A Day in the Life: The Difference Between the First and Second

I'm still here! Visitors, a new job and lack of real motivation to blog kept me away. But would you believe people were checking up on me to see if I was okay because I hadn't been blogging?

Here are a few things we have been up to:
*I have started a new part time job at our church as the Children's Director.
*Bella started ballet.
*My brother came to visit in August as well as some friends of ours who live in Scotland. Even though I wasn't that far along, and probably no one else cares, they are the first people who have seen me pregnant both times! Jonathan came and visited us in Edinburgh when I was 6 months pregnant. And obviously I saw Stephen and Suzanne all the time. They also came and visited Bella after she was born. It made me happy anyway!
*Bella turned 3 this week! My mom came and visited in honor of this occasion.

When I was pregnant with Bella, my good friend Lori gave me the suggestion of starting a journal for Bella to be given to her at some point, maybe high school graduation. And I did! There are a few entries from my pregnancy, and then years 1,2 and 3.
Now, as I am becoming a second time mom, there are the vows that you take that you will do everything the same for the second as you did for the first. I took that vow, but then quickly realized how different things are going to be. It didn't occur to me that I now need a SECOND journal for the baby until I decided to write an entry in Bella's journal! Of course the baby's feelings can't be too hurt since I still have time to start one, and it's not even born yet, BUT it looks like things are going to be a little different the second time around. We are still very excited to have a new baby to love, and to watch Bella become a big sister.

Each week I get an e-mail from Baby Center complete with 3D scans and drawings of what the baby looks like. Bella faithfully asks each week to see the baby. She knows all about umbilical cords and growth and development. She can't wait to feel the baby kick. We have started a countdown calendar for February, so she can see how much longer she will need to wait. We'll keep it exciting for her as long as it lasts!

I have an u/s and a follow-up appointment two different days this week (long story). So we hope to find out if this is a brother or a sister and if everything is healthy. The biggest concern is about the baby's health- we'll take either a boy or a girl! But we are excited to find out!

Uncle Jonathan comes for a visit