paul richard

I don't think I've ever been more surprised in my entire life than the day I received a text message from my baby sister with a big picture of a positive pregnancy test just a short FOUR MONTHS after I left her house while visiting her as she gave birth to her first son! Wowza! I didn't have words! Of course, I was elated for her and my brother in law but it was the last text message I expected to receive that day! So...what's a big sister to do!? Plan another trip to Connecticut, that's what!! Less than a year after being in the delivery room with Karianne while my nephew James was born I hopped on a plane with my other sister Rae and her kids and flew back to Karianne's house so that we could meet the newest member of our family!

When we purchased our plane tickets for little Paul to be born we didn't think we would be there, in person, on his birth date. Karianne's due date fell in the midst of a very busy work schedule and so we had to go a bit later than we had hoped. I guess Paul knew his aunties were desperate to be there when he entered the world, though, because when we arrived in Connecticut (AFTER Karianne's due date...) she was still very much pregnant and ready to pop at any moment! Poor baby sister...

Karianne was scheduled to be induced about two days after we arrived, if she didn't go into labor on her own, and so we simply waited. We watched the cousins play, played dominoes and ate all the yummy foods our mom cooked from scratch per Karianne's EVERY request! Oh the perks of visiting a pregnant lady!

The night before Karianne was scheduled to be induced we all went to her house and helped her do some cleaning and packing. We left her house just after dinner so that she could get some rest before the big day. Little did we know that baby Paul had a surprise in store for us! My alarm was set for about 6AM on the induction day but at around 4:30AM my phone starting dinging with text messages. It turns out that Karianne had never gone to sleep. Shortly after we left the night before she started having contractions. Sometime in the middle of the night she decided to give up on her pursuit of rest and take a shower and get ready. At 4AM she told Kevin it was time to go to the hospital. Myself, my sister and my mom were all up and getting ready in the dark morning hours excited to get to the hospital as quickly as possible! We were on the road before the sun came up!

After my baby sister had her first son, a healthy 9lb 13oz baby boy, I knew she was made to have babies! I said from that day on that she is a BEAST and that still holds true to this day! I am so proud of Karianne! She endures labor like a champ and makes the most beautiful babies! On November 11 at 11:00AM my new nephew, Paul Richard Groves, entered the world! I know from having two boys of my own that the moment you see your babies you fall in love and as an aunt you have a very similar experience. They may not be YOUR children but when you see your niece or nephew for the first time you are overcome with unconditional love. And your love for your brother or sister grows to an unexplainable level as well. Our family is growing and it makes me feel fuller, more complete and somehow more at peace than ever before.

I couldn't stop taking pictures of baby Paul. He's perfect! Even though he seemed tiny in comparison to big brother Paul was still a big baby weighing in at 9lb 4oz! I think my sister is growing a basketball or football or hockey...or ANY team!

I got to spend three more days with my growing family before I had to board a plane and fly back to Oklahoma. I was excited to get back to my own kids but a piece of my heart stayed behind with little Paul. I've always been a sentimental and emotional person. After my oldest son Ash was born my heart grew and I didn't know how more love could fit inside. Then Maddox was born and more love squeezed it's way in. I thought my heart would burst! Then my nieces and nephews started coming along and somehow, some way my heart grew to a size that I never thought possible. My heart is so full of love and life. Sometimes I simply cannot contain the pure joy of life. It is too much. It is beautiful.