‘The waiting and the wonder. That girl, that belly, those aches. That ‘we’re doing this’ feeling.’: Mom reminisces on sweet childbirth memories

“I drove by the hospital you were born at the other day. 

Isn’t it strange how places hold our memories too?

That girl, that belly, those aches. 

That ‘we’re doing this’ feeling. 

The ‘baby’s coming now’ rush. 

It all came back.

The parking garage; your dad with bags. 

The waiting and the wonder. 

All in those walls. 

The nervous departure and the clean car seat (is it in right?). 

My body rearranging, contracting; yours sleeping so new. 

Summer is just starting. 

Then two years later, a soft snowfall when we met your sister; when everything was new again. 

The apartment we called home for so many years, just around the corner from that hospital; a king sized bed that held so many long sleeps. 

So near and so far. 

Who were those kids?

Who are these parents?

Now, we go home to our home — the only home you know so far, besides me and that body, before we went into this hospital that day.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Cassie Shortsleeve of Dear Sunday. You can follow her journey on Instagram and join her mom groups on her website. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from Cassie here:

‘It feels like forever ago that it was just us—who we were when we fell in love and when that love was the only love we knew.’: Wife shares how marriage has changed with time

‘Do you know how remarkable it is that you birthed a baby? Despite all of the fear and all of the firsts.’: Mom praises new mothers, reflects on the miracle of childbirth

‘The feeling a little bit lost and the, ‘How does she do it?’ It’s isolating and it’s universal.’: Mom addresses ‘growing pains’ of motherhood

‘Motherhood is far from perfect. If we can celebrate that, we should also celebrate the imperfect chaos of parenting together.’: Wife candidly shares the effect parenting has on marriage

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