Just around the corner

JULY 28

So close, yet so SO far away! I am just starting my third and final trimester. For me the third trimester is the toughest. I keep looking at my belly thinking, how can I possibly get bigger? Alas, I have three more months to go and three more months to grow! So I will soon see how I can get bigger...

I came to a realization about this baby. I am REALLY nervous. It depends on the day whether I am more nervous or more excited and today I am WAY more nervous. First of all, I have been through labor before so I know what I am in store for. OOOHhhh the humanity!  The good news is that my doctor told me that with your second child the pregnancy is harder but the labor is easier.  She wasn't lying about the bit about the pregnancy, it has been harder and I have been much more vocal about my pain and discomfort. Poor Ted!!  Hopefully, my doctor is right about the labor and birth.

I am also SUPER nervous about having two children.  I love the relationship I have with my son! He has me wrapped around that adorable little finger of his.

I know the birth our baby will change our relationship. It is going to be very tough for him and I wish there was some way I could help him understand the joy that can come from siblings. Today I consider my siblings one of my life's greatest blessings!

Siblings can bring so much joy and happiness. How can you teach a toddler that he will have a bond with this baby for life? It is going to be difficult for Ellis to have to share his mom and dad. So far he has had both of our undivided attention and it is going to be a tough change for him.

Last Sunday, I was holding a baby for a short period of time and that is when Ellis wanted me the most. How do you balance the needs and wants of both your children? I want to be there Ellis and provide him with everything he needs but I know with a newborn I will not be able to do that. How do you teach a not-yet-2-year-old to be patient and that you are only human? I definitely don't have the answers yet but I hope they will come. And since I am hoping, it would be great if all the answers came sooner rather than later... just sayin'

I am VERY excited to finally know if this squishy baby inside my belly is a boy or a girl. Ted and I decided to wait until the birth to find out the gender. It has made planning a little more tricky but nothing we can't handle. I have had feelings both ways about the gender of the baby.

The first time I felt the baby move I immediately thought, there is my baby girl! At other times I have felt that it is definitely going to be a boy. There is something very exciting about waiting. It will be only after the sweat and toil of labor that we will finally know. And that is something to focus on indeed!