Ready For Baby Ethan?

Before I answer that question, I want to thank my very talented friend Becky for the beautiful photos I've posted on here. When we booked Becky back in October for our family photo shoot, we booked her ahead of time to do a more maternity-focused photo shoot in January too. As always, Becky did not disappoint!



Yesterday we went up to Bobcat Ridge and had such a great time taking pictures with her. She's so fun to work with! Becky sent me just a few pictures as a "sneak peek" last night and I already LOVE what I've seen. I can't wait to see the rest! I just posted a few of my favorite pictures on here.

I also want to thank my friend Lindsay for making the adorable blue booties that you see in the first picture for Ethan. I can't wait to put them on his little feet. :)

I'm 30 weeks along now! Yikes- that makes meeting Ethan feel so close. As I get closer to my due date, I'm beginning to hear the "are we ready" question more and more. The answer is very much yes! and also very much no. I'll explain.

YES!- I can't wait to meet my son, to see what he looks like and to learn who he is and who God has called him to be. I can't wait to see the ways that he'll be like Elliana and in what ways he'll be different.



My body is certainly ready. I definitely feel (and look) VERY large lately. I can feel the weight taking it's toll on my body and I'm much slower to do just about anything these days. My back hurts, my hips hurt, my pelvic bone hurts, etc. I feel like a bad mom since I'm not able to be as active and run around and play with Elliana. In fact, some days I can barely handle her physically.



I love the newborn stage, at least when it's a happy baby (Elliana was almost colicky and cried a LOT! I did not enjoy that.) BUT I love the smell of newborns, their tiny fingers and toes, holding them while they sleep, and just soaking them in. I can't wait to do all of these things again with Ethan.

NO!- I still feel that we have SO much to do before Ethan arrives. We have to:
Move Ellie to a "big girl" twin bed, get the basement ready to move our office to the basement, move our office (this means guest bed, computer, computer desk, shelves, etc.), set up the crib for Ethan, get all of the "baby stuff" out again, have a shower, organize clothes, etc. etc. Whew! Lots to do!

Elliana's sleeping habits have spoiled me. She's been a good sleeper ever since about 6 months. She rarely wakes in the night unless she's sick or something else is wrong. I'm so not ready to go back to sleepless nights. Especially since I won't be able to sleep when the baby sleeps this time around.



I'm just overall anxious about the idea of juggling two kids. I've heard that the transition from one to two kids is the most difficult. I've heard people say that it doesn't double the work, it triples it! Yikes! These are the thoughts that run through my head: How will I meet both of their needs? How will I give both of them the love and attention they deserve? How will I ever sleep? How will I do all of this and be a good wife to Caleb?



I know that it's all in God's hands though and he will give me the strength, the patience, and the love I need. I'm not the first or the last mom to have a second child (or third or fourth).

I'm just hoping and praying now that God will give me the strength and the energy to carry Ethan as long as I need to so that he will be healthy, and that until that point I can cherish these last few weeks with Elliana as my only child.

I will post an update of my pregnancy stats after my Dr.'s appointment next week.