Then and Now

Lately I have been acutely aware of how much my little girl is growing up. Maybe it is the fact that we are about to have a newborn around again (weird!) but I keep realizing that Reese is getting older and smarter every day and I feel like it is all going so fast. She is terribly excited to be a “big stister” and talks every day about “baby stister” and how she wants to give her a “baba milk” and that she is going to go over to grandma’s house when “baby stister” is born. She often puts her hands on my belly and asks in whispers if the baby is sleeping. I am not as afraid anymore about having a toddler and a newborn because Reese is so much easier these days. I just know she will be a good helper.

For all those who did not hear, I do not have to have a C-section. My placenta finally moved enough by my 36-week appointment that I have been cleared at this point for a normal delivery. I had mixed feelings when I got this news. Part of me was glad to not have the recovery and scars that come with C-sections. The other part of me was a bit disappointed that it will not all be as easy as scheduling a date for the baby to be born and waltzing into the hospital for a quick and relatively easy delivery. However, we would have had the c-section this week if that had been the case, and I am grateful that I still have another 11 days to accomplish a few things considering I am still training my replacement at SmugMug AND designing a wedding album that needs to be ordered before baby girl comes into my life and makes me a sleepless zombie.

Mark has been cracking me up lately with his nervousness about another labor and delivery. He brought up the need for us to pack our hospital bags when I was only 33 weeks along. He also suggested that if I go into labor in the middle of the night, even if It’s not time to go to the hospital, we should wake up Reese and all go over to his parent’’s house because they live so close to the hospital. Hello! We only live 15 minutes from the hospital ourselves and last time I was in labor for 63 hours. I am pretty sure we can make it to the hospital from our house when the time comes, with more than enough time to spare. I love that he is so worried though. It makes me feel cared for and safe.

I am still nervous about giving birth again and the only thing that makes it worth it at this point is to get rid of this discomfort. The only thing that makes giving birth a little more appealing at this point is the knowledge that I won’t have to be pregnant anymore. I am uncomfortable about 90% of the time and the other 10% I am probably asleep and still uncomfortable but don’t know it. Man I can’t wait to not be pregnant anymore!

So in honor of the soon to be “Big Stister” of the house, I have a little photo comparison for you since I seem to be much better at taking photos of my child around this time of year for some reason…

Reese with the bunnies at the pumpkin patch her first Halloween:

Reese at the pumpkin patch with the bunnies last year:

Reese at the pumpkin patch with the chickies (the bunnies were all caged) this year:

Reese on the tractor last year:

Reese on the tractor this year:

Reese with her buddy Luke at the pumpkin patch last year:

Reese with her buddy Luke this year at the pumpkin patch:

Reese at the orchard with Luke last year:

Reese with Luke at the orchard this year:

Can you believe the hair growth on this little one?