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I cherish you.

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Two nights ago Aiden and Apple were sound asleep and Ainsleigh comes tiptoeing in. With her Ainsleigh grin. Ainsleigh used to be our best sleeper and right after Apple was born she discovered that she got some one on one time with me (or me and Chris) if she woke up when the other two were asleep. And I am not going to lie..it wound up being a sweet little time that we cherish(ed) with her.


So the other night Chris was out of town on a shoot in Temple and Ains and I were up…she was talking and smiling so big (she has the sweetest dimples of all time that can melt you two seconds flat) and I was thinking about how in life…. not many of the people who know us as children, know us as adults. I mean, my own husband won’t know what it is like to sit down with a tiny Casey…hear my small 4 year old laugh or see my heart as a small child. Very few of my best friends either. 


I almost wonder if we could see the “child” in each other if we would treat each other differently. The small, sweet, innocent child that giggles at bubbles being popped in the front yard. 


I sincerely hope that people always cherish my babies like that. Even when they are grown. 


I cherish this sweet little girl with all my heart. I want to protect this tiny little two-year-old Ainsleigh and prepare her the best I can for the world. 


I want her to be cherished as an adult, the same way she is as a child. 


I pray that her future spouse adores her and cherishes her like no other. I hope that the characteristics that I love so much now in a tiny Ainsleigh are fed and fostered so that when she is older they are directed in just the way they were supposed to for who God intended her to be. 


I also pray that as my Ainsleigh (and Apple & Aiden too) grows, I am able to cherish who they are becoming and that I can encourage and love the teenage and adult Ainsleigh in a way that she feels as special as the tiny Ainsleigh. 

My prayer tonight Ainsleigh Kate. That even when you are 30 years old, with babies of your own…that you are cherished like the little 2 year old wearing her tinker belle costume, plastic high heels that loves to dance & jump in the rain. 



I know that I always will. 


 

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Lifestyle

August 23, 2013

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  1. Amanda says:

    Wow, this post cuts right to the core with beauty and truth. Fantastic post!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    You always, ALWAYS capture exactly how I feel about my own sweet babes. You are so right – that we are lucky to know these sweet litte souls, and have the innocent and fun conversations that we will cherish for years to come. I never thought about people knowing me when I was little. I like to think, as you said, that if we all knew eachother as two year olds, there would be a lot more kindeness being spread to one another.
    I am thankful everyday for the blessing that my two boys are to me. And I thank you for the reminder to soak up every small moment that we are given as parents.

  3. Lexi says:

    This post is so beautiful!

  4. Kelsey says:

    Oh man Casey you've done it again! Tears as I think about how precious my sweet three year old Lyla is to me. So sassy and sweet and nurturing and funny all at the same time! We have such a privilege to get to nurture and love these sweet kiddos…and to be there safe place. Thanks for the reminder to soak it all in!

  5. Jelli B. says:

    How incredibly sweet. I can say that as a mom I definitely wish those same things for my babies. My daughter loves walking around in way-too-big lavendar slippers, and any of my shoes that I forget to put away, to squirt water from ketchup bottles and say goodbye to every person she passes with the biggest, most gorgeous little smile. Here's hoping we never forget these moments.

  6. Leah says:

    Maybe my favorite post to date, but I think I say that often. 🙂 This is just beautiful, Casey. No other way to put it. I love your heart and your children are do blessed to call you Momma. xoxo

  7. Tisse says:

    Wonderful post (as always!), Casey! I often feel like time is moving so quickly that I find myself longing for moments even before they have passed…. the way she clenches her legs when she's really excited, the way she signs to every dog she meets because she thinks they are all deaf like our dog, the way she pats my face and tells me I'm a "good good girl", the way I feel when she lays her head on my shoulder… I just want to soak it all in and remember her this way even when she's grown. Its so very wonderful to think of my baby growing up but its a bit nerve wracking at the same time…I totally know what you mean when you said you hope your babies are cherished as adults the way that you cherish them now. Its just so hard for me to trust the world with my sweet girl. I'm working on it. This mama gig certainly isn't for the faint of heart, but gosh even in its challenging moments its just so darn wonderful. Thanks for the awesome read tonight…how lucky your babies are to have such a terrific mama. xoxo

  8. I just adore your Momma heart. It always make me want to hug my boys a little tighter.

  9. brittany says:

    the most precious and sweet thing, i think this constantly!!! it keeps me praying for my baby girl's future friends and boyfriends and husband because i can't bear the thought of other people not seeing her amazing glow the way it should be seen! you are such a good mommy, casey! i love how you share these things so well 🙂

  10. Jenna says:

    this melted my heart casey! you truly are an inspiration to so many mama's for your pure and tender heart! the love for our babies is absolutely indescribable and you want nothing but the very best for them, always! i love this!

    xo
    jenna

  11. Janae Gibson says:

    A few weeks ago we arrived a friends outdoor wedding a bit early–and so Jae Beth and I took a look at the ceremony site. I had the wind knocked out of me when she was walking –prancing–down the isle. I posted a picture of my daughter standing at the alter and wrote this as a caption :

