6 more days till my due date. We're waiting....! Last Thursday I was 3-4 cm dilated and 75% effaced at my OB appointment. My midwife predicted a weekend delivery. But...no such luck. At least not yet. I guess we have 45 minutes till the holiday weekend is over.... The baby stayed put on Saturday, which was Jas & Rob's wedding. I couldn't bear to interrupt the wedding plans, especially for my dad who was the best man. The baby behaved and listened to my pleas to wait till after the wedding. Now the wedding is over....and still waiting....
I am ready to meet this new little one. Will it be a boy or a girl? I just cannot wait to see who this baby is and who we get to learn and love.
I blogged the day before Anna was born. Not knowing then that she would be born the next day, I thanked everyone for being so kind and supportive during her pregnancy. Again, I thank you. I have the best family and friends, no question. I feel so loved and supported and it is such a blessing. My heart is filled by all of you.
Stayed tuned....!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Mother's Day & 37 Weeks!
I am a little late posting about Mother's Day. I'll share a few thoughts and a few pictures to remember the day.
Anna makes me a mother. So does this little one still inside of me. The absolute greatest blessing of my life is to be their mom. I am in love with my children. Anna is an amazing and beautiful child. And she is part of me. She calls me Mommy and I know how very lucky I am. I love her and she loves me. Our second little baby reminded me with little kicks on Mother's Day that he or she will be here soon. Only to fill my heart with more love, which seems impossible, but is so welcomed. My two children are such gifts.
I also spent Mother's Day with my mom. My mom....who raised me, loves me, and is my best friend. I love my mom. Now that I am a mother myself, I now understand a mother's love for her children. And I know how much my mom loves me. Which is an awesome gift. I can't ever thank my mom for all she has given me. Her love, faith, laundry and cooking tips, advice, and support have helped me become me. I am ever grateful for her.
Our hearts ached this Mother's Day for Scott. My mom missed her son. I missed my brother. My wish for my mom on Mother's Day was that my mom would feel the love from all of us, including Scott who is in heaven but is also with us.
Sharing motherhood with my mom is special. We understand each other as moms and appreciate the all the joy and hardship being a mom can bring. I adore the relationship Anna and her Grandma share. They love each other and it is beautiful to see the joy they bring one another.
This weekend Brent's mom and dad are coming to visit. We will celebrate a belated Mother's Day with Brent's mom and Anna's Grammy. Equally beautiful and wonderful relationships between Brent and his mom and Anna and her Grammy. We are so blessed as a family to share such love and to be able to celebrate each other, with each other.
Well, I am 37 1/2 weeks pregnant now with Baby #2. Only 18 days till my due date. I was 8 days early with Anna, so I wonder if I will be early this time too. It seems unreal that soon we will have a brand new, tiny baby in our arms to welcome into our home. Sometimes during this pregnancy it seemed like this day would never really come...and here we are counting down, washing baby clothes, and packing a hospital bag. The baby's nursery is all ready with crib waiting, new rocking chair, and newborn diapers. We unpacked the baby swing and baby toys, which Anna has thoroughly enjoyed playing with and exploring. It makes my heart skip to remember Anna as a tiny baby in the swing and as a growing little girl playing with the rattles and baby books. And now she will be a big sister. So, we wait and wonder when this new little one will arrive. I have been feeling pretty good. Off and on I don't feel very well - kind of yucky and just not myself. I remember feeling this way with Anna a couple of weeks before she was born. I certainly do feel 9 months pregnant and will look forward to the end of the heartburn, sore feet, trouble sleeping, and tiredness. I see my OB midwife tomorrow for a check-up. I'll keep you posted if any exciting changes. Otherwise, we just wait!!
Anna makes me a mother. So does this little one still inside of me. The absolute greatest blessing of my life is to be their mom. I am in love with my children. Anna is an amazing and beautiful child. And she is part of me. She calls me Mommy and I know how very lucky I am. I love her and she loves me. Our second little baby reminded me with little kicks on Mother's Day that he or she will be here soon. Only to fill my heart with more love, which seems impossible, but is so welcomed. My two children are such gifts.
