#2 - What will he look like?!

I can't wait to find out what this little guy looks like!! I can only picture Isaac in my head, so I wonder what our combination of genes will produce this time around. Walt and his siblings all have strong resemblance. It's very easy to tell they're siblings. Mine not so much. What do you look like, little guy?

#3 - Up for a challenge

I'm looking forward to the challenge of managing two young boys. Everyone tells me that the first 6-12 months are really hard, and then it is great because they can play with each other. I'm a little nervous but also excited to figure out how to enjoy it and make it work for us. Growing up I really liked having a plan and sticking to it and knowing what was going to happen. Going on a mission, working in the schools, getting married, and having a child have helped me be much more flexible and easy-going. I like that, and I have a feeling that many more of my rough edges are about to be smoothed. I'm up for the challenge! If any of you have suggestions about how to stay sane and enjoy those first months with two young children, please feel free to share!!

#4 - Light

For those who might just be tuning in to the countdown, I'm doing a Top 10 List (in no particular order) of things I'm looking forward to with this new baby coming. I started ten days before my due date. Now on with #4: Light.

This one has a dual meaning for me. First, Isaac is getting heavy, and getting him into his carseat takes a little heave-ho these days. He's healthy and growing and just as he should be. I'm looking forward to having a little tiny baby that in comparison will be light as a feather and so easy to carry around and lift into the carseat. I still can't believe I'm at this point with baby #2 when I distinctly remember just barely being at this point with Isaac - anticipating the birth any day.

The second and more significant meaning for me of Light refers to the connection newborns and small children seem to have to Heaven. The way they sometimes stare at what seems to be nothing, and you wonder if they're seeing things that you can't see or being instructed or calmed by heavenly beings. I remember several times when Isaac would suddenly calm down and just stare off, and I wondered if my mom could possibly have been comforting him or if he was calmed by a little remaining memory of his recent life in Heaven. I probably won't know this for sure until the next life, but in the meantime it is comforting to know that these little ones are sent to us straight from the presence of God. No one has been there more recently. And the light they bring refocuses our vision on our eternal goals.

p.s. Be sure to vote on the poll at the right-hand side of our blog! Will this little guy be early, on-time, or late? Share your guess!

#5 - Baby Smells

I'm looking forward to all the smells that come with a new baby. The milky smells, the spit-up smells, the baby powder fresh smells. I love to just snuggle a baby close and inhale it all. And if I remember right, the diapers are basically odorless until solids are introduced, so that's an un-smell I'm looking forward to! :)

#6 - Let's Be Honest

Pregnancy is a wonder. I love feeling this life inside me and seeing how my body is so amazingly adaptable - who knew skin could stretch this much?! I'm so grateful for the ability to be pregnant. But let's be honest. It will be kind of nice to be able to roll over again and lose the TUMS and only have to get up once in the night to pee. :)

#7 - A few new things

So having two boys is great because we have boy stuff already. But because the seasons they're born in are different (Isaac was the end of June), I got to go buy a few new things so this little guy will have warm newborn outfits. I can't wait to dress him in them! We also broke down and bought a new Pack and Play. Our old one is a much appreciated hand-me-down. It has been very functional but heavy and has about 12 pieces to put together. So we got a new one with a bassinet and changing table, and we rearranged the house a little so Walt's office is now a baby room for as long as we want it to be. We also bought a Phil and Ted's stroller that is a single stroller, double stroller, and jogging stroller all in one (this makes me want to jump up and down and clap my hands)! It's so fun to have some new things, and I can't wait to use them!

#8 - Just Looking

I look forward to holding the little guy and just looking at him. You know, those first days when they're sleeping so much (during the day!). Their eyes roll around and are partly open when they sleep and their mouths pucker up so cute or start sucking when there's nothing there to suck on, or they smile in their sleep or yawn. Or they just look at you while you look at them. And you're both good to sit there just looking.