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4.18.2009

Is This A Dream??

Good morning!  It's just before 7:00am and we are sitting in our room, sunlight streaming across our faces and my husband cuddling and holding our bundle of joy.  Does life get any better than this?  I cannot even begin to express all that is going through our minds and hearts on this day, although you know me by now and you know I'll try!  We are so incredibly grateful for her, I just can't believe this is real.  I laid in bed last night and tried to wrap my mind around these last 9 months, trying to imagine how we got from that positive pregnancy stick to this little miracle in our arms.  I could just cry, again, thinking about it.  

I'll never forget that moment when I knew I was pregnant with her. My heart swelled at the thought of a little life, already inside me, already being knit together by our creator.  I'll also never forget the moment we watched her on the ultrasound monitor and learned that she was indeed, a girl!  Immediately she was our little Ava Page, our sweet daughter.  With every week that she grew, so do my love for Travis, for her and for the Lord.  This has been the most amazing journey of my life.  Someone asked me yesterday if this was the best moment of my life and I didn't have to stop and think about it...after the day I understood that Jesus was my Savior and I put my faith in Him and next to the day I married her daddy, nothing else compares.  She is the icing on the cake, the prize at the end of the race, the answer to so many prayers.  She's just a little angel in the flesh.  
I have dreamed and waited for the day we would have a baby in our arms.  To see these pictures is so surreal, I almost can't take it in.  The Lord has been so faithful to us, she is truly a gift from His hands.  To think that He has been intimately preparing her for this day overwhelms me.  He made her and He gave her to us.  To raise, to love, to teach, to cherish, and to enjoy, so we could give Him the praise and glory He is due...simply amazing.  
I love this picture because it was all I could do to stop the tears that were streaming down my face, just seconds after they put her on my chest, in my arms.  I've never felt such joy, such peace, such love.  Every tear that fell on her came from the deepest part of my soul.  And when I looked to Travis, to try and take this moment in, I saw the same thing happening to him.  Our tears, our joy, our whispers of "I love you," nothing could prepare us for this day.  
Only seconds in this world and she's captured our hearts :) I mean really, look at that brand new head of hair!  And that soft, wrinkly skin.  How could we not be in love? 

So here I find myself, praising the Lord with every glance at my baby girl, with every sound she makes.  We've had a great 16 hours with her and we look forward to the lifetime to come.  She is such a quiet, calm baby...so far :) She looks like my Dad to me and reminds me of Travis already.  She's been a great little eater and a sound sleeper.  I'm even shocked and happy to say that we got 5 hours of sleep last night...she must love us already too!  Yep, it doesn't get much better than this.  I've got a sleeping beauty in my arms, a sleeping daddy next to me and more tears streaming down my face.  

Thank you Lord for this day, for this baby, for this life.  I praise you today for the hard times, for the things we didn't understand, for the wait...This moment is richer because of that, sweeter that we ever could have imagined.  You are so good to us, your faithfulness stretches across the skies and in our hearts.  We are so blessed and so in love with you, with each other, and with our sweet miracle, Ava Page.  

Thank you, thank you, thank you...the Giver of all good things indeed.  

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well put as you always do in every post you have... You are an amazing family and I so look forward to seeing this family Grow...

Have a BLESSED day in everything...

Kellie Poehner-Clarkston, Michigan

Amanda Hoyt said...

You are an awesome mommy, Stephanie, and I can't wait to hear of your adventures as a family together :)
Hugs and prayers,
Amanda

jablott said...

Praising God for His faithfulness to you and the wonderful gift of a healthy baby girl! Motherhood is a holy calling and one that will refine you to be more like Him daily. So excited for you to start this journey.

Holly said...

Congratulations! What a beautiful little girl! :)

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful baby and a beautiful family of 3 now!! Congrats!!

amy said...

love the pics! what a blessing she's already sleeping well and taking a paci! :) praying for you guys...

Rebecca Jo said...

I am so happy for you & Travis! What a beautiful, angelic baby!!! I cant imagine the joy & happiness & love you are feeling right now.

I cant wait to watch this young lady grow up knowing who her Heavenly Father is too - the example you two as parents will give her... its such a joy to watch from afar...

Praying for protection & health & just for God to continue to hold all of you in His might hands!

Anonymous said...

Welcome Ava,you are blessed with wonderful Godly parents and a strong Christian family. We are thrilled you are here. I can't wait to give you "Grandma Joan Kisses" Thats what I tell Ella, Brynn & Tate everytime I smother them in kisses...She is beautiful and I can't wait to meet her in person. "Enjoy...enjoy.. enjoy !!!"
Love,
Joan

Tales of a Peanut said...

Congratulations! She is beautiful!!

Heather said...

Steph- She is just GORGEOUS (So are you!) and I am just screaming with thankfulness and excitedness for you! Enjoy and take in every second just like you are doing!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Armstrongs!!
God is good, isn't he...

I also need to let you know that God has give a Double Blessing today. (Isn't that just like Him?) Last night Anna...the young lady with all the medical problems that you and many of your bloggers have been praying for...had an emergency C section and delivered a baby girl...just over 5 lbs. Healthy.

Anna had developed more serious health issues that all disappeared as soon as the baby was born.

So we welcome Ava Page and we welcome Grace Abigale...gifts from heaven, now on earth.

See you and your family soon, I'm sure.

Grandpa Kirk

Manda (+2) said...

I just want you to know that chills washed over me reading this entry. I'm sooo happy for you guys! Congratulations! Glad to see your treasuring and capturing each moment with your daughter! :-) Hugs!

Kate said...

Stephanie, I am just CRYING looking at all of your pictures and reading your sweet posts. It truly is such a tangible way of seeing how God has worked through you and Travis' lives. Ms. Ava Page is so incredibly blessed...I can't wait for her to figure that out for herself!

Anonymous said...

I know you must be feeling so very blessed! and 5 hours sleep, too! Take good care of yourself, Stephanie. We love you!
Sue and Curtis

DiJo said...

Stephanie & Travis,
CONGRATULATIONS on your beautiful new daughter!
Your tiny blessing is PRECIOUS!!!!!!

So happy for you!!! Can't wait to see her at Grace soon!

Blessings,
Diana Rouse

MiMi said...

Congratulations to you and Travis on the arrival of your precious baby girl! She's beautiful!

The Martins said...

Steph, Congratulations on the arrival of that beautiful baby girl! The Lord is good and I'm humbled to be a witness to such an awesome event! We love you guys! Soak it all in!