I Really Wanted To Have A Baby Today

I have this weird obsession with numbers and order and patterns.

Like I said, it is weird.

When I learned my due date was 11-18-11 I was secretly (or not so secretly) excited about the possibility of having an 11-11-11 baby.

Well, we all know that didn't happen, but I must say, snuggling my sweet 2 week (!!!) old is so much better than a birthday made up of ones (although it still would have been cool).

I can't believe we are already a day into week three of our little Eliza bug being in our home.

It seems surreal to think that if things had gone according to "plan" that we would be spending the long weekend making our final preparations for my scheduled c-section on Monday and soaking up our final hours as a family of three.

Instead we spent the morning out to breakfast with two little girls in tow (one who behaves much better than the other, I might add) and will probably spend the majority of the weekend relaxing, snuggling, and napping.

Life is a crazy, beautiful ride.

I am truly amazed at how well the transition to having two kids has gone.

Granted we have had so much help from family during Nana J's visit as well as from our amazing Ohio ward and school friends.

Someone has brought us dinner nearly every night this week, plus multiple friends have entertained Stella for a few hours on a couple of days.

Ryan has also had a lighter schedule this week, which seems fair after the craziness of his last two weeks, although instead of relaxing he is busy entertaining Stella, doing things around the house, and taking his turn changing one of the millions of diapers Miss E is burning through.  Totally forgot how many times you change those little bums!
So maybe the true reality of having multiple children just hasn't hit our home?!

 

 

While all the service and extra help has been a huge factor, I am also attributing part of the smooth transition and unusual calmness I am feeling to the Temple.

During the month of October the members of our Stake were challenged to attend the temple a total of 5 times between General Conference and our Stake Conference, which was held last weekend.

Although this challenge seemed very overwhelming and nearly unachievable during what was already a crazy, busy month for our family Ryan and I both felt it was very important that we try our best to meet the goal set by our church leaders.

And I am happy to say that with lots of advanced planning and babysitting swaps with friends we were able to meet that goal.

True, Ryan and I were only able to attend one session together as he had to fit five sessions into two weeks because of his rotations for school, but we did it.

I attended my final session Wednesday morning the 26th, and Eliza was born the next night.

 

 

Now don't go thinking we are awesome about going to the Temple.

We aren't. 
And this little exercise showed me how far I have to go in making Temple attendance a priority in my life.

But as a family we knew that we were at a point in our lives when a little extra spiritual direction would be welcome.

School stresses, welcoming a new baby into our home, and the impending job search were all weighing on our minds and a little peace and calm was a welcoming thought.

And I can honestly say that the peace has come.

I feel so much joy about being a mom to my two sweethearts.

I have been able to throw the stress of schedules and the fears of spoiling out the window this time around and just enjoy the fleeting moments of newness that surround my sweet Eliza.

Stella's demeanor has been loving and welcoming to her new little sister and while moments of jealousy have surfaced on occasion they have been very few and far between.
I don't feel the need to spend nap times doing dishes or sorting laundry, but instead enjoy cuddling with a sleepy newborn or taking advantage of a nap myself.
Plus my physical and emotional recovery seem to be going so much better this time around making the little challenges like two children wanting to eat at the exact same time or nights spent waking up to feed the little one every two hours on the dot just a little more bearable.
I am definitely running on a new baby high right now, but I am loving every minute.