5 Things We've Learned From Our Daughter Casey

Casey was one of roughly 21 babies born in 2009 among Lake Park Members. So by my calculation she is responsible for about 4.5% of the additional noise you hear at services on Sunday morning. Actually, she has some pretty good lungs, so maybe we’ll give her credit for about 5%-6%.


We recently were given the opportunity during Lent to reflect on what Casey has meant to our family. We decided to break things down into 5 Things We Have Learned since Casey joined our lives:

1) Unusual Sleeping Habits. Casey has some unusual sleeping habits, but we’ve learned that that’s ok. While I can imagine that most babies like being in the middle of their crib, she enjoys wedging herself in one of the corners, head pushed up against the rail, with one arm dangling out over the side. We’re tried moving her, and she just scoots herself back. So whatever. I guess we’ve also learned that we could have bought a much smaller crib.

2) Eating Everything. Casey has been very choosy about what she eats, as long as the food fits under the category of “anything.” As a 6 month old, she’s recently taken a liking to scalloped potatoes, avocados, pancakes, and even enjoyed briefly sucking on a lemon! While we’ve tried multiple sign language forms with Casey, the only one she’s picked up so far is “more.” Jessie and I never thought we would learn so quickly the true definition of the phrase “Eating us out of house and home.”

3) Positive Attitude. It seems funny to give Casey credit for being an example on how to live your life with a positive demeanor, but it is exactly what she’s brought to our lives. Since she learned to smile a couple of months ago, she seems to have made it a mission to spread that happiness to everyone she comes in contact with. For both of us, when we come home and get to see her for usually the first time in hours, often things are on our mind, like the struggling economy, family members or ourselves working through a difficult period, or just the beatdown of the long WI winter. Casey’s smile and general happiness are a true gift and a reminder of what is really important.

4) Welcome Responsibility. We tried to ignore and laugh off the comments from people around us. “You’re lives will never be the same! And “Children change your lives!” Things will certainly stay the same for US. Of course these people were right. Having a child bring a whole new level of responsibility to our lives. We now have someone who is completely reliant on us for all her basic needs. In addition, much of Casey’s attitude toward life, other people, and perception of certain situations will be based on what we teach her. What I also didn’t expect is how much fun that responsibility is, and how it has made us better people. What a joy and a gift to be able to offer our perspectives to Casey and help her choose her path in life.

5) Growth of our Family. Finally, it is probably the most difficult to explain, but it is probably the most meaningful. It truly is a gift to be able to love someone new, and have a new member of something as intimate as your family. We truly are thankful to be chosen as parents, and judging by Casey’s smiles she is happy to have us in her life as well.