Giving purpose to so much

This is going to be a sappy post; I can feel it. And maybe this sounds silly, but Olivia has brought a lot of purpose to Nicholas and my life. When we got married seven years ago, neither of us were sure we wanted to have kids. I thought I could take them or leave them. Nicholas was more towards the "leave them" camp.

Once we moved to Alabama after graduate school and settled into our home, I really started to feel the desire to start a family. We both comment now about what a wonderful decision it was to bring Olivia into this world, and how the pregnancy and now her presence has brought us closer together. And Olivia is just a joy to us both. Her sweet little face always elicits a smile from Nicholas and me, no matter how tired we are, no matter how many dirty diapers we have changed.

As we prepared for her arrival, I thought about how she brought purpose to a room that was a hodgepodge before she came. Her nursery was once a guest room, an exercise room, and then a make-shift office. Now it is one of the most used rooms in the house.

Something was always missing in the decor in our bedroom, and Olivia has solved that one, too. Here is a picture of her pictures:



I know those seem like little things: giving purpose to a room and a wall, but really, I know that Nicholas works with more purpose now, too. He is working to provide for his baby. My days seem much more fulfilling now, too, that I am not just analyzing data: I am helping my baby grow and learn. I am excited to know her and love her.



Olivia also gives me purpose not to take my relationship with Nicholas for granted, either. I know that she needs parents who love each other so that she can see a healthy relationship. She is a beautiful baby, and I hope we can be the parents she deserves.