Astounding Article

I was recently reading an article in a magazine that has left me with many emotions and I wanted to share it. The June 2011 issue of Redbook published the article titled, "Why don't I like my own child?" Click on the article and read what this mother has to say about her struggles with her firstborn daughter...(make sure you hit the next button and read all the way to the end)

I was appalled when I first started reading it. Those of us who are parents know that there are moments in every mother's life where we could use a break away from the kids, but if you are anything like me, the break doesn't last long before Im ready to squeeze my little angel again and hear her say, "I love you Mommy!" So if my child didn't ever hug me or really respond to affection it might be tough. And if she didn't seem to develop age appropriately that would also be a hard thing to cope with. But I cannot ever imagine, no matter the circumstances, saying that I didn't like my own child. When you go for your first prenatal visits, the doctors explain to you all sorts of testing that can be done to determine if you unborn child will be born with developmental and/or physical problems. I'm sure everyone has different opinions on this matter, but I personally do not understand the purpose of the tests because if they ever came back and showed that there was a problem with my baby, nothing would change about how I felt about the child growing inside of me, and I would definitely not even for one millisecond consider aborting that baby simply because raising them would be a bit tougher.

So I keep reading the article and I begin to get even more frustrated as the mother talks of how her second daughter was born and she was just wonderful and there was this instant bond between them all because she was an easy baby compared to her first daughter who rarely cried and then grew to be such a happy, friendly child. It literally made me sick to think that a mother could feel this way and I cannot comprehend it. The mother's friend finally gave her a wake call, and I love this, she said, "You are Sophie's mother. You're suppose to be her rock - the person she can count on most in the world for unconditional love and support. It doesn't matter if you like her of not: you still have to support her." 


Sadly, it wasn't until the little girl was 7 years old that the doctors told her parents that she had a decrease in her growth hormones since birth making her about 3 years behind her age. The mother only then started to feel a huge guilt for the years she had tried to push her daughter to be more and wished she had been more when all the while, the little girl had no control over it and was being the only person she was capable of being. Sophie, now 9 years old, is receiving hormone injections and is blossoming extremely well. Towards the end of the article, it seems as if the mother was going down the right path on forming a healthy relationship with her daughter.

Will and I were blessed with an incredibly smart and healthy little girl and I pray daily that this baby growing inside of me will be a healthy happy baby as well, but if that is not God's plan, and we face the difficult task of raising a developmentally slow child I pray that I will love and embrace that child just as much as I love my Emma. I know that it would be a very very hard road but I also know that no matter what, I will always love my children no matter what. I hope that Sophie's mother can see what an amazing blessing her little girl is and that their bond can only grow stronger because she is missing out on one of he greatest gifts God can give us.

Easy as Pie!

I wanted to share with you a recipe given to me at one of my wedding showers. It was the neatest idea, the ladies giving my shower had everyone bring their favorite recipe for me to add to my recipe box. I ended up with some great ones, but this one has to be one of my favorites. It is so simple and quick yet incredibly delicious! Enjoy!

~Fudge Pie~

One frozen 8-inch pie shell

1 stick butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup cocoa

1/4 cup all purpose flour

(addition of my own, just makes it a bit fluffier! - 1/4 cup milk)

Add ingredients one at a time, in order listed above, blending slightly between each addition until all ingredients are blended well. Pour into frozen pie shell and bake for 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Fantastic with a glass of milk!

These are a Few of my Favorite Things!

It's that time of year again when the weather starts getting just a bit warmer, the trees start budding, and the flowers start blooming. SPRING! These are a few of my favorite things about springtime...

And Then There Were Four...

That's right folks! The Easler family is growing as baby #2 is on its way! 

We found out February 13th about this little blessing. We have been trying to have another baby since November, which most people would say is not long at all, but Emma happened right away so I guess I just never expected the next one to be any different. However, those two months of negative tests were incredibly difficult. Yet it made me realize how much I actually did want another baby to join our lives. We had always said we would start trying when Emma turned 2 but I just wasn't totally sure I was ready. After those two negative tests I knew without a doubt I was more than ready to take this step and when I fully felt this peace about it ... the next test was positive! Will and I are so excited and what little bit Emma can understand she seems very excited herself! She will already kiss my belly and say her baby is in there :)

We got to see Baby's picture for the first time on Thursday. It was an overwhelming wave of emotions when its little peanut body popped up on the screen and then even more when I heard its fast little heartbeat. It is truly the most unbelievable moment to see this little being growing inside of you for the first time. The are no words fitting for that moment. 

So as we embark on this amazing journey once again, we are so incredibly thankful that God has blessed us with this precious life and greatly look forward to our future with two little ones in our house!