My daughter, the light of my life, my pride and joy, Athena Ceilidh Carter, was born on April 
2, 2012. She came into this world with a joy that surpasses anything else in life. Her tiny coos and infectious smile warm my heart and soul. I could spend hours watching her sleep, move, or look at me.
When I met my husband, I experienced a love that changed my life. I was a better person just for knowing him. I felt like I could accomplish anything and all of my dreams were possible. Athena is the accumulation of those dreams. The rest of the world became a blur in the background and my family was clearly in focus. She was more important than a lifetime of bucket list adventures. My life had a new meaning. I was a mother!
Many of you have been offering your well wishing and hinting about posting pictures, but I wasn’t ready to share her with the world. She is my precious gift and I wanted time to have her all to myself. Thousands of pictures and beautiful moments later, I’m opening my heart and my blog with the introduction of Athena.
Some people assume that once you have children, you’re adventures life is over, but I’ve experienced piloting a biplane, a jetpack, and a glider since her birth. We also visited Sea World and moved from southern California to North Carolina with her next to us. More importantly, I comforted a crying child; I rested while she slept on my chest; I heard her laugh for the first time; I saw her smile with happiness; I held her tiny, delicate hand; and I looked into her big, blue eyes. When you’re a new mother, life isn’t over… it’s simply better.
She is beautiful. Best wishes and happy belated mother’s and father’s day.
Now you will grasp the all encompassing meaning of love.
Thank you, Mary!
There are no words for the happiness and joy that are in my life.
Have a great weekend,
Lesley
Oh congrats Lesley! <3 Good attitude, too
Thank you! She is the most precious gift that we could share together; I will always remember that first
She’s beautiful. What a touching tribute from mother to daughter. Congratulations!
beautiful pictures, I loved them all. I can see why you could spend hours upon hours watching her, she’s adorable!
Thank you! There are times when I’m tired and need a rest, but I look at her smile and it gives me all the energy I need
SO beautiful, Lesley! Congrats to you both!! Thanks for sharing these lovely photos – I can’t blame you for cherishing motherhood and taking your time ‘sharing’ her.
Best wishes!
A little doll… Hope we get to meet her when you are home,as in Cape Breton. She has a smile that makes you smile when you see her infectious grin..Lucky mom and dad!!
Thanks Judy! I’m hoping to make it home some time this summer. I’ll be sure to stop by
What a beautiful little girl. I can understand why Athena brings you so much joy. Thank you for liking my blog. I came to blogging because my daughter set up the baby blog Travelling with Ana (Travelling spelt with two “l” s the antipodean way). You may enjoy dropping by Sarah’s blog to enjoy a bit of shared journey. Her daily blogs about Ana, and now Rafa, fill a huge need in our family. Ana and Rafa have family in New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and the UK. The blog is a precious way of being part of their lives.
She’s so beautiful, sweet, adorable, amazing…
She is really cute. What a blessing!
She is just perfect! I wish you all three all the happiness in the world and hope you’ll keep sharing your wonderful adventures with us. We also took our baby son everywhere with us, even to the top of mountains, music festivals, etc rain or shine. Enjoy!
I love to hear that other parents are living life to the fullest with their children at their side; beautiful!
She is adorable. Children are a blessing. One that was not bestowed on me but one I see as precious. Life and love is the most wonderful thing in the world. I have found true love late in life but better late than never.
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Congratulations on finding a great love. Every moment shared with someone so important is a blessing.
My Neice and her family are beautiful , I am so happy you found everything in life that makes you happy ,
Thank you Gar! I love you and miss you terribly. Come to visit soon
What a happy little bug! She’s simply beautiful and brimming with adventure (already!). Can’t wait to hear about her adventures. Congratulations!
She always has a perfect smile or a mischievous grin that makes me laugh all day long.
Wow, what a precious little girl. Huge congratulations to you both. She’s such a cutie pie and looks like she has a ton of spunk!
How precious! I know your first Mother’s Day was one of the best!
She is a real beauty – congratulations to you and your husband!
I love what you said at the end of your post about being a mother, and I can tell you (now that my son is 14) that each stage is unique and wonderful. I look forward to meeting the man that my son will become
Lesley, the third photo up from the bottom looks exactly like her mom in the sky diving photo on your blog! What a beautiful baby Athena is! And what a fitting name she has. She is indeed a little goddess.
I should tape that smile to my morning bath mirror … except I’d choke on toothpase from smiling back!
Congratulations! What a happy, adorable baby. You and your hubby have embarked on a lifetime adventure.