So, aside from feeling excited and anxious (as detailed below), I’ve also felt a little sad and nostalgic these past few days. It’s because of Zoe, who has been my one and only baby for these past 2.5+ years. If I’m being completely honest, the thought of cradling and caring for another, non-Zoe baby makes me a little sad – as does shaking up our happy little three-person family. I know Zoe is excited about being a big sister, and I know that a sibling is probably (cliche alert!) the best gift we will ever give her – but I can’t stop but feel a little bad that she’ll soon have to share our attention/love with someone else.

A friend with two little girls recently told me that after the second arrived it became impossible to imagine life without her; he said he could no longer remember what things were like as a family of three. The words were meant to be comforting, and they were to a certain extent – but the sentimental girl in me doesn’t want to forget what we have right now. And so this week, I’ve found myself trying to soak in all these pre-baby moments with Zoe – giving her extra tight squeezes and doing lots of one-on-one activities.

I’ve been assured that parents love their second baby as much as the first (which is comforting considering I’m a second child myself!), and I believe that this is true. But at least for this moment in time, I can’t imagine not always maintaining an extra soft spot in my heart for little Z.

-M

As Q previously mentioned, my doctor established an induction date for me at my last appointment. Though a scheduled labor was something we had discussed and planned for months ago, I was still somewhat blown away when an actual, official date was presented to me. (I felt almost as excited as when I first discovered I was pregnant!) I know, intellectually, that labor is inevitable at this point (schedule or not) – but knowing when it’s going to begin and (about) when the baby is going to arrive just makes things feel so much more real. (There’s no turning back now!) I feel more in control but also more anxious; as I’ve crept closer to the Big Day, I’ve sometimes had difficulty sleeping because I’m so excited/nervous/freaked. It’s like how you might feel before a really important, exciting trip – or before your wedding day.

No matter what happens, as long as I make it to Friday, I expect my labor experience to be quite different than the first time around. But as long as the outcome (a happy, healthy baby) is the same, I think I’ll be fine!

-M