Raising Boys....

For those of you who don't know, I grew up in a family of girls. We outnumbered my Dad, four to one. I knew nothing of boys. My biggest fear was one day having a boy. What would I do with him? Not to mention, the thought of changing a baby boys diaper...how would I possibly do that?

God blessed me with a wonderful, beautiful baby boy! He took away all of my fears and showed me, that you don't see gender. You just see a beautiful being that you created. No words can describe the love you feel for this new person. I cannot imagine life without Ryder. In fact, every morning I tell him..."Mommy missed you while you were sleeping!". Then I give him a huge hug and say, "What in the World would I do without you?". He was not born with the cuddle gene, but I can guarantee he will always lean in for a kiss on the cheek after I say those words.

I struggle with the wonders of whether I am doing the right things for him. Am I teaching him in a way so that he will grow into an honorable Man? Am I nurturing him enough? I want him to be tough and know he is strong, but I also want him to be gentle and loving. I want him to understand how to treat women. At the end of the day, all I can do is love him and pray for the strength to guide him in the right direction. Now, I'll be saying this prayer for two little monsters.

I always hear people say, "Every Mom needs a girl, so that they have someone to talk and shop with....". When I got pregnant this time, it seems like the only comment I ever heard was..."Maybe it will be a girl this time!". It was almost as if I was under some form of evil curse for ever having a boy in the first place. I know that was not the intentions of what was being said...and I have to admit that I even held onto a little glimmer of hope that I would get to buy big bows to stick on my bald baby's head.

This is all I can say; even though I may not have anyone to shop with....I will have three amazing boys in my life that I cherish with all my heart. My prayer is that my little boys will grow to love and respect me. That they will always know I am here for whatever they need, even when they are grown. And I rest assured, that my big boy will love me even more when I have sagging skin and silver hair than he does today.

I am so thankful for this new Blessing God has given us, a very healthy and perfect little baby boy. He still has some growing to do the next five months. I give thanks for his bill of good health yesterday and I pray that he continues on this path. I know he will be an Angel when he arrives and in a couple of years this blog will most likely become a huge comedy on the craziness that two boys can rain down on a family!