Sunday, June 24, 2012

For my son, Isaac and future son, Eli

I’m now just over a week away from meeting my second son, Eli. I’m up at 3:30am and experiencing another night of sleeplessness. In pregnancy, it’s something I’m all too familiar with. About an hour ago, I came across a beautiful rendition of Bob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love” by the incomparable Adele.



Music has always been a huge part of my life. I’m proud to say I come from a musically inclined family. My maternal grandparents have shaped and encouraged my love for music. I’m enlivened by an innate passion to sing and to reflect on my life when the perfect melody meets the directness of heart-wrenching lyrics.

I found THE perfect song to someday sing to my son, Isaac and future son, Eli. This will be the anthem commemorating how I strive to be for them. I can safely say no other ballad has touched me the way this cover has. I think it’s the ultimate love song.

With great ambition, I want to be the very best God-fearing woman and mother for my sons in every way possible. I pray my efforts somehow empower them to never settle for anything less than the beautiful men God has created them to be.

“I could make you happy
Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends
Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love,
To make you feel my love”


But above all else, I’m hoping it clearly explains their mother’s unconditional love.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Let the countdown begin!

I’m in my final four weeks of pregnancy with Baby Eli. I’m scheduled for a C-section delivery on July 2 but am praying that Eli will be delivered the vaginal way. Call me crazy, but I would love to experience my water breaking and the torment of laboring for hours. My mom says I’m not missing out on much. But I’ll take 17 hours of labor over the intense weeks of recovery from a C-section surgery…bleh!

So far, I’ve gained roughly 31-34 lbs. The scale says something different every morning when I weigh myself after I get out of bed and before I put anything into my enormous stomach. My belly is SO huge these days, and I can’t seem to get myself to take pictures now that I’m so far along in my pregnancy. I am HUGE and no angle is flattering. But I feel guilty that Eli doesn’t have baby bump pictures to look back on. Hopefully I will come to my senses and will take some pictures before we all meet the little guy.

In about two weeks, I’ve been encouraged to take a last chance sonogram to see just how big this baby boy is. I was told if he’s anywhere below 8 pounds, I have a greater chance of delivery vaginally. If he’s anywhere over 8 pounds, the safe and smart route would be surgery. Isaac weighed almost 9 pounds at birth. It would be a shock to us all if Eli weighed less than that.

For those of you who read this blog, I ask you to please keep our family, Baby Eli, and myself in your prayers. We’re in the home stretch and although I’m more uncomfortable than ever, I’m so anxious to hold this baby in my arms and witness Isaac’s first reaction to his little baby brother. Thanks, everyone!