we're getting close...

We are just a few weeks away from meeting our baby boy. From seeing his little face, holding his squishy self in my arms, and staring into his eyes for the first time ever. In just a few weeks I won't have to wonder what he looks like. I will know what color eyes he has, what color hair. We will know if he has my nose or his daddy's dimples (please let him have his dimples!!).  In just a few more weeks T.J. and I will become parents and we will be forever mom and dad to the little guy who's been growing in my belly for the past nine months. And I am feeling all the things.

Even though I've seen my belly grow (and grow), and I've felt the glorious kicks and rolls, and heard his strong heartbeat, it still makes me catch my breath that an actual baby, my own baby, will be joining our family. I mean I knew I wasn't going to be pregnant forever but it's just so huge!  Is there anything bigger, or more life changing?

I am so excited. I am so incredibly over the moon excited. That is the overwhelming emotion,  joyful anticipation. I have been so blessed to have had an easy pregnancy. Yes, I was a little queasy and emotional (and terrified something was going to go wrong) during the first trimester but for the most part I have felt really great. I have loved being pregnant, it is more than I hoped it would be, all that I wanted. I know how lucky I am.

And maybe this is my first-time-mom naivete speaking, but I am truly excited to experience labor and to give birth. I can't wait for that day to come, to see what my body is capable of and to surrender it to the Lord's design and bring our son into the world. What a magnificent privilege and what an amazing day that will be.

Now all that is to say, my only real hesitation as my due date gets closer and closer is that everything is going to change. Duh. And while I honestly believe those changes will bring us the most incredible, sweetest parts of life, I am feeling a little sentimental about leaving behind this current season. This season of being newlyweds, just me and T.J. (and Hunley), building a life together, learning how to be married, figuring out how to be partners.

I feel a bit of desperation to do as many things together before the baby arrives. More date nights, more cuddling on the couch, more games of ping pong in the garage, more hand holding, more dreaming about the future together before the future comes screaming into the hospital room.

Yes, lets get tickets to the Mariners game.  Yes, lets get our own inner-tubes and float the river next weekend. Yes, lets book a last minute getaway to the coast.  Yes, lets sleep in 'til 10 and get donuts and watch Netflix all day.

It's not that I don't think all those things will be possible (except maybe the sleeping 'til 10 part), and most likely even more fun with our baby. I just know we'll be a bit distracted in the early days and weeks with a newborn as we try to figure out our new normal and we adjust to this new layer in our identities. But there is no one else I'd rather be starting this lifelong adventure with than him. So I'm storing up and savoring all the moments of being simply T.J. and Shannon, husband and wife, right now, before we become three.

Comments

  1. You're exactly right--those things are more fun with the baby around!! Especiallyyyy when they're a newborn and sleep like 22 hours a day, my husband and I LOVED going out to dinner and stuff! So excited for you!

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    1. I'm so glad to hear you got out and about with your first. I'm so excited for him to get here!! I can't wait to show him off ;)

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  2. What an exciting time! I can't wait to see pictures.

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  3. It's a new and different adventure, but the best one you'll ever have. Can't wait to watch you be a momma xo

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  4. I love your excitement!
    I have 1 word for you: Showers. Enjoy your showers...and baths while you still can!
    Praying you have a wonderful delivery!

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  5. Pregnancy, especially the final few weeks, are such an exciting and anxious time. Definitely feeling all the emotions! :) Prayers for a healthy delivery and healthy baby! (Found you via another blogger I read and wanted to stop by and say hi. I just had a baby boy recently and while there are a lot of changes, the newborn snuggles are the best ever.)

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  6. Congratulations! This is very exciting and I hope you enjoy being a mother. It really is the greatest thing ever!

    Polly
    http://gemsandjoy.com

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  7. Since our daughters are adopted (as brand new newborns straight from the delivery room) I didn't have to recover from labor, however life just moved right along and we still did many of the same things as before - we just brought our baby in tow with us and it was perfection. With or first we didn't have much of a schedule for her, we let her sleep and eat whenever she pleased and she was a very complacent and go with the flow easily turned Happy type of girl. Our second daughter got a bit more of a defined schedule as our first formed some regularity with her naps and I wanted them both to be on a similar schedule- thankfully she obliges most of the time. It's a little bit more crazy with two but they both go with us everywhere and at this stage in our life (a 4 year old and 1 year old) I don't miss the date nights because I just love being a Mama and having our girls in our lives.

    We actually adopted them both from Spokane and they were born at different hospitals so I'm curious where you are planning to deliver!

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  8. I am so looking forward to seeing your precious new son!!

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  9. I just had my little one 2 months ago and being a mom is the best feeling ever! This is definitely the most exciting times, try to squeeze in as much sleep as possible before your baby boy is here. Congrats!!

    xx, Kusum | www.sveeteskapes.com

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  10. This is such a beautiful post, Shannon. I am excited right along with you and your mama. I can't wait to hear the birth announcement.

    What you said there toward the end of your post, about this time with your husband before the baby is born, I went through that, too. It was almost a desperation to "do the things" because things would be different after our son was born. And, they were, very different. But, you know what? Once your son is born, you'll be so overwhelmed by the awesomeness that the two of you created this beautiful child together along with Heavenly Father that the other things you thought you'd miss kind of blend into the past. You will get to a point sometime down the road that you can't really remember life before you became three. For me, it is like I have always been a mama. It is like our son has always been with us. It is a beautiful thing, this blending of the then and the now. What a blessing you're about to embark on!

    I hope that makes sense. I sometimes feel way more than I can sensibly write. :)

    You, your husband, and your son are all in my prayers for the wonderful adventure that lies ahead.

    Have a blessed day.

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