Wesley heads back to work

Today was Wesley's first day back at work. He had 6 weeks off after Elizabeth was born, and it was wonderful. I wrote him the below letter and left it in his truck so he could read how much I appreciated having our completed family together over the past 6 weeks...

Wesley,

I can't believe we have started 2013! What do you think is ahead for us? After 2012, and all the joys it brought us, I can't even imagine what this coming year has in store.2012 brought with it some of the happiest times of my life. One highlight is when we celebrated 10 wonderful years of marriage. It has been an action packed 10 years – from being in Nashville and West End together to the adventures of moving here on our own. Then of course, the highlight of buying this home and starting our family. We celebrated in our own style our 10 years and the amazing blessing it has been in my life.

Of course the other highlight of the year was the birth of Sweet Elizabeth. I can't even begin to put into words the joy she has brought to my life and our family.Over the past 6 and a half weeks, I have treasured the time I have spent with just Elizabeth at night and early in the morning feeding her.  I thank you for getting up each morning with the boys so I could just enjoy being with Elizabeth. There were so many mornings I would hold her and talk to her while hearing the sounds of you, Jackson and Philip laughing downstairs! Those are treasured moments.

I have really taken the past six weeks to enjoy being a mom to a newborn. I know I didn’t enjoy this stage enough with Jackson or Philip, but this time, with the stresses of mothering 2 other little ones not on my shoulders, I have been able to capture in my heart the pure enjoyment of being with our little baby. I could smile, relax, and truly enjoy Elizabeth and the simple thinks like rocking her to sleep, talking to her, and feeding her. Thank you for giving me time to enjoy that.

I have loved having you home and being surrounded by my family of five. Thank you for the sacrifices you made throughout 2012 to be able to get us the six weeks together. I know you worked long hard hours to make sure you had that time off. I know you sacrificed true vacation so you could spend your time off taking care of our three children and me. I will forever grateful for those sacrifices you made so we could have this time together.

We made some pretty amazing memories over the past six and half weeks from the treasured time in the hospital to the Publix turkey disaster to the perfect Santa visit at the Y to all the visitors who have come to see and love on us.  Of course there is also our spur of the moment Disney trip and all the highs & lows and smiles & laughter and memories it brought with it!

Thank you for all the memories I have stored in my heart. Thank you most of us for the three precious gifts you and I made together - Jackson, Philip and Elizabeth. They have the best parts of you and the best parts of me. I cannot wait to see what God will do through them. And I am in awe that He trusted you and me with the responsibility of parenting these three beautiful angels.

There is no one else I would rather be on this adventure with other than you! I love you so much. Thank you for the sacrifices you make for this family. Thank you for the laughter you bring into our home. Thank you for being you!You are my best friend, my sole mate, my partner and the love of my life!I am going to miss the help today but most of all, I am just going to miss YOU!I LOVE YOU!
Me