Otis | 1 month old

My son | my boy. I kinda still can't believe I get to say that. Otis Perry, what a sweet addition to our little family you are! It has been the fastest month I've ever known. Less jarring than when Wren was born for sure, but certainly double of everything else. Well...except sleep. 

You sure do prefer to be right near all of your people and though my time and attention is rather finite naturally, your big sister Wren happily dotes on you so sweetly at the ready. She's my little helper and such a genuine fan of you. She has to kiss you goodnight, invites you into her room for bedtime stories, sings and reads to you, constantly declares your cuteness, wants me to tell you all of our stories, laughs hysterically when you pee on me while changing your diaper and is always amazed when she manages to help you to quit crying. 

You are nursing like a champ. It is actually scary to think of my future grocery bill. You are a little difficult to soothe, but we are still learning each other and I promise I'll figure out just how you like things. Thankfully, you do like to be "worn" in our wrap, but it's so darn hot so hopefully we can count on that more when it cools down a bit. You are still rocking your little reddish-brown faux hawk that you were born with, nearly busting out of your newborn clothes already and you never stop wiggling it seems. 

We love you so much, sweet boy! With one now in the books, we can definitely say that our months just got twice as fun and we couldn't be more happy about it.

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Big sister, little brother

I bribed and had to nurse more than once to get these. Hello, new normal. But sure do love these two and my heart already jumps at watching their relationship grow. Siblings sure are something special!

Welcome, Otis Perry!

Otis Perry, our brand new sweet BOY.  What a ride we have been on! 

And now looking back it feels like you have brought with you an extra dose of God's peace, joy and sovereignty. Like God sent it all with you especially, as you were dripping with it when you arrived. Because nothing really went to plan. The day you finally decided to arrive, things were progressing right along just fine and then suddenly turned on a dime - as if to remind us that it has been a long journey full of obstacles [spiritual, mental and physical] and that there might be a few more required of us yet. But as we welcomed all 8 pounds 12 ounces of you into this world on Thursday, July 27th, 2017 at 10:20pm after 18 hours of labor and an unexpected but calm and collected decision to opt for a Cesarean delivery, you helped to keep our gaze steadily upon what is most important. Just like I said I thought you would. 

What a true gift of all gifts that you are! We simply love you so! Wren cannot get enough of you and neither can we. So we are so very glad we get to keep you forever (: Welcome to the Anderson Fam Jam, kid! 

39 weeks | baby bink 2

I wasn't sure we would make it around to taking this picture, but here we are, littlest one. 39 weeks and nearly August. Uncle Zach's birthday is today, so if you wanted to get motivated and make your appearance you'd have yourself a top notch birthday twin. Just saying (:

Regardless, I'm just here trying to rest, get comfortable [somehow, anyhow] and sift through all of the emotions going on. It feels like it has been a long wait for you. In so many ways that is an unfair weight to displace on you because I know there are plenty of emotions tethered to this pregnancy and our journey together so far from the miscarriage we endured before you. I didn't intend for them to be there and have tried not to dwell on them, but now as we near the end of this race I just feel like there must have been a few extra miles that had to be run back there somewhere. I feel exhausted from them, [those displaced emotions] and at the same time that you are the one actually draining me physically as we speak, you are also the one helping to uplift me in ways my heart has very much needed all this time. The hope and expectation of you - the one created and sustained by God that is about to join our little family - is a gift I will savor and never forget. I choose exactly you, sweet babe. I cannot wait to meet you and be your Mama. 

So come whenever you are ready. Our hearts are already full of love for you - it is just our arms waiting now!

37 weeks | baby bink 2

After a little unforeseen hospitalization last week for this oh.so.pregnant mama, we have been officially reset to hunker down, rest up the best we can and play our best waiting game. Of course, we are so thankful that everything settled down, that my OB team has ruled out any big concerns and that we can return to the expectation that things can progress normally and smoothly again from here on out. 

And as if I needed any help in the overly emotional department; I have been sent to new heights! Clingy to Michael, clingy to Wren. They're coping fairly well and have seriously buddied up in a true effort to stay sane I'm sure. But as a true nod to the intricacies of a mother's heart, at the very same time I'm fostering such deep [and surely hormonally fueled] feelings over my current little crew, I'm so very eager to deliver, meet, welcome and love on this new babe. Also, I'm so glad that all of that sweet baby goodness that we've enjoyed as it has come and gone with Wren we soon get to repeat and savor with our new littlest love.

So here's to the gift that we are to behold. I'll wait if I have to, but I cannot wait (:
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35 weeks | baby bink 2

We are getting so close to meeting you, sweet babe, as I expect you'll have a July birthday...although I'm happy to wait until you are good and ready. But to be true to myself, let it be documented that I am officially over being pregnant and oh.so.eager to meet you! 

We have squeezed in trips and days off with Daddy here and there, during which we always smile at Wren asking if "the baby" will be doing this with us soon. Yep, you'll be in tow with us in no time and as we talk her through what that may look like, we just look forward to that so much!

Here's to the weekly OB appointments, back aches, waves of hormones, nursery organization (with big sister Wren as the sweetest little helper) and endless conversations over you that separate us from the moment we become a family of four!