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!

Family babymoon | HHI

What a sweet double-dip of a trip we had to Hilton Head Island this past weekend! We got to see my special long-time friend, Lindsay, get married on the beach (which prompted questions that led to a sweet explanation of marriage to Wren) before dancing the night away in celebration. Then we extended our trip to soak up a bit more memory making as a family of three with some simple beach days.

Basically, we played hard and crashed hard. On repeat. Wren LOVED sleeping in her cozy bunk bed, feeding the turtles near the boardwalk on the way to and from the beach, jumping endless waves and building crab houses in the sand with Daddy. And I got the privilege of at least one more tuckered out beach nap snuggled up with my big girl that will somehow always be my baby.

Of course I had to shamelessly tickle and chase in order to snap a few beach pictures, but I want to help us remember. After all, we know a big transition is coming our way. Wren told everyone that she met (which were plenty because....well, she's quite the social creature) that she is going to be a big sister soon and oh how fun it is to see all of her excitement and anticipation and enjoy how it serves to magnify our own.

We'll see you next time, beach. All four of us!