Lucas "Luke" Charles Tidd

Our little Luke arrived on August 20, 2009 at 5:21 pm weighing 8 lbs. 5 oz. and 21 inches long. We are all doing well! You can see some pictures we have posted on our Shutterfly webpage, http://tiddfamily.shutterfly.com/ until we have a chance to add some here.

Expecting the Unexpected

Tomorrow marks my 39th week of pregnancy, and to say that I am ready for this little boy to arrive is a bit of an understatement. This week Chad and I have been preparing like mad...

-we both had haircuts

-we cleaned our house

-I made maps of the area around the hospital for our visitors

-I washed and IRONED all of our clothes

-we packed our hospital bags

-I wrapped a present from Greer to the baby and one for a friend that is coming up

-I picked up 12 meals and some sides from Super Suppers

-I dropped off the rocking chair cushions to be recovered

-Chad put together the baby swing

-Chad loaded my car with the baby car seat

At this point, like most pregnant women, I am uncomfortable, overwhelmed, tired, swollen, and very excited. Despite all of the negative physical symptoms, my spirit is overwhelmed with hope. I am filled with joy at the thought of learning his likes and dislikes, the intricacies of his personality, and the details of his physical body. To be completely honest, though, his birth coincides with his sister's refusal to nap, so I am feeling pretty drained.

Now to Chad...He has had the most challenging last few weeks of work! He has asked for one more week before the baby is born. (I will try my hardest, but I have no real control, sweet husband.) He also warned me that if the baby is born on his due date, he will be making a trip to Texas during the first week of September. Yikes!

I am sure that I am not this first woman to be completely overwhelmed at the thought of the expanded responsibilities of an additional child, but I am writing this post to remind my little boy (and myself) how absolutely wanted and loved he was before he was ever known by his earthly parents. God has a way of growing our faith and dependence during seasons of chaos. I am sure that one day we will all look back on this time and see that God was before us hemming us in, and He will be behind us bringing glory to Himself from everything, even our failures. I can't wait to join Chad in bestowing this little man with a special blessing at his birth with amongst other things a name that speaks to the many blessings God has given us through his life.

This post would be incomplete if I did not draw a parallel, if only in my own mind, of the birth of our Savior and how the "chaos" of the events have produced by far the biggest blessing I have ever known. God became man, and chose to make an appearance in the humblest of places, times, and amongst the lowliest of people- a foreshadowing of the humility Christ showed as he suffered a death He never deserved, so that I might know and depend on His heavenly Father. Nothing would bring me more joy than to see my little man embrace the same Christ and to find his purpose wrapped up in a love more vast and complete than what his parents could ever offer.