In a matter of days, my life will change forever. My wife, Holly, and I are expecting our first child -- a baby girl.
I have a mix of emotions approaching the day of my daughter's birth. I'm so excited for our family's new addition, but I'm simultaneously scared of making mistakes. If you're a parent, I'm sure you share the same fear. However, for me -- as an only child -- I admittedly don't know much. I told my wife I've never been a babysitter, and other than my nearly 1-year-old niece, I've not been around babies much. So, needless to say -- this will be a new experience.
You'll be relieved and elated then, to know, my wife will be an EXCEPTIONAL mother. I know this because I know her HEART. You see, Holly and I grew up together in my hometown of Owensboro, KY. We went to the same elementary school, attended the same church and shared many of the same friends. By the grace of God, we reconnected a decade later and my life hasn't been the same since.
She's my inspiration. As the oldest of three, she's done plenty of "babysitting." She cared for her younger sister and brother and many younger cousins. When her family went through hardship, she stepped up. Her faith is unwavering. I'm the luckiest husband in the world, and because of that -- I know our daughter's future rests in great hands.
We've spent what feels like a small fortune gathering all the essentials: crib, car seat, diapers... you know the rest, and I know you know the feeling if you're a parent. It's nothing new, but now it seems as if there are more "essentials" than ever! I'm going to admit something here only a few people know: I've never even changed a diaper! OK, I "practiced" with a doll in a 3 hour newborn basics class... so, does that count? Yeah, I didn't think so.