Tired of Perspective Posts?

I know, I know. I gets sickening reading about seeing the world from a different point of view, right? Well, now all I can say is that our family is really on the brink of a whole new day!

Beck is in the middle of all the "false" labor pains that begin in earnest in the last month of pregnancy. There have been several times in the last two weeks that she was unable to stand, needed to lay down, or just plain needed some sleep. With Charlie, we had already been to the doctor twice for these "false" pains, but with Will we feel like we're more experienced to handle it. Ha. I say "we". All I do is run for water, run Charlie out for a ride to the park, or bring home a Chocolate Cream Pie for my suffering wife. I swear, it's her favorite, not mine!

So here we are. Probably less than 3 weeks away from Little Will coming home to meet his big sister. It's an exciting time, even if every stranger we see with two kids when we're out and about tells us how hard it is with two babies. Why do people do that? They have to know how anxious parents are when they're about to add to their family? That's a whole other post in itself.

Anyway. Stay tuned. We're coming down the stretch run here, and it certainly appears as if Will is intent on being a 4th of July baby (just like his cousin Hope)!

Tick, Tick, Tick

Time is ticking away. Beck is 35 weeks along now with Baby Will, and Charlie is becoming more and more a "big girl" with each week that passes.

It seems like we've been so busy balancing our life over the last 19 months that we've lost complete control over time. Beck came home last night and was in real discomfort. Lots of Braxton-Hicks going on. I mean LOTS. She stayed at work too long. Even on a "shortened" day of 6 hours. Beck, my super tough wife, just said "I just need to lay down for a while." Then Charlie woke up at 9:30, throwing up. She's had a stomach flu that she's struggling with.

I ran in to her room to help her, took the majority of her vomit all over my shoulders and chest, and walked into our bedroom. There was Beck, Braxton-Hicks and everything, reaching to take Charlie from me to help clean her up. You see, I can't keep her instincts from kicking in and taking over, even though she probably felt just as bad as Charlie.

So now this morning, as the 36th week of Beck's pregnancy begins, we realized this could now happen at any moment. What was a frightening thought 19 months ago, is now just an ordinary planning realization. It's amazing how time (and experience) changes your perspective.

My wife is doing a little better today, after some rest and relaxation this morning. Charlie also seems to be doing much better. She's eating normally again, and has been playing all day.

Stay tuned... It's about to get exciting this month!

The difference time can make

We went to see Jennifer from "That's My Baby" last Thursday. If you followed Charlie's story to her birth, you'll remember how thrilling the experience was for me. The 3-D sonogram really gives an unbelievable view into the womb, and for me it was a real bonding moment for me with my unborn daughter. You know, Mommy gets to feel all the kicks and elbows and hiccups, while Daddy just sits on the outside.

The funny thing about Beck's pregnancy with Will is that things are just flying by. As I write this, Beck is 32 weeks pregnant and it seems like it's only been a couple of months. Instead, it will only BE a couple of months before Will arrives.

Our sonogram was good, although it was a microcosm of the entire pregnancy: Charlie took center stage the whole time; snuggling with Mommy on the bed most of the time. She even helped the nurse to wipe away the jelly from her belly with the towel.

It seems we've been so busy watching Charlie grow up, that we've nearly missed Beck's entire pregnancy with little Will. I really can't believe that in just another few weeks, we're going to have another tiny little one around.

My worries have changed too. No longer do I lose sleep wondering if I'll be a good father. Now it's worry over making sure I can be enough of a good Dad for BOTH of them. I mean, I have this unbelievable love for Charlie. Something I can't put into words, but I'm certain everyone with children understands. My "fear" I guess is being able to give the same amount of affection to Will without giving less to Charlie.

I just can't imagine being able to love another baby as much I as do Charlie. People have told numerous things on that front, but one in particular sticks in my mind most. My buddy said, "listen, it's not like you just have one bank account and you have to spread the money around to everyone. You just open ANOTHER account, and the balance is unlimited in both." I'm not sure if it makes sense to anyone else, but it sure comforts me when I freak out every once in a while wondering how in the world I'll do it.

Things are just moving along so fast. Charlie is on her 4th day sleeping in her big-girl bed, with ZERO problem, and the nursery is now officially Will's room.

It's amazing how the pace of time seems to quicken with each year that passes!