Motherhood

I know this is my second post for the day, but I can't help but talk about my beautiful boy Ashton.  Ashton is my miracle. He was born November 24th, 2009, 2 days before Thanksgiving.  My husband Alan and I had been trying to have a baby for a very long time.  We went through fertility treatments back in 2008 but did not have any success.  We gave up thinking we would ever have a biological child of our own and decided to focus on the foster to adopt process.  We got our first foster placement in March of 2009, 3 high energy children ages 5, 6, and 7.  Though we knew they were not adoptable, we decided to go ahead and invite them into our lives.  On March 31st of 2009, I found out I was pregnant with Ashton, just 2 weeks after those 3 darling little kids came to live with us. Nathan, Natel, and Nashel moved to Louisiana to live with family on Novemeber 1, 2009.  I miss them a lot and think of them daily.  I think I would be heart broken when they left had I not been pregnant.  They were fun and challenging and prepared me to be the mom I am to my little Ashton. 

Ashton is a happy baby and pretty content just hanging out doing whatever mom and dad are doing.  He loves to play with his toys, sing, talk, and splash in the tub.  He is experiencing new things every day like new baby foods, ice cream, going for walks, hearing new music, and going new places.  I find myself telling him about all sorts of things.  Having a baby has made me realize how much a person learns over their lifetime and just how much a baby learns in just a few months of life.  Babies come into this world  as a "blank slate" ready for the world to teach them and make and impression on them.  Fortunately for a baby their first contact is mom and dad, the two people who make the most difference in how this little one's life and personality will be shaped.  As a mom, it is my responsibility to teach by example and with love.  I want Ashton to not be afraid to try new things like I was.  I want him to be compassionate and love others.  I want to arm him with positivity and an amazing self esteem to fight off negativity.  I want him to have faith in others, but especially to have faith in God and Jesus Christ.  I want him to know that he can pray for help and that even when his parents aren't physically present, there is always someone there for him no matter the time or place. 

Being a mom is not just giving birth to a baby but an opportunity to continually reflect on who I am, what I will be, and how my life impacts my little boy and the person he will become.  I love him so much and will do my best to help him become and amazing man one day.