Oh Baby

Becktor brought their new baby, Thalia, over the other night for a visit and I had to share a cute picture of this beautiful little princess. She's got a full head of this soft, jet-black hair and her nails are so long and perfect that it looked like she had just gotten a French manicure before they came over. Ryan was looking forward to holding her from the time we saw them at the hospital and he couldn't because she was sleeping in the nursery tanning bed (or warming bed or whatever they call it!) Ryan is such a natural with babies...such a great dad...

When it came time for me to hold her, I found myself getting really nervous and scared. It is so different to hold a little 8 pound baby, as opposed to my 24 pound buddha or this long and lanky kindergartner. Totally strange. She is so tiny. All her features are just perfect, she's got gorgeous coloring and the best part is that she has the coolest neighbors anyone could ask for!

After oooh-ing and ahhh-ing over her, I started to reminisce about my own little babies and how crazy it is that they are as big as they are. Time truly goes by so fast. It feels like yesterday that I was a first-time mom bringing home this sweet little girl -- wondering what I was supposed to do with her and questioning whether or not the hospital should have let her come home with parents who had no clue what parenting was all about. We've learned, that's for sure. Nothing has been without trial and error, but I tell you what...we couldn't have asked for anything better in this world.

And then there were two....

3 1/2 years into Riley's life, we started to wonder whether her life as an only child would be good enough. Ryan and I were adamant about just having one. Ask anyone we knew at the time and even they would tell you, "there is no way Ryan and Maria will have another baby!" But then the holidays came and went and here I was, thinking about what Riley would do if something were to happen to Ryan and I...and how we would never want her to be alone in this world if we weren't there to take care of her. (So morbid, I know...)

But those scary thoughts brought us to a wonderful decision to go ahead and try and have another one and within a month of dreaming it, Ronan was in my uterus (pretty picture...think about it...) and 39 weeks later, little short dude came into our lives.

It's been such a crazy ride. And I know there are lots of twists and turns yet to come (let's get real -- Riley has yet to be a teenager!) But we feel so lucky to have them.

Does all this baby talk mean anything? Absolutely not! For those of you that think I might want another one...no way, Jose! We'll stick with the two healthy ones we have...but we will be glad to babysit Thalia anytime!