Then...

I’m a sucker for nostalgia.  I love birthdays, anniversaries…all celebrations.  Luckily my girls are just like me, and they’ll humor me for hours as we look through old photos.  I’ll tell them over and over about the day they were born, the feelings I had, our first time meeting, and 2am barf cleanup on isle 9.  They love to listen and laugh.  They usually have their arms around my neck as we talk.  We were sharing one of those “memory lane” times yesterday, and I just felt like my heart could burst...my heart loves them so much it hurts.  Brad Paisley was cuing up in my head.  The song, “Then”.  Yes, I know it’s about a husband and wife, but those lyrics parallel closely with motherhood.  I look at pictures of those sweet little baby faces from years ago, and I can distinctly remember how much love I felt at that moment.  That "bursting heart" kind of love.  Now here we are 12 years, 40+ baby teeth, many sleepless nights, baths, constant messes, and millions of tears later, and I just can’t believe the way I feel about these girls!  We’ve come so far since that day, and I thought I loved them then.  I think of the time gone by and the times to come…with their own babies on the way or when their hair is turning gray.  I just can’t see how I’m ever gonna love them more…but I’ve said that before.   They are my whole life.  They are my whole world.  Someday we’ll look back at this moment and I’ll say, “I thought I loved you then…”       

Then- Brad Paisley 

I remember trying not to stare
The night that I first met you
You had me mesmorized
And three weeks later
In the front porch light
Taking 45 minutes to kiss goodnight
I hadn't told you yet
I thought I loved you then

Now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than its ever been
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

I remember taking you back
To right where I first met you
You were so surprised
There were people around
But I didn't care
I got down on one knee right there
And once again
I thought I loved you then

Now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than its ever been
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

I can just see you
With a baby on the way
I can just see you
When your hair is turning grey
What I can't see
Is how I'm ever gonna love you more
But I've said that before

Now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
We'll look back someday
At this moment that we're in
And I'll look at you and say
And I thought I loved you then

And I thought I loved you then