I also spent Mother's Day with my mom. My mom....who raised me, loves me, and is my best friend. I love my mom. Now that I am a mother myself, I now understand a mother's love for her children. And I know how much my mom loves me. Which is an awesome gift. I can't ever thank my mom for all she has given me. Her love, faith, laundry and cooking tips, advice, and support have helped me become me. I am ever grateful for her.
Our hearts ached this Mother's Day for Scott. My mom missed her son. I missed my brother. My wish for my mom on Mother's Day was that my mom would feel the love from all of us, including Scott who is in heaven but is also with us.
Sharing motherhood with my mom is special. We understand each other as moms and appreciate the all the joy and hardship being a mom can bring. I adore the relationship Anna and her Grandma share. They love each other and it is beautiful to see the joy they bring one another.
This weekend Brent's mom and dad are coming to visit. We will celebrate a belated Mother's Day with Brent's mom and Anna's Grammy. Equally beautiful and wonderful relationships between Brent and his mom and Anna and her Grammy. We are so blessed as a family to share such love and to be able to celebrate each other, with each other.
Well, I am 37 1/2 weeks pregnant now with Baby #2. Only 18 days till my due date. I was 8 days early with Anna, so I wonder if I will be early this time too. It seems unreal that soon we will have a brand new, tiny baby in our arms to welcome into our home. Sometimes during this pregnancy it seemed like this day would never really come...and here we are counting down, washing baby clothes, and packing a hospital bag. The baby's nursery is all ready with crib waiting, new rocking chair, and newborn diapers. We unpacked the baby swing and baby toys, which Anna has thoroughly enjoyed playing with and exploring. It makes my heart skip to remember Anna as a tiny baby in the swing and as a growing little girl playing with the rattles and baby books. And now she will be a big sister. So, we wait and wonder when this new little one will arrive. I have been feeling pretty good. Off and on I don't feel very well - kind of yucky and just not myself. I remember feeling this way with Anna a couple of weeks before she was born. I certainly do feel 9 months pregnant and will look forward to the end of the heartburn, sore feet, trouble sleeping, and tiredness. I see my OB midwife tomorrow for a check-up. I'll keep you posted if any exciting changes. Otherwise, we just wait!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Easter Fun
Happy Easter 2011! We had a fun one. We started the week of Easter with Brent's well-deserved vacation from work. Our community Easter egg hunt started our holiday with a windy, cold egg hunt and a visit with the Easter Bunny. With hood up and winter boots, Anna collected her eggs and enjoyed the fun.
Next, it was off to Chicago for a one-night stay in the big city. We took one last adventure as just the three of us before the baby is born. As Anna calls it, we did some fun "big city livin". We stayed in a hotel downtown, walked the busy city streets, and visited Shedd Aquarium. Anna loves the big city and I am afraid someday she's going to announce as a young adult that she's headed for NYC and leaving her ol' Maw behind in Michigan. :) She loves the big buildings and all the sights to see. We had a fun afternoon visiting Navy Pier. She was wowed by our dinner out at Rainforest Cafe. And she delighted in all things at Shedd Aquarium, as did Brent and I. What a place....fish, sea creatures, dolphins, whales. It was so much fun and Anna is at a very special age for enjoying new experiences.
I will admit that the Chicago trip wore this mama out. We did a lot of walking and being 34 weeks pregnant does not make it easy. I didn't anticipate I would be so tired - or have such swelling and sore feet. But, it was still fun and it was the adventure we were looking for - and we made some really great memories with Anna.
After Chicago, it was on to South Bend for Easter with our families. Anna had so much fun with her grandparents this year. Easter egg coloring and egg hunting with Brent's parents. Easter mass and dinner with my parents. This was her first year coloring eggs and she loved it. She most liked using a paint brush to paint different colors on the eggs. She is quite the little artist! My in-laws hid the eggs outside for her and she hunted them happily and found every last one. She enjoyed her basket from the Easter Bunny and she took probably close to 30 minutes checking out each little toy and gift. She took her time and such care with her basket. It was so sweet and she was so happy. My heart swelled just watching her. Her favorite sweet treats this year were M&Ms and Peeps. And she looked beautiful in her pale pink dress. It was a happy Easter this year for our Anna.
