Babies & Friends

A friend from small group at Church recently had a baby girl named Sara. She is beautiful. I got to hold her for a good long time while Mark and I talked to the new first-time parents and got some good tips. We actually have several friends who are or are going to be first-time parents. This newfound support group has been a blessing to me and Mark. And we have been asking lots of questions.

My great friend Mary just had her sweet baby girl last Thursday morning, Margaret Ella (they are calling her Ella). She is so adorable (and she has a full head of honey blond hair). I got to spend some time with the new family at the hospital – and then again this past Sunday. When holding Ella, she rests on my tummy, and our baby boy kicks like crazy. I think he can feel her breathing or something (or he’s just hyper from the fig Newtons I ate). Either way, this is a sweet, sweet time in my life and I feel so lucky to have all these wonderful people (adults and babies) around me, to share in this great joy.

Another sweet thing is that Mark reads books to the baby (thanks to Rhonda, John, and Ethan for giving us Baby Boy Hall’s first Dr. Seuss book and to Auntie Karen for Goodnight Moon and Goodnight Washington, DC). And, I sing to baby boy in the car. I don’t know if he likes it, but I do. I haven’t felt any kicks of protest J.

We love this little guy so much, we can’t help it. I’ve even taken to strolling through the baby gift store at the hospital, looking at their new shipments of baby boy clothes, birth announcements, booties, blankets, etc. Before I know it, this little one in my tummy will be in my arms.....probably drooling and crying, but I don’t care because he’ll be ours.

I have three more close friends who are having babies; two in late April, and one around the same time as me (June 17^th-ish).  Going through pregnancy with friends has been a real blessing – because I have been able to learn pregnancy symptom coping techniques, true labor stories, all about epidurals, newborn baby bottles, breastfeeding techniques, and everything in between.

These days I feel great and husband and I have been planning and getting stuff done. We put our son’s crib up this weekend, and it’s so cute. Everything baby is so cute – even if it’s made out of wood.

The only other thing I am contending with these days is an itchy belly. People may think I’m a monkey before too long (yes, I eat bananas too).

Katherine