of gorgeous babies, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

But not to worry I assure Mommy Cass...Olivia is already doing such grown up things. She's eating solid foods and almost sitting up by herself.

And look at her adorable growing piggies...she'll be walking before we know it.

She nearly has the bottle holding thing figured out too.

"There is in every woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire,

which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity;

but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity."

-Washington Irving

Miracle or serendipitous joy...I suppose it doesn't matter.

But what of the day when the miracle doesn't come...I know we will certainly find joy some other day.

Hey Olivia, what should we name this new baby?