Self-taught moments

Our shelves are stacked with many books. The recently added copies deal mainly with getting ready to be parents. We aren't naive in knowing that all the books in the world can't tell us how to parent and what to expect for the rest of our lives. However, we are trying to soak up as much information and guidance from family and friends as we can.

One mode of information that I did not expect to learn how to parent from is in fact taking care of our two dogs. Ellie and Henry are of course a lot hairier and harder to communicate with but nonetheless I have learned much this last year. My ears are pointedly ready to hear the tiniest peep in the wee hours and I'm a pro at cleaning up vomit without getting a drop on myself. I wouldn't trade these two for anything and believe me with as much as we shell out for their care, it's like paying for college (or our Vet's child's).

Corey and I have also been training each other. Everyone wants to believe that they don't secretly want to change certain traits of their spouse but we all do. I'm blessed enough to have a husband that allows me to be honest and open about what I'm feeling and thinking and as much as I am terrible at listening about my quirks, he is honest enough to let me know when I should stare in the mirror. 

We have opened the lines of communication to endure hard conversations about what ifs and no-nos when dealing with children. When two people come together to raise a child they bring their past experience from their childhood; the good and bad. Talking through all points has helped is establish certain rules we want to stick by and roles each other would like to hold or not deal with. 

I feel so blessed that I married my heart's counterpart. I prayed for a long time for the right Godly man to come my way. We may not be perfect but I have faith and trust that God knows what he's doing even when we are still learning.