The Baby Some Said We Should Never Have

When I read Kathryn of Team Whitaker’s beautiful birthday tribute to her sweet baby girl, one-year-0ld Gianna, I knew I had to share it with you guys. Kathryn is the sweet mama to 6 beautiful children, wife to Scott, and a master decorator (and party planner extraordinaire of the greater ATX, I suspect).

Ready your Kleenex for some beautiful words on motherhood. And happy birthday, baby G!

Dear Sweet G,

You are one today. ONE. Dang, that 365 days flew by in a hurry.

When we shared with the world that we were expecting you, we got lots of raised eyebrows. It happens when you’re baby number six. It also happens when the baby before you was born premature and had a really, really rough go.

But you know what?

All those raised eyebrows people would be shaking their heads in shame because the joy and the healing that you’ve brought to this house is immeasurable. We had no idea when we prayed to God to heal our family, to take away our fear and to transplant it with faith and love that He would send us you.

That God, He’s smart. And generous.

You have so many nicknames – Sweet G, Geeger McGeegerson, Gigi, Geegers – and you smile at them all.

In the last two weeks you’ve started crawling. But in typical Whitaker fashion it is not a “traditional crawl.” It’s a bit of a pike, with a foot drag and a booty shake. It’s hilarious and we love it. The kids are finally starting to believe me about putting up the legos. Can you get them to put up their socks, too?

You sleep great at night, but the day times are dicey. I can’t say that sleep is your forte, but really it’s just so overrated.

All your siblings fight over holding you, playing with you and sitting next to you. They scatter like monkeys when I ask for assistance in diaper changing, though.

We tend to fall in the conservative camp when it comes to feeding. You just started a few table foods in the last week or two and you’re particularly taken with Babybel cheese and yogurt. Ah, another dairy lover. Be still my agricultural heart.

I think it’s because I’m still what you like to call “dinner,” but you and I are pretty tight. You’re not a big fan of me leaving for any period of time. I’m not sure how many more weeks or months I have left to nurse you, but I have cherished every single session. Thinking about giving that up brings me to tears so please don’t give up on me now.

Over this past year, I’ve been able to see motherhood in such a different light. I thought we had it all figured out with you. I mean, we’ve sleep trained babies before, we’ve transitioned them to cereal and encouraged them to find their new-found crawling freedom. But what I wasn’t expecting is how much you would change us, at our core. How much joy you would bring to our house. How much clarity in the things that matter. How much greater you would increase our faith.

To be 100% honest, I would go back and live your “birth” day in a heartbeat. Was that natural birth one of the hardest things I’ve ever done? You bet it was. But, girl, you sanctified me. Scott and I poured so much love into that delivery. It was life-changing.

You see, us moms of six *think* we have it figured out and then a new life comes along and surprises us. You remind me that I need to slow down a little, enjoy this season of parenthood more and put more faith in God’s plan for our life.

What one man once called our oops, I call our saving grace.

Gianna, for all my living days I will credit you with showing our family how to live. With joy, and faith and purpose – and not giving a damn what other people think. This is the good life and having you here with us is a tremendous blessing.

Happy birthday sweetheart. Let’s go take one by storm. I love you.