What Am I'm Hoping For?

Baby #2 is on the way! We are so excited! Actually, we couldn't be more excited! 

Isn't my baby cute? Look at he/she waving at us! Ah! I just can't wait to meet you! 

Since announcing the soon arrival of another baby and since this is baby #2, we've been asked over and over, "So, what are you hoping for? Boy or Girl?" I remember being pregnant with Charlotte and when people would ask what I was hoping for, I would answer with a solid "boy." In my mind having a family of all boys would be perfect. Boy was I wrong! (pun intended). From the moment I knew that we were having a little girl, I knew SHE was perfect and that I was just an idiot for ever wishing anything differently.  Now that 18 months has passed, I look at my perfect for us little girl and wonder how in the world I could have ever hoped for anyone else? I was just plain stupid to wish for someone else. She has rocked my world in the best of ways and there isn't a day that passes that I'm not just totally smitten with her. Man, am I so glad, God gave me who He had planned for us to have and not what I had hoped for. 

This time around, the question stands again, only it's..."You already have a girl, so are you hoping boy?" Just to put anyone's mind at ease who may be reading this and has asked me this question - guess what? I've asked this same question more times than I can count! It's just a natural question to ask and I don't think there is anything wrong with asking it. So, don't think this is going to be one of those, "don't ever say _____ to a  Mom expecting baby #2" blogs. I'm in the same boat of asking! But....all this asking has got me thinking - What or WHO, rather, am I hoping for? 

Dear Baby,

I don't know who you are. I don't know your name, but God does and I can't wait until He lets your Dad and I in on His little secret. We sang in church recently a song that has a beautiful line in it that says: "The maker of the heavens knows my name...." I instantly started crying and reached down to rub the pudgy roll of my tummy that hides you in it somewhere. That was a Holy moment for me as the thought just struck my heart that your Dad and I don't even know who you are, but God does. I carry you inside my very being, yet I have no idea if you are a boy or girl or what we might name you. Yet, God is creating you, sculpting you, breathing life into your tiny body and every day He is loving you more than I am even humanly capable of. He already knows your name. He already knows who you are and who you will become.

But who do I hope you'll be? Sweet baby, I hope you are exactly who God intended for you to be. I hope that you are kind to everyone you meet. I hope that you have a beautiful relationship with me, your Dad and Charlotte (we are by no means perfect, but I'd like to think you'll find our little family pretty awesome). I hope that you accomplish anything you put your mind to. I hope you are confident in yourself and know that YOU are valuable, precious, cherished, loved beyond words and that your Dad and I are your biggest cheerleaders in life. I hope that you respect yourself and as well as others. I hope that you are good great with money and spend and save wisely. I hope that you are strong enough to stand up for yourself when necessary and strong enough to forgive even when it hurts. I hope that you are generous and I hope that you are wise. I hope that you are teachable and have a strong moral compass that guides your footsteps in life. Most of all, I hope that you trust Jesus with your life and that you do so sooner rather than later. Sweet, one, this is who I hope you are. It really doesn't matter to me if you are a boy or girl. I know that whoever God is creating inside of me will be exactly the person who should be part of our family and I can't wait to find out who you're going to be! 

I love you so much already!

Mommy