I was just was sitting in baby boy’s room, going through some clothes when I got to thinking–I can’t believe I’m going to do the whole baby thing again. I can’t wait to experience all the “firsts” that come with watching a baby grow up. First bath, first coos, first foods, first crawls, first steps, first words and all that follows. Don’t get me wrong, I am terrified. The unknown is a scary place, but our whole lives are a bunch of unknowns and I can’t live my life being scared of what the future holds. I have a faith, that gives me peace about life and all the things to come.

I’ve been praying a lot lately about the first few months with a newborn, and especially about the transition from one to two. I also pray for Rylie and how she is going to handle it. Having been through the newborn stage before, it is rough. Sleepless nights, mommy’s hormones are out of control, and I’m sure it’s a lot harder having a toddler to take care of on top of it all. So every night I’ve been asking God to keep me strong, to keep my family strong and keep us all healthy and safe. It’s one of the best things I can do to prepare for the next chapter in our lives.

What also helps me stay positive is thinking about all the “firsts” that this baby boy will have. There are so many things that bring me joy in watching Rylie grow up, that all those “bad” memories fade away. I love reading her baby book and remembering the first time we fed her rice cereal. She loved it, which knowing her now, makes a lot of sense. Also, her first steps and how proud I was. And the coolest thing about all of this is I get to do it all over again. I get to experience my baby boys first bath, cry with him when he gets his first “boo-boo”, and one of the sweetest things will be watching him and his big sister interact for the first time.

Having a brand new baby can be tough, but it is so rewarding. Those hard moments are just a snapshot in the big picture of life. One day I will be sending my last child off to college thinking “where has the time gone?” I want to cherish every moment–the spit up filled, temper-tantrum crazed, sleepless nights and not wish away time. It will be hard, but I have a God who will help me get through it, who will lift me up in the times of need, and I have loving family and friends who will support me and listen when I need a shoulder to lean on. I am blessed beyond comprehension and I couldn’t be more grateful.