Teaming Up

Last week, my sister emailed me about a post she'd seen on this blog. It was regarding a creative venture called "Team-Up Thursday", in which two partners photograph a common theme or idea and create a diptych of what each has captured. Pretty cool idea, I thought. I love photography, despite my lack of a truly serious camera (yes, I have camera envy for my sister's monster machine). And, I've been seriously lacking in the blog post department lately, despite having plenty going on in my life to blog about.

And so, Gini and I are teaming up to see what we can come up with. Should be interesting to see how differently (or similarly) the two of us interpret the same theme each week.

So, here's Week 1's diptych, on the theme of "Movement".

This is gonna be fun.

On to the Twos...

Happy 2nd Birthday to my little boy....

Hard to believe how quickly you've gone from this...

to this...

We love you so very, very much.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thought I'd share my favorite gifts.....

Emotions are a funny thing

Thought I'd take a few moments to capture some of the thoughts running through my head tonight - our last night as a family of three. Tomorrow is the big day - the day our daughter arrives. It's amazing to me the variety of emotions we humans have the capacity to feel at the same time. You wonder just how that's possible.

First off, I'm so very excited to meet her. I can't wait to see what she looks like, can't wait to hold her, can't wait to hear her tiny little cries. I can't wait to see my husband hold his baby girl in his arms for the very first time. I can't wait to watch him get wrapped around her tiny little finger. Even more so, I can't wait for Matthew to meet her. I can't wait to see his reaction to her. We've had an amazing two weeks together at home, and we've been talking about her a lot. It seems like this week he's really begun to understand that she's coming, for real, and that she'll be part of our family. Just today, he told me he's going to give her a kiss on the head and on the nose. I can't wait to see if he really does that.

And yet, amidst all this excitement, I can't help but feel a little bit sad. Sad to think that some of the attention he's used to getting will now be shared. I worry that he'll somehow feel less loved, and that thought just breaks my heart. I am determined that I will not let that happen. When I first found out I was pregnant this time, after being completely overjoyed, I felt this same twinge of sadness. I wondered how it would be possible to love another baby as much as I love Matthew. But, I quickly came to realize that it would be easier than anything I'd ever done in my life. Your heart and your love just grow. I know this without her even being here yet. And I also know that the joy he'll experience from having a sibling will far outweigh anything else he'll feel. I just need to make myself focus on that thought and help him to find that joy.

My deepest hope for tomorrow is that he is as excited as we are to meet her, and that he really feels like giving her those kisses on her head and nose. He's been calling her "My Gabby" for the last few days, and I hope he really feels that way when she's finally here.

Love you, my little man, and can't wait to meet you, my little girl.

~ Mommy

32 weeks....

I figured it was about time I shared an update on my pregnancy. I haven't written much at all about it anywhere, for a number of different reasons. But, we're getting down to the wire here, so I think it's time...

I went for an ultrasound on Friday (at 32 weeks) for the purpose of estimating the baby's size. Dennis wasn't able to come along as we had planned since Matthew was home sick. In any event, off I went. I was happy to hear that everything looks good - no extra parts have grown, so it's still a girl. She has actually turned head down (she was breech at my last Dr.'s appointment), and I could see the hair on her head - looks like we'll have another hairy baby on our hands! Her hands were by her face, just like Matthew's always were, and her feet were up there, too. Based on the measurements taken, she's measuring approximately 10 days ahead, and already weighs around 5 lbs 3 oz - above the 90th percentile! Man, we make big babies!

I had hoped to avoid a c-section this time, although as a compromise with my doctor, I have one scheduled for my due date. Now, based on what they're seeing in terms of size, they're thinking that should be moved up at least a week. I'm expecting to chat with the doctor tomorrow to discuss dates. If I go into labor on my own beforehand, they'll let me go and see how I progress. And, I have another ultrasound scheduled at 36 weeks to see how much she's grown by then.

I didn't get a ton of pictures, but thought I'd share those I did get....

This one is my favorite, although the picture and the scan don't nearly do the moment justice. She was looking right at us, and opening and closing her eyes and mouth. It was so sweet I couldn't help but cry a little bit. Can't wait to meet this little girl!