Entering the Season of Parenthood (36 weeks)

I believe I will never forget Septemeber 2010. So much exciting stuff happening! And amazing memories being created right before my eyes.

I believe you've all heard by now about my experience with Machelle's birth of her baby boy. I will post a separate entry about that story so this isn't a terribly long post. :)

So, Wednesday, September 8th, Machelle's baby Josiah is born. And then this week, Septemeber 17th (at 3:00 in the morning!), Bethany's baby girl, Claire, is born! (Woo! My baby's awake now. He/she is moving and making some waves on my belly.) Bethany did really well with her labor and delivery. I heard she only pushed for about 15 minutes! Precious Claire is only 5 lbs :) So that may have made her delivery quick.

I got the text at 4am about her birth. I really hadn't been sleeping much anyway. I was so anxious for the text! Plus I had to get up to pee every hour or had a leg cramp or was hot or something. Oh, I think I heard dogs (coyotes?) barking throughout the night as well.

Then yesterday morning I really wanted to meet Claire as soon as I could! I just like to meet babies, especially my sister's child, as close to birth as possible. BUUUTTTTT.... I had to go to work. (BLEH!) I was crying on my way to work because I was so bummed I couldn't see her before I started my day. I did drop by some balloons and a rose. Oh, a birthday cupcake, too. :)

Claire Jeanette, several hours old

 

 

Claire and Mommy

Auntie and cousin, Grandma, and Mommy

Grandpa R. and Happy New Daddy

Uncle Josh (He looks so natural and comfortable holding her! Can't wait til he's a daddy, too)

Anyway, I took a lunch break and got to meet my niece! The moment I walked into room 720 at St. Mary's hospital, the waterworks came. I couldn't hold it back at all! I AM emotional and pregnant, but I'm just so amazed that my wonderful sister has her own bundle of joy. That my parents are now called Grandma and Grandpa R.
It's Life changing before my eyes, really.
We are both entering the season of parenthood. The season I've, er, we've been dreaming about for years. I still remember when Bethany and I would play dolls.... One time, about when I was 10 and Bethany was 8, we had "babies" that were invisible. We didn't even have dolls.... for like two days straight, in real time, we took care of the babies as if they were there. I remember I had twins, Brandy and Andy. I can't remember Bethany's names for hers :)
But little Claire... she's not a doll...she's not imaginary. She's a tiny human being. And Bethany and Jarrod have been appointed by the Lord to care for and nurture her and to teach her about life.

And Josh and I are next.

And I CAN'T WAIT! And these next few weeks (the hard part is not knowing... is Baby Weaver coming next week? Or the last day in September? Or 10/10/2010??) are going to be a huge test of my patience. It's extremely hard now, especially since one of my best friends and sister have had their children. And my other good friend Andrea in Colorado Springs, who is planning a homebirth, could come any day. I just just stared at my tummy last night before bed for a while and kept thinking, "Baby, can you come out soon? I want to hold you." I am only 36 weeks at this point, but next week, 37! And that's when you're in the clear. And my midwife said yesterday that if I go into labor at any point now, she wouldn't stop it.

But, just as with Josiah and Claire, Elynna/Corban has the perfect birthday picked out for her/him by a Heavenly Father. And just like conceiving a child, this is another thing that I can't MAKE happen. (Yay for faith and trust!) So, just like those couple weeks before I could pee on a stick were the looooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggggest 2 weeks ever that felt like 2 years, I'm back at that place again.

I'm trying to focus on living in the moment. And trying to enjoy these last moments with my wonderful husband as just the two of us. Time is but a vapor. And despite how many years these next few weeks feel like, each day, hour, moment is a gift given from above and I can't wish it all away too fast.

But I'm ready to be a mommy.
Come, Baby, come.