Levi Hunter

I had planned to write today about my pregnancy with Levi, his birth, and his life. For a few months I've been waiting patiently for the opportunity his birthday would provide to tell his story, and to expound upon the depth of our love for him. I also envisioned sharing about the meaning behind his name, and trying to list all the words he now can say, and possibly how he pronounces them. And I wanted to spend a bit of time talking about our conversion to the idea of completely natural childbirth, specifically the Bradley Method, and the impact our childbirth education had on Levi's birth.

Quite lofty goals for one post, I know. Especially since I don't usually write in a particularly, shall we say, "concise" way!

And life happens. It's 1:45pm right now, and I've finally got Levi down for his nap about an hour late. A messy house is screaming my name. Bills needing to be paid are calling a bit more quietly, and there are several half-finished books waiting to be read. And Drake will be home in an hour and a half. Not to mention (or perhaps because of all this), I'm suffering from a bit of writer's block today and don't think I can do justice to the well-planned, thought-provoking post that has been swimming in my imagination for months. But such is life.

I spent most of this morning trying to slow down and live at Levi's pace - to look into his little face and try to understand how he sees the world. To play the way he plays and delight in the things that make him laugh...the stray doggie outside, the magnetic train cars that stick together and twirl around when you dangle the engine in the air, the thrill of freedom when realizing the back gate has been left open, the hilarity of repetitious games like going down the slide again and again or playing peekaboo.

I'm trying to love the growing up that I'm seeing. I'm sentimental by nature, and if left on its own, that trait could easily overshadow my joy in progress made and things accomplished, and could even chip away at responsible parenting. While mommies never really enjoy realizing that their baby isn't a baby anymore, it's definitely more sweet than bitter for me, this time around. God placed this precious child in my life to raise up in the way he should go, not to hold onto forever. I've heard it said by two different people in the past week: We're not raising children; we're raising adults. And that's a wise fact to keep in mind. I do well to cherish the sweet times with my children while they're young. But I do even more good when I pour into them everything I can that will equip them to be godly men who love and serve the Lord with all their being.

So. Since this is my blog, I guess I can do whatever I want! Plan to see some version of my originally-hoped-for birthday post in the future. Perhaps it will be chopped into smaller segments, however, rather than one gigantically long post!

And enjoy the photos...

37 weeks pregnant - this was about two weeks before Levi was born.

No words can express the heart-rush when one realizes that she can (and does) indeed love the second baby as much as the first, no questions asked.

Precious round little face

Ready to go home for the first time

Levi Hunter, I love you with all my heart. May you grow to be a faithful servant of the Lord!