there's a first time for everything

The last 2 weeks have been full of firsts, for sure. June 10th is the very first time I have ever had a baby girl. And I can say it is the first baby I have had that arrived with a head full of dark hair. We still are trying to figure out where that came from. Contrary to popular belief, Micah didn't have dark hair until he was a good bit older. It is NOT the first time I have experienced love at first sight. I've had that (and c-sections) twice before.

This is also the first time I have had a baby go to the NICU. What a surprise. I never imagined that she would go beyond that 4 hour transition period (at first since i was still enjoying some major medicine) and if she did, then I never imagined that I wouldn't bring her home on the same day I went home. And since I've never had a baby in the NICU, I have obviously never had a baby on the ventilator. Talk about a first! I am already praying that it's a last. I won't lie...that was hard. This was also one of the first times I have really felt that God allowed me to work on my faith. when I have seen or heard about other parents going through similar situations or anything with their kids, really...I always say "God knows who can handle those things and He knows I can't." What a liar I became!! He sure showed me a thing or two. But I'm assuming I'm always in the need for a kick in the rear. (look Harriette...someone has her laying "backwards" again!) And Susan...I do have flashes of PTNICUD--for non-NICU mamas reading this...post traumatic NICU disorder!!

And finally, after a very long 4 days, I got to hold my daughter for the very first time. Oh how sweet that was. I will never forget that moment. I say a lot of times that I prayed that child into existance (b/c sometimes her brothers have completely worn me to a frazzle and that is putting it lightly) and if our last baby had of been a boy, I am POSITIVE my new address would be located at Bryce Mental Hospital in Tuscaloosa. (however, i will say that might not have been toooo bad come the fall. i mean seriously yall...have you been there on game day with the lingering smell of some Dreamland?) But all of my little life I have dreamed of having a daughter. My mama and her mama (my meemaw) had a wonderful relationship and I talk to my mama every single day. I just always wanted to experience the other side of that mother/daughter relationship and now, PRAISE GOD!!! I get to!!

And here, little miss decides to go home for the first time! Luke has asked me to sit in the back with him a few times this week, so I decided I would take the opportunity to do so, plus snap a few pictures of sissy's first car ride. She was bright eyed and bushy tailed and soaked everything in on our ride home to Athens.


coming up next...firsts at home...since blogger can't seem to handle more than a few pics at a time (or my brain won't let me figure out how to outsmart it, dangit!)