Embracing Pregnancy

Update on Sweet Pea #3
The first two photos on the left were taken on 6/6, and second two from 6/23. I can't believe what a difference just 17 days can make. Peyton gets super excited when he can feel "his" baby kick. Gracyn likes to point to mommmy's belly and say, "bay-bay" for baby. Peyton will even talk and sing to her! It's so sweet. This baby can do tricks! You can see my belly "jump" when she gets excited. This is the part about being pregnant that I love most - feeling her within me.

 

The not so fun part is being exhausted, and feeling overwhelmed. As I write this, we've just past the 10 month anniversary of having Gracyn in our lives, I'm approaching 30 weeks of being pregnant, I have a laundry list of things I need would love to accomplish. That list has recently grown to include some not so fun stuff. . .and I don't think "nesting" has officially begun yet.

My original list:
Finish Gracyn's Life Book
Archive remainder of 2008, and 2009 photos
Finish Digi-Scrapping for Gracyn's first year home
Finish the girls' room
Plan Gracyn's 3rd birthday party (early)

My revised list:
Peyton's tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and possibly tubes
Cut vacation short for the above surgical procedures
Take stinkin' 3 hour glucose test since I failed my first
Arrange for 3 music therapy evaluations, BEFORE she turns 3!
UGGHHHHH. . .

Retail Therapy
I have had some fun shopping for baby girl #2. She still does not have a name since DH and I can't agree upon one yet. We're fortunate to have so many great hand-me-downs, but Peyton wore "preemie" clothes for at least a couple of months, so I got to splurge on some "P" and "NB" clothes in PINK. Oh, and I picked out fabric and got to design my own diaper bag with a NEW favorite ETSY seller! This bag rocks! The pockets fit a thermos and wide bottles, and there's a gazillion pockets! With three in tow, gotta make sure there's room for sippy cups too! There's a key fob inside so I don't lose my mind keys, and a matching quilted changing pad too!

 

The Wait
I remember reflecting upon the wait for Peyton while I waited for Gracyn, and I've been reflecting again, but this time upon how the wait for Gracyn is different from the wait with baby #3. With Gracyn I think I was definitely more emotionally stressed from so many unknowns. Having photos of a child, a name, and a growing love without ever having known her or ever feeling her in my arms was sometimes unbearable. With this pregnancy, which hasn't been easy, there are unknowns, and yet the familiar growing love, but with no idea of what she looks like, what size she'll be, or how thin or thick her hair will be, but I can feel her. That's for certain. Within the last couple of days, she's been kicking and punching like crazy. With this baby, there's also an "end in sight" - a due date. With Gracyn I felt like I was way overdue and no one would induce me. I don't have to wait for a phone call to have my baby, I'll just be waiting for my water to break or for my braxton-hicks contractions to turn into the real deal. I won't have to talk to a travel agent this time around, just call Labor and Delivery and let them know we're on our way. Then again, with Gracyn I knew when I should rest, and knew when I'd be meeting her so I could be prepared. With this one, who knows it will be morning, noon, or night, in the office, in the car, or at Peyton's first soccer game. The journey to each child so unique and special, and it's all in His time. I'm going to embrace it and enjoy it, 100 degree weather, swollen fingers and ankles and all!

Prayers
Praying for discernment on how to simplify our lives, so we can be in the best place possible when our baby arrrives. Praying for no gestational diabetes, a safe third trimester and delivery, a healthy baby, and lots of quality time with Peyton and Gracyn before they have to share mommy three ways!