Along with all the Easter happiness, my family was saddened by the loss of my brother and another holiday without Scott. I personally have deep memories of Scott the past two Easters and this year without him felt raw and empty. At Easter morning mass, Father Mark reminded us that the fullness of life is in heaven. I have to believe this for Scott. I have to believe that he is well and happy and comforted. While these thoughts are comforting to me, I still struggle with this - maybe mostly because I still can't accept that he is gone. It will take some time, I know. Lately I have been repeating Father Mark's words....the fullness of life is in heaven. The fullness of life is in heaven. And that Scott has found a new, full life with Jesus and with peace.
As I write this blog, I am 30 days away from my due date with Baby Hartsell #2. My feet hurt and I have heartburn and I think my abdomen has completely stretched to its limit! The baby's nursery is 90% ready. My hospital bag is not yet packed. So, while I welcome the end of this pregnancy with the birth of this little one....I still have a few things to do, so we'll hang on a bit more. But I am so anxious to meet this baby and see our new little boy or girl and to start a new chapter in the Hartsell home. How exciting it will be....!
Next, it was off to Chicago for a one-night stay in the big city. We took one last adventure as just the three of us before the baby is born. As Anna calls it, we did some fun "big city livin". We stayed in a hotel downtown, walked the busy city streets, and visited Shedd Aquarium. Anna loves the big city and I am afraid someday she's going to announce as a young adult that she's headed for NYC and leaving her ol' Maw behind in Michigan. :) She loves the big buildings and all the sights to see. We had a fun afternoon visiting Navy Pier. She was wowed by our dinner out at Rainforest Cafe. And she delighted in all things at Shedd Aquarium, as did Brent and I. What a place....fish, sea creatures, dolphins, whales. It was so much fun and Anna is at a very special age for enjoying new experiences.
I will admit that the Chicago trip wore this mama out. We did a lot of walking and being 34 weeks pregnant does not make it easy. I didn't anticipate I would be so tired - or have such swelling and sore feet. But, it was still fun and it was the adventure we were looking for - and we made some really great memories with Anna.
After Chicago, it was on to South Bend for Easter with our families. Anna had so much fun with her grandparents this year. Easter egg coloring and egg hunting with Brent's parents. Easter mass and dinner with my parents. This was her first year coloring eggs and she loved it. She most liked using a paint brush to paint different colors on the eggs. She is quite the little artist! My in-laws hid the eggs outside for her and she hunted them happily and found every last one. She enjoyed her basket from the Easter Bunny and she took probably close to 30 minutes checking out each little toy and gift. She took her time and such care with her basket. It was so sweet and she was so happy. My heart swelled just watching her. Her favorite sweet treats this year were M&Ms and Peeps. And she looked beautiful in her pale pink dress. It was a happy Easter this year for our Anna.
Along with all the Easter happiness, my family was saddened by the loss of my brother and another holiday without Scott. I personally have deep memories of Scott the past two Easters and this year without him felt raw and empty. At Easter morning mass, Father Mark reminded us that the fullness of life is in heaven. I have to believe this for Scott. I have to believe that he is well and happy and comforted. While these thoughts are comforting to me, I still struggle with this - maybe mostly because I still can't accept that he is gone. It will take some time, I know. Lately I have been repeating Father Mark's words....the fullness of life is in heaven. The fullness of life is in heaven. And that Scott has found a new, full life with Jesus and with peace.
As I write this blog, I am 30 days away from my due date with Baby Hartsell #2. My feet hurt and I have heartburn and I think my abdomen has completely stretched to its limit! The baby's nursery is 90% ready. My hospital bag is not yet packed. So, while I welcome the end of this pregnancy with the birth of this little one....I still have a few things to do, so we'll hang on a bit more. But I am so anxious to meet this baby and see our new little boy or girl and to start a new chapter in the Hartsell home. How exciting it will be....!
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