Don’t you guys just love the look Bunker is giving me here? He is seriously the biggest mess ever, and I’m totally wrapped around his human-hand-sized paw. Cute little guy 🙂
First of all, thank you so much for all of y’alls encouragement. I tried to downplay the panic attack the other day, but I’ve still been feeling it. It’s weird though – a big mixture of overjoyed-excited and panic-stricken, but all in the best way possible. If there’s anything to panic about in a good way I’d say that a baby’s it! We looked at a crib that we’re getting from an amazing friend of ours last night, and just seeing that put everything in perspective a little bit more. I think the fact that we know it’s a boy and we know what/where he’s going to be sleeping is helping to ease the fear a bit.
The funny thing to me is that I’m not afraid of the pain of childbirth…in fact, I think it’s absolutely awesome how something so beautiful (a baby) can come from something so painful as childbirth. My friend Stefanie told me the other day that they don’t call it a curse for nothing, but every single woman I’ve talked to would do it all again in a heartbeat because of the sweet baby on the other side. I don’t love pain but I am so excited to meet our little guy that the pain part just seems miniscule in comparison!
I suppose the scariest part about this whole motherhood thing is actually the taking care of a baby part. The breast feeding, the diaper changing, the scheduling (more on this later, but we definitely have no plans of making our baby the center of the world – although a semi-solid schedule has been proven to help!), the sleepless nights, the dogs getting used to the baby, knowing how to play with a baby, and the worry. Oh the worry! I know better than to worry, but I just can’t help but wonder how to raise a good kid. I’m hoping that a lot a LOT a LOT of love will help us get there…because that’s about the only thing I know how to do for him at this point.
In other news we are 21 weeks today and I’m hoping (please note that I said hoping) to post a few belly photos every now and then. Like I said in Monday’s post I don’t really feel like my belly is that big, but it is a really exciting time and the pregnant body is beautiful…we should celebrate! They may be iPhone photos, but I figure you guys will forgive me for that 🙂
So to end this fun little chat – anyone have ideas on how to to prepare for having a baby? That’s an open-ended question if I’ve ever heard one, but I’m down with any little tidbit you got!
You will be a wonderful mother, Heather! The labor pain? Once the baby is born you will forget all about it. Seriously, you will. Otherwise we would be a world full of only children! I think it is perfectly normal to be freaked out about giving birth and being responsible for another human being, but it will all fall into place once you meet that precious boy! I read lots of books (What To Expect When Your’e Expecting, etc.), and I think that helped alot. I remember thinking “I can’t believe they sent me home with this baby…I have never changed a diaper in my life!”. Trust me, you will figure it all out, and I’m sure you will have the support of friends and family. Oh, and I hate to say this, but your baby boy WILL most definately be the center of your and Nate’s world even if right now you don’t think that will happen! 😉
Oh, you know I feel you on this. Nothing really scares me about pregnancy– not even labor. BUT– the thought that after we get through the next six months, we’ll have a child?!? YIKES!!!
Just remember that despite any fears you have, once that baby is born, you will be so helplessly in love with it and everything will fall into place.
i won’t even hold babies. i can’t imagine HAVING one. scary.
I just saw the best tip on how to get small siblings and pets used to a new baby. Once you have the nursery set up you put a doll in the crib or the swing, or whatever and you when you have a few minutes here or there you check on the “baby” or carry the “baby” or sit on the floor holding the baby… the small kids and/or animals get used to seeing you with something little that is taking a bit of their attention. Not sure if this is a tip a lot of people would do but I thought it was brilliant. 😉
There’s no preparing! 🙂 I’m kidding, but really, you can hear all the advice you want, but none of it really makes sense until you are in the trenches. What you CAN do, however, is get as much sleep as possible now and enjoy this time in your married relationship. It all changes when you become a mother. The changes are all amazing and the best ever, but you do want to savor those last few months of the life you know now.