So you'd like an update

Word is my brother-in-law would like an update. I'm sorry to say that there's still no news yet. We haven't even picked a Doctor, so we haven't had an ultrasound. I assume that is what he was referring to. :) Anyhow, I can't remember how far along I am now, but I'm sure it's not 20 weeks yet. That's when we'll find out what we're having. I did get to hear my baby's heart beat, and that was such a thrill!! The midwife came for my first prenatal visit, and was able to find it. It was bold, loud, and strong- like a boy- perhaps! Kevin wants a boy so badly, though we've gotten so used to our little girl we're not sure what we'd do with a boy! My midwife thinks it's a boy too because I was so sick with my girl, and now I'm hardly ever sick. But some people think that's just because my body knows what's going on, since I had a baby just a year ago. So the suspense continues.

The other day Kevin and I were watching TV, and he just blurted out, "I wish you didn't have to go through child-birth again." Until that moment, I hadn't really thought about the fact that I was going to have to go through that indescribable pain again!! Thinking about it, my heart-rate started speeding up, and I had to take deep breaths to try to calm myself. I decided I must do what every mother has to do, and "take no thought for the things of tomarrow, for tomarrow will take thought for the things of itself." (Sermon on the Mount) They say that a woman going into labor for the first time is scared because she doesn't know what to expect. A woman going into labor for the second time is terrified because she KNOWS what to expect! But of course, as TLC says of childbirth, "Anything worth having is worth fighting for." And that's the truth.

Mom times 2

Well, Kaylee is almost 13 months old now, and we're expecting number 2! We think it'll be a boy this time, but we won't know for sure for a couple of weeks. Kaylee has recently become a handful. She's discovered her stubborn side, (she gets that from her father,) and is testing me every time I turn around. I don't know if we'd have gone ahead and gotten pregnant again if we'd waited until now. I suppose it's best just to jump into some things, and take whatever comes, rather than waiting until it's convenient. Other wise, we'd be making the decisions based on our own immediate selfish desires, and not what's best in the long run. Children do not stay toddlers forever, and this I keep telling myself as I pull my hair out. Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad. I'm watching my baby's brain develop at phenomenal rates! She talks babble, with lots of inflections in her voice, and even does a little sign language, which delights me to see. She walks and runs beautifully, and can now drink from a sippy cup all by herself. I treasure the sweet moments when she sleeps on my shoulder, or runs to give her daddy a hug.

One day, as I was suffering from morning sickness, she placed her hand on my arm and spoke softly into my ear, some thing that sounded like, "bada blanada da." And stood quietly beside me as I wretched over the toilet. Such a sweet angel. Every time we sit on the floor with her, she climbs into our laps. She loves to hug and cuddle, and she's happiest when we're all together. So parenting is full of good and ugly. It's our privilege to dwell on the good, while still not putting up with naughty behavior. It's harder than it looks! I have such a new, profound respect for my own mother. Thanks mom, for ALL you did and DO!!