Dear Jamie…

A quick baby update for everyone…  We are Due Date + 1 right now.  I go back to the doctor on Wednesday so (like I said last week) unless the contractions grow stronger or my water breaks we will not really know anything else until then.  Oh and yes, I was a tad bit disappointed to be at church yesterday.  I just realized that God really wanted me to hear the sermon.   

Some of you were asking about my track record so far…

• Caleb Davis – Water broke in the middle of the night almost 2 weeks early.  No dilation or anything.  The nurse did not believe me at first and almost sent me home. 
• Nathan James – I walked around at 4 cm. for 2 weeks and nothing happened.  I was induced 1 week early. 
• Emma Lee – Due Date + 2 Days with her.  I had contractions in the middle of the night and went in that morning at 7cm dilated. 

I saw the following letter on a fellow mom’s blog and thought it was so appropriate for me right now.  I have changed it up a tad bit to fit me and our family.  It is just something that I can pull up and read when I am in the thick of all the newborn craziness. 

** Preface – I am really excited about the upcoming weeks but I have to be honest that the whole “newborn stage” is really hard.  I have struggled during this transition time before and so I am trying to mentally prepare for it again.  So this is just a little note – to me from me.  **

Dear Jamie,

This is just a phase.  You will not always feel this way.  You will not always look this way.  Repeat those 3 sentences 5 times and take a deep breath.  Now read on…

Before you know it, your days and nights will be back to normal again.  I know that sleeping for more than 1.5 hours feels like so far away right now, but in the big scheme of things, it really is such a short period of adjustment time. 

Nursing is such a blessing.  I know that you are worn out right now and you feel like certain body parts are on fire but things will settle down.  Just look at those 3 babies that you have now.  You pushed through all this with them and you can do it again. 

Be nice to Josh.  Try not to snap at him or think that everything is his fault.  Remember, you are just tired and when you get up to nurse that sweet baby for the 4th time – and he is laying over there without his body parts burning, leaking, or cramping – just let him rest and do not smother him with a pillow.  You need him to cook breakfast for the other 3 babies in the morning. 

If you are feeling sad with the baby blues, try one of the following… 

These things always tend to make you feel better.

• Call a family member or friend.  You have been blessed with so many and they want to hear from you but they just do not want to call and bother you during this transition time. 
• Organize something.  A drawer, closet, the fridge – anything! 
• Step outside for a walk.  The kids will be a lot quieter outside and sunshine is good for you.
• Do NOT go shopping.  This kind of retail therapy will only backfire when you are still carrying around that extra baby weight.
• Do NOT eat away the baby blues.  This is only a very temporary fix and will not result in good things later on.  Besides you ate enough junk food during your pregnancy to sustain you the rest of your life.
• Do NOT make any changes to your hair.  Getting your eyebrows waxed is ok but nothing but a trim for those locks. 
• Do NOT stress when the house is a mess or things are not done “exactly” like you do them.  You will be back on your feet soon and those towels and socks will be categorized exactly like you want them in no time. 

Remember to just hang in there.  This too shall pass and before you know it, you will be going through your photos – getting ready for a blog post or new scrapbook page – and you will see those pictures of your precious newborn baby.  He/She will look so unbelievable tiny and sweet.  You will wish so badly that they could be that small again.  This is only for a few days.  So smell those cheeks – caress those tiny feet – and enjoy those precious 1st weeks with your newborn. 

Please remember the following when you are tired, hurting from nursing, the baby is fussy, and the house is a disaster.  Try to enjoy every precious minute with that newborn baby.
Love,