I haven't posted a blog since February, which seems like ages ago. So much has happened since then and I am ready to begin sharing from my new life. On May 4th, 2009 at 10:35pm our beautiful baby girl Koribella Naomi Cox was born and my life has not been the same since. Never have I loved a person so quickly, so much, or so completely. Many times I look at her and think, "Wow! I am really a mom! I really have a little girl. WE are parents." For 28 years I defined myself as a daughter, an aunt, a student, a wife, a woman of God, etc. and my life was my own. I admit I had the same feelings after Terry and I first married. I seem to have trouble with those changes that happen in an instant. The day of our wedding I arrived at the church a single woman - my own person. The instant I uttered the words, "I do", I became a part of a pair. I suddenly had another person to consider.
Likewise the instant the doctor plucked Koribella from my open abdomen and Koribella began to scream, I became a mother. As the midwife held her over the curtain so I could get my first glimpse at my little girl, the first of MANY tears trickled down my cheeks. I was instantly smitten. "She's so beautiful!" I exclaimed. I wanted so badly to hold her, but I had to wait until they finished with me. I watched as the nurse irritated her (I am sure there was some medical reason the nurse was making my baby cry so much) and she wailed. It was the sweetest sound I had ever heard. (Please note this would be the equivalent of the honeymoon as her cries no longer sound sweet to me but rather if continued long enough now will evoke my tears.) Terry spoke and she calmed down. She recognized his voice! I knew she would.
And so our journey began into a whole new world. The world of parenthood is a wonderful place to be. I have never been so challenged or so scared. One girl in our childbirth class said of the postpartum period, "Your prayer life will improve." That is probably the greatest truth that anyone spoke to me about child rearing. I find myself worrying about SIDS and Lord knows what else, but I know that my God is her protector. I often hold her in my arms and speak over her. "You are a daughter of God, a world-changer. A child with a great purpose. You will be healthy and prosper in all you do. God has a plan for your life." Maybe it seems weird, but I know in my heart it is true. She will lay in my arms and stare into my eyes while I speak. She's taking it all in. It's kind of what she does. She's pretty awsome!
Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep. Psalm 127:3-5 MSG
