Holy belly, batman

This photo was taken about a week and a half ago, so I was 30 weeks.  This friday I will be 32 weeks.  Seriously, 32 WEEKS!

I actually think I am ready now for this little guy to get here. Not because the nursery is ready (because it really isn't) or we have all the baby things we need but because I KNOW.  I know what the newborn stage is like, I am not scared or anxious, I am just ready to start the love.  And sleepless nights. And the little coos.  Bring it on.

Also, I must confess, I am a bit uncomfortable.  I have to sit in a quite un-ladylike position to allow the belly to fall to where it wants to go thus allowing me to breathe a little easier. I feel so grateful to be carrying a new life, something that we created, but darn it all, let's do this!

My OB said I will probably go early like with Anna (she was 8 days early) and that labor will actually go by quicker (about 10 hours with Anna).  So in a couple weeks, that bag will be packed, car seat installed and soon...very soon, we will be a family of four.

Hug your babies

One of John's clients is fighting for their little girls' life right now.  She is only 5 years old.

They spoke to John about a week and a half ago having to cancel a meeting saying they were concerned about their daughter because all of a sudden she was having difficulty walking.  John strongly encouraged them to immediately take her to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and even called a neurologist friend to meet them for evaluation.

The diagnosis couldn't have been worse.  She has a brain tumor.  So, they operated this past Monday and even worse news.  Stage 4 neuroblastoma.  They were able to remove a portion of the mass but still give a 3 month to 2 year survival rate.  Insult to injury, she has developed spinal meningitis so they will have to wait 10 days to start radiation and chemotherapy.

They have 4 other children, one who turned 3 yesterday and a new grandbaby who arrived yesterday as well but couldn't really celebrate either event.

I can't imagine what they are going through.  My southern instinct is to start cooking, send flowers and deliver all the Disney Princess items this little girl could ever hope for.  Has anyone helped anyone through this?  What can we do??

So over the past couple days, we hug Anna tighter, tell this little guy how much we love him even more and hope and pray that our family or anyone else we know never has to go through this.

When your baby looks at you like this...you know you would go to the ends of the earth to fix anything.

My 17 month old

Surely all mom's are obsessed with picture taking and telling everyone all about their children, right?  Here's hoping because I don't feel I am going to stop anytime soon. This month has flown by and Anna has continued to grow, learn and explore all around her. 

Some highlights:
New favorite book: Owl Babies...we can read this at least 5 times in a row.  And she will say, "Mommy, mommy, mommy!" and rock back and forth every time I get to that part.  Hence, why I can read it 5 times in a row.

Dancing/Singing machine: Seriously, the girl sings ALL the time and will dance at the slightest sound of music.  I LOVE this.  A girl after her mother.  Let's just hope she inherits her dad's singing voice and not mine. 

Pictures are from our trip to the park.  She LOVES the slide and has NO fear.  She will climb up and just push her way down...weeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

My role.

Yesterday I celebrated my art class business, Art by the Glass, being open for one year.  I still can't even really wrap my head around this.  It seems like I just had the conversation with John and BOOM, the first class was scheduled and people ACTUALLY signed up!  It feels really good to know that my business, that I started, is actually succeeding.  Or at least, still up and running.

While celebrating this, I got to thinking about the roles that I play in my life.

Art Teacher
Business owner
Graphic Designer
Wife
Mom

I sometimes feel like I don't do any of these well enough to even have them be a role in my life and other days I find harmony with all of them.  It makes me wonder how these roles will change.

Come May, I get to focus on only one of these.  Mom.  And you know, I am really looking forward to that. I get to focus all my attention, love, sweat, tears, ambition, drive and more love to a sweet little boy and a growing little girl. How will my other roles fair during this time?  Hopefully they will sustain and if not, I will build them back when I am ready.

I am lucky.  I am lucky that I get to concentrate on just one thing for a couple months.

Just one.

Just one photo.  Just because.

Because I have the most beautiful daughter in the world.