Love and Family

Hi there little guy. Someday your momma will tell you all about the work she did while you were in her tummy. This might be hard for you to understand, but, there are lots of children - big and small - who are born into this world to parents who are not able to love and care for them. The culprit is usually drugs and alcohol - but it is even more complicated than that - add poverty, race, single parents, and high school education to the mix and it becomes a situation often maddingly difficult to fix. And, it is the children who suffer the most. It will take you many, many years of living to appreciate just how lucky your life already is. I don't expect or want you to understand anytime soon - your parents are simply giving back what they received from your grandparents. Of course we will mess up in all kinds of ways - but already we love you so much and have taken so much care to make sure you are okay in my tummy. You will be born into a world of love. It is breathtakingly simple and also breathtakingly profound. There are so many people already who love you and cannot wait to meet and hold you.
Tonight I spoke to your Auntie Karen and your Uncle Keith. They are already raising your soon to be little cousin, Mason Edward. He will be about six months older than you. Your not even born yet and you already have a little cousin awaiting your arrival! I am sure the two of you will be fast friends.
Your father is out for the evening listening to a speaker discuss his book on environmental movements in Bolivia. You will come to learn soon enough about how passionate your father is about the environment. We already have your cloth diapers! Your momma stayed in because she is very sleepy today. She was up very early so that she could drive a young girl to her court hearing. This little girl is sweet, shy, and funny and had the entire bottom ripped out of her childhood. Today over hamburgers she reminisced over patches of her childhood - memories of a certain park, etc - all spotty because most of early childhood was spent with an alcoholic mother. She now, after six years in foster care, will be moving in with her sister. There are silver linings everywhere. She asked about you - wondered how you were and is dying to know your name.
Well, little guy, until next time.
Love your sleepy momma.