Madelynn Dawn Koneman

 Two weeks ago today, our perfect niece, Madelynn Dawn Koneman, was born. Madelynn is Jake's brother, Zach, and his wife, Jenna's, daughter. The first grandchild on the Koneman side of our family. The beginning of a new generation.

Zach and Jenna decided to be surprised with the sex of Madelynn, so we had lovingly called her, "Baby Ko", during Jenna's pregnancy. Not knowing was hard, but added to the anticipation of her birth.

I was boarding a flight home from Denver when I heard the news that Jenna was in labor (longest flight ever). My sister-in-law, Sarah, texted me updates whenever she got them. Jenna had a long labor, but everything went really well, and at 9:39 p.m. they welcomed a healthy and beautiful daughter into the world. And just like that everything changes.

Jake and I were sitting together when his brother, Zach, called us with the news. Jake was beaming, but I could see in his face how badly he wanted to be there. We both did. We ache to hold our niece, and can't wait to see Jenna and Zach in their new roles of mom and dad. 

One of the many things that I am most excited for, is to see my mother-in-law, Joyce, as a new grandma. This woman was born to be a grandma! Our future children really hit the jackpot - and are going to have the two best grandmas in the world.

It is hard to wrap your mind around how much you can love this little being, who just two weeks ago, had not yet been born. What's more, is how much you can love someone that you have never met.

Madelynn may never know how much she represents to our family. There is nothing that signifies more hope and excitement for the future than a new baby.

We get to meet Madelynn the week before Thanksgiving and are spending the entire week in Wisconsin with her. We wait in anticipation to meet our beautiful niece. Until then, we are getting to know her through pictures and stories. 

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bank balance smaller, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for." -Unknown