life Archives - Dawn P. Darnell

little white dress, cocktail dress, chickwish, spring style, white dress

Can’t believe I am 29! Time sure does fly by, especially more now that I have a family of my own. This past weekend we went to our 3rd annual trip to Dallas to visit family and support the Texas Rangers. (View our past trips here and here.) We come from a baseball family, and there’s nothing more that makes this mama’s heart melt than seeing my husband and son share their love for the game. On Saturday the night before my birthday, when we went to the game my hubby surprised me with the sweetest birthday message on the big jumbotron at the Ranger’s stadium. And to top it off, since Josh’s Uncle manages the Rangers, we were able to sit right behind President George W. Bush and meet him at the game! Now that’s a pretty awesome way to remember my 29th birthday. I’m really thankful to be able to have such wonderful family to celebrate with on my birthday, and as I near my thirties I can’t help but reflect on how much I have learned and grown in my twenties. I never imagined my life would be like this, and never could imagine how amazing life would be. I look back at all my throwback pictures and can’t help but laugh at all the crazy good times, and lessons learned. My 20’s were something else, and there isn’t a single thing I regret about it, not even my poor choice in “hoochie mama” clothing during my college party days lol. All of my choices, all of my heartaches, all of my mistakes, help me be who I am today. So here are 29 life lessons I learned in my 20’s. Continue reading “29 Life Lessons I learned in my 20’s”

As I walked to the checkout line, waiting to make my purchase, I stared enviously at the lady ahead of me with her cute baby boy in tow. I was 40 weeks past due and walking and shopping was one of my favorite things to do to pass the time. I was ready for my baby to come into this world, and as a first time mom, patience was not on my side. I never felt so envious like this before. At first I was excited and appreciative of all the new moms out there with their babies, knowing I would soon be one of them. But now wherever I looked, in the grocery store, at the mall, on Facebook, Instagram, all I saw was what I was missing out on. I know statistically 40% of first time mothers deliver after their expected due date. But like most first time moms, we all secretly hope to be in the other 60% who have their babies earlier or on time.

Earlier this week I had embarked on an experiment of 10 days and 10 ways of naturally inducing labor. I tried everything:
1. squating
2. eating pineapples
3. drinking raspberry tea
4. walking
5. Eating spicy foods
6. Dancing
7. Bouncing on an exercise ball
8. Massage
9. Stairs
10. Sex
I was hopeful I would be one of those success stories you read on pregnancy websites where it worked for them, but yet no baby for me.

It’s hard not to compare yourself to others, even though you know no two pregnancies are alike. I had to accept that the most natural thing in the world, and one of the biggest gifts God could give you has no due date. He will come when he is ready, not when you are ready. It’s a lesson that not only you will have to learn and accept now but in the future in all stage of your child’s life. We can only do our best and give our best as parents, but ultimately he will be who he wants to be in his on time and in his own ways. It’s funny how even at the earliest stages of conception, God has already given us lessons and insights on the future of the gift that we shall receive.

So as I sit here patiently waiting, tired, anxious, with mix feelings, I am one thing above all and that is grateful. Because if there’s one thing I can 100% bet on is that we can’t be pregnant forever! And whether it be a day or a week from now, I will wait for this blessing to arrive, because in the end I know he will be worth every minute.

<3 Dawn P. Darnell