    "At the altar. One day-if it's the Lord's will for her to marry-she will be standing right before God, her family, and friends. We have already started praying for her future husband (well I have-Dan says she isn't allowed to marry). I am starting a collection of notes/letters for her husband. I want him to know that as a little girl she was sweet, a bit shy, and always trying to help me. She runs from the "lime light" and always asks me to pray for those in need of aide. Time froze for a moment last night–I had so many thoughts of her future. Tears were wiped away and I was reminded to never compare her to another. She is Jae Beth, she is special, and made perfect in His image. Thank you Lord for allowing us to raise her. I am so far from being a perfect parent. I fail daily. I pray for God's grace and for His direction. Thank you…thank you for giving us this time with her. I want to use it wisely in a loving way."

    I love that I am not the only one with the mommy burden of one day having to let go of such a prize—I am going to do my very best to capture who she was a little girl for her future spouse. Thank you for writing such beautiful words—I love your sweet story's and outlook. We are so different yet the one thing that possesses us both is our love for the Lord. Thank you.

  12. Janae Gibson says:

    A few weeks ago we arrived a friends outdoor wedding a bit early–and so Jae Beth and I took a look at the ceremony site. I had the wind knocked out of me when she was walking –prancing–down the isle. I posted a picture of my daughter standing at the alter and wrote this as a caption :

    "At the altar. One day-if it's the Lord's will for her to marry-she will be standing right before God, her family, and friends. We have already started praying for her future husband (well I have-Dan says she isn't allowed to marry). I am starting a collection of notes/letters for her husband. I want him to know that as a little girl she was sweet, a bit shy, and always trying to help me. She runs from the "lime light" and always asks me to pray for those in need of aide. Time froze for a moment last night–I had so many thoughts of her future. Tears were wiped away and I was reminded to never compare her to another. She is Jae Beth, she is special, and made perfect in His image. Thank you Lord for allowing us to raise her. I am so far from being a perfect parent. I fail daily. I pray for God's grace and for His direction. Thank you…thank you for giving us this time with her. I want to use it wisely in a loving way."

    I love that I am not the only one with the mommy burden of one day having to let go of such a prize—I am going to do my very best to capture who she was a little girl for her future spouse. Thank you for writing such beautiful words—I love your sweet story's and outlook. We are so different yet the one thing that possesses us both is our love for the Lord. Thank you.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Your daughter is going to love reading this when she's old enough to appreciate it 🙂 beautiful.
    -Jamie

  14. Anonymous says:

    The way you write about your children is absolutely beautiful. I hope that my writing is as inspired as yours when I have kids one day. Thanks for sharing!

    -Sarah @ 702 Park Project

  15. so sweet! i love your heart for your children, Casey! XO

  16. blonde says:

    i always know i'm going to tear up a little when i read your posts. i love how you focus on the sweet little moments and give them the special attention they deserve. my little girl will be one soon and i want to bottle up all these tiny things she does that make her who she will become. babies are just about the best thing ever. -jessica

  17. You have the most beautiful babies and the most amazing heart. I loved everything about this post!

  18. Morgan Hunt says:

    Beautifully written Casey. One thing that I love is not only hearing about my Casey when he was a little one, but seeing it. His mom gave us all dvd's of all of their home videos from growing up and I love being able to pop one in and watch my husband as a little child. It makes me laugh [and tear up] to hear his high pitched voice and witness his pure love for everything around him. It make me appreciate him in a whole new tender light.

    xo

  19. Cherish is such a strong word – much appropriate for this post. By the way, go look at my post today with my daughter on it today (IF you get a chance) and TELL ME our kiddos don't somewhat resemble each other. lol. I think it's the lips and blonde hair 🙂

  20. Ronni Selzer says:

    Eee, so happy to see Ainsley featured here. She seems to be a quiet one. You're so lucky she poses so well for the camera. Aidan's ten now and he's so OVER it. Ha.

  21. Agreed. This post is beautiful and inspired me to think differently last night when my three year old came into our bedroom in the middle of the night. I used it as an opportunity to snuggle with her 🙂 It totally made both her and I happy!

  22. Fresh Mommy says:

    Just LOVE. Something I hadn't thought of before and yet so very true!!! I want that sweetness and innocence to last them their lives, and enough so that the people closest to them will always be able to see it… in their eyes, their laughs, their dimples. To have our children shielded from the marring that this world can sometime bring and their young hearts protected, it's always a mother's heart.

    xoxo

    ~Tabitha

  23. I was looking at my three babes today, thinking about how big they're getting, but still so small. This is a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing.

  24. beth - ann says:

    beautiful post! your daughter is so precious and lucky to have you as a mama. so happy to be reading here. thank you for sharing.

    beth-ann

  25. christina says:

    have you ever heard the song "cinderella" by stephan curtis chapman. so good. really makes take a moment and enjoy them being little.

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