{What it means to be a mom for the first time. // by Lisa Leonard}

Today my beautiful friend Lisa Leonard is sharing with us, “What it means to be a mom for the first time.” Lisa has such a kind, gentle, inspiring spirit — you’ll see that in her words below. Thank you Lisa for sharing your heart with us on this precious topic…

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Everything I thought about being a new mom change the day my son David was born.

He came out quietly. There were whispers from the doctors. There was a terrifying tension that filled the room.

After the doctors did a quick evaluation, Steve, my husband brought David over to me and laid this tiny, swaddled baby on my chest.

He was adorable. He had a full head of hair, blue eyes and a button nose. He also had only two fingers on his left hand, a severe heart defect and we would soon find out, a genetic disorder that would make life look very different for our new baby.

The day my son was born was the day I began to learn that being a mom was about sacrifice. For me, being a new mom meant g-tube feeds, surgery, doctor visits and sleepless nights. But most of all, being a new mom meant opening my heart to a new kind of love. This little man came into my life and turned it upside down. He made me better. He made me less selfish. David makes the sunshine brighter and the stars twinkle at night.

He made me a mother, and I love him more than words can say.

Lisa Leonard blogs at Lisa Leonard Online where she shares stories from her heart, thrift store finds and her inspiring jewelry collection. Lisa and her husband, Steve, live in San Luis Obispo, CA with their two boys — David and Matthias.