Welcome to the World, Landon!

LaDonna and Tate had their baby boy this week; Landon Vincent Page, which I think just sounds like a famous person and I love it so much. Although, with Page as your last name, how do you not sound famous?

I have been incredibly happy about every new baby in this family. I love babies. While my own biological clock seems to have a dead battery, I am in love with the new life in this family. Being the Auntie is amazing, and getting to spend so much time with these little ones brings me a lot of joy. I miss them when they’re far away, I love to snuggle, play and watch them learn new things. Pictures of other people’s children scatter my bulletin board and screen saver at work. There is just no end to the love I have for the next generation of my family.

That being said, I feel such a special bond to Baby Landon, who I haven’t even met yet. LaDonna had a very high risk pregnancy, which followed a very dangerous delivery with her first baby, as well as several miscarriages and fertility treatments along the way. Needless to say, I have spent 10 months…no, 2 years…worrying about my cousin and her unborn baby.

Last June, LaDonna and I were in the car at the beach, stuck in crazy traffic. Listening to her tell me about a cyst they found, a test she’d had, the sex they weren’t allowed to have for X duration of time, on and on and on about how it was proving impossible for her and her husband, a man who loves her so much, to conceive – or hang on to – a baby. My heart simply melted. I remember the exact moment when I looked over at her and thought, “all you have to do is ask honey, and I will have this baby for you.” My life would have flipped upside down. I was with Kalib at the time, there was Rylie to consider, and I was working my ass off in a new position at work. But it would have been a no brainer. I just had this heart wrenching moment where I would have moved my ass to Alabama that very day to get pregnant and fat and make a baby for my baby cousin.

All of that said, I am over the moon thrilled that she was able to make Landon without my uterus…

LaDonna is one of those people who is born to be a mama to a whole gaggle of lucky children. She is warm, loving, disciplined, patient, and just a natural mother. After a conversation between her and her mom at the very start of her pregnancy that didn’t sit well with her, LaDonna and I agreed that she could tell me everything the doctor said and I would not worry her. So she did. I heard about every scary little thing, every test, every abnormality. I was her sounding board and her support - I let her voice her concerns and then told her she was going to be fine and that her baby would be just fine. Of course, the moment we hung up, I would panic for her. What do you mean they can’t hear the baby? What do you mean you fainted? Why are you on bed rest? Just complete worry.

Landon Vincent Page was born May 9, 2012 with all of the right parts, weighing enough, big enough, breathing and looking perfect. I am a sap, but I have never cried at the birth of a baby. I cried my eyes out when LaDonna called me to tell me he was here. It was this overwhelming sense of calm and relief, followed by complete joy. He was here. He was safe in her arms, she was awake and happy, and they were fine.

A couple of years back, at Stacey’s bridal shower, Kitty referred to Stace as the older sister she never had. I feel the same way with LaDonna, especially in the last couple years with her being away from home; I feel like she is the baby sister that I wanted when my little brother came along. I love that she calls me, I love that she trusts me and talks to me, and I love the way she supports me and lets me support her. I love watching her family grow and change and adapt. I love her husband, and the way she talks about him. I admire her parenting style and am so proud of the little person Madelyn is growing into because of how great her mother is.

LaDonna, I have said it a hundred times in a million ways over this past year, and especially in this last week, but I am so proud of the person, the wife, and the mother that you are. I love you, and I am so happy for our relationship. Take care of that little miracle.