About that one on the way...

I feel that I have not adequately mentioned this baby enough in this blog. I have announced the pregnancy and it seems to have been left a mystery from there. So, here is an update:

I am almost 21 weeks now. I feel good. I am not having any more morning sickness and I am enjoying the glorious second trimester. Having two other children while pregnant has been an adventure at times. The winter was hard since it seemed to last longer than normal and I was feeling sick through most of it. That combo created an atmosphere of little productivity and a bit of the winter blues. I am looking forward to the sunnier days of spring and for a little more energy to return.

I am feeling the baby move daily and have even felt a kick from the outside. It will probably be several weeks before Matthew will get a chance to encounter this little one, but I look forward to that once again. My gut is telling me it is a boy, and so far my gut has been 100%. However, I will say that after having both genders, I will be happy either way. We have a boys name picked out and we are nearing a decision on a girl’s name. They will be a secret until the baby is born…as well as the gender. We didn’t find out with Levi and we did with Rachel. After having done it both ways, I like the element of surprise coupled with the surprise of when I will go into labor. For me, there is something magical that is added to the day. I can’t describe it, and I know that even if you know the gender, you are still excited to meet your new little one. However, there is an extra element that can’t be put into words. It is not for everyone, but for us it is an easy decision to wait until the birth to discover the gender.

My life with two children is really becoming comfortable. I enjoy both of them so much! It has been neat to see the differences and the strong similarities that they possess. Levi is so good at being the big brother. He takes his role very seriously. Rachel has learned what pushes his buttons and also how to get his attention. When they are playing some game they made up together I just want to freeze time and watch them for hours. It melts my heart. As she becomes more verbal and capable of pretend play, I anticipate even more games and silliness. I hope that they help each other through the process of welcoming another sibling into the family. Levi is excited about the baby, but Rachel (although clueless) is very jealous of me with any other baby. Hopefully, that will change when it is one that lives with us all the time.

Levi named the baby “Leeka” very early on. He says that Leeka is a girl, but he always refers to her as a him. When I ask him about this he is quick to say that Leeka is a girl. He rarely does this with children he can see. He knows that girls are “her” and boys are “him”. I think maybe he is just covering his bases so that he will be right either way. He includes Baby Leeka in his prayers and talks to my tummy daily. He also loves to give Leeka hugs. I think he will be a great big brother to this baby. He was so young when Rachel came that he seemed ambivalent to her. He never asked when she was going back or seemed to care one way or another. This time, he seems to get a little of what is going to happen. I also wonder if he will still call the baby Leeka when he/she is welcomed into the world.

We plan to do another home birth and I am thanking God for a seamless pregnancy so far. I know my summer will be full of rotund days laying by a pool or in the air conditioning, but what is one summer of your life? Besides, I am an old pro at being prego all summer. I am due Labor Day weekend so I am hoping for some inspiration on or before that holiday. :)