The Final Countdown...

These past 9 months have flown by. My pregnancy with Grace went a lot slower. I was just so busy this time around, I haven't even gotten a chance to get ready for Manny to come! I just graduated from nursing school, we just bought a house, and I am working nights. Busy BUSY! But I only have three weeks to go! INSANE! We close on our house on May 29th, and Manny is due on June 2nd. I wonder if he will wait?
These last days really makes me think about the fact that it won't be just us three anymore. Grace won't be the only child! She is centered around everything in my life. She is my first and last thought of every day. She is why I work so hard. She is my everything! And it's about to change. I know I will love Manny just as much as I love Grace, but it's hard to imagine I could love something else as much as I love her. She is such a joy. Yesterday, we were laying down to take a nap. I had just passed nursing school. We were nose to nose and she threw her little arm around my neck and said "Good job Mommy!". She melts my heart! I have struggled these past few months, wondering if I am the Mom she deserves. With school and working nights, I feel like I am absent Mommy. I just hope she knows that I do all this for her. I hope she doesn't remember the days that I had to sleep, or study. I try to take advantage of every moment I have with her.
Everything is about to change. I'm becoming a nurse. A mother of two. And a homeowner! Oh...and I can't forget about my new mini-van! Love it!
I can't wait to make our new house a home. Our very own space. So much to celebrate and even more to be thankful for.

IT'S A BOY!

20 weeks couldn't have come soon enough! I absolutley couldn't wait to know what we were having! I honestly thought we would be welcoming another girl. But BOY OH BOY! And I am so happy. Especially for Mark. The week before we found out, Mark was having a tea party with Grace. He told me it was a lot of fun, but he was really hoping for a boy to play with too! Our gender reveal party was exciting and completely hilarious. I tricked everyone into thinking we were having twins. In the moment of shock, no one even noticed the blue silly string that was being sprayed everywhere! I think my dad is still confused! It was hilarious!
Grace wanted a boy all along. Whenever anyone asked her what she wanted, she would say "Brother!". (It could have been all the coaching from dad!)
I'm starting to feel the affects of my growing belly. I think I need to retire my non-maternity pants because they are pressing ever too tightly on my stomach. And my back is starting to ache.
I've been trying to be better this time around with exercising. I want to stay active and I do NOT want to gain as much weight as I did last time around.
I'm also starting to feel my little boy kick. The ultrasound tech told me that my placenta is tipped a bit forward, so feeling the baby move may not be as easy. I think I felt Grace a lot sooner than I felt this one.
Sometimes the hustle and bustle of nursing school keeps my mind off of this pregnancy, so I have to remind myself to take a moment to enjoy my growing baby. This will most likely be the last, so I want to cherish every moment. I also want to cherish every last moment with Grace. We only have 4 more short months with just the three of us! That brings me to tears when I think about it. But I know this baby will only make our little family even closer.