She Must Have Known...

Or, maybe I should say "He" must have known.....either way, God and Abby Kate must have known that we could use another week before she joined us. If you had asked me last week, I would have strongly disagreed with that idea, because we seemed as ready as ever for her arrival. The clothes are all clean in her drawers, the baby gear is in the appropriate rooms, the labor bag had been packed, and we had even finished random house chores that I wanted done before another baby lived here. I had finished my school teaching as of last Monday, and was ready to head to the hospital on a moment's notice. So, in my very pregnant state, I felt more than ready for this baby to come, and felt sure that she would follow the pattern of my other girls, and come 14-16 days early just like they did.

But, now, we've passed both of those marks, as well as tried a variety of ways to get labor going. But, still, she says NO. Not yet. And, for many reasons I'm strangely thankful. Because she has waited, we've had opportunities for rest and relaxation, as well as more time as a family of four, which was more needed than I realized!

Mark and I have been on unexpected dates all week---dinners out, movies, mall shopping, and just hanging out, while the girls spent time with their grandmothers. We even got to have a Saturday night group date with my sisters and their husbands, which was so much fun!! (We missed you, Cailee. :)

We've also had priceless time with our girls, both as a family, and one-on-one. I've had the chance to take them on picnics, play at the park, go bike-riding (not me, of course!), go to the mall and watch them play together, all with a different mindset than usual. I keep thinking "This is what my weeks should be like EVERY week!" Because I thought I would have a baby, I had no other agenda for my days. I had nothing on my to-do list, and no where I was supposed to be (except the hospital!). So, we truly had time as a family that was unrushed and unplanned. And, I think I'm getting used to that way of life! :)

The most important part of this last week has been one-on-one time with Kendyll. I didn't realize how much she was needing this, especially being my oldest! I had assumed, since she has been so excited about this baby, and since she had "done this before", that I didn't need to do as much to prepare her this time around. But, as my mother has reminded me this week, Kendyll is alot like me---sensing change in the air, knowing it is a good thing, but still being unsure about what it means for her. I completely underestimated the amount of preparation and reassurance I needed to give her before this baby arrived. She has been so excited and anxious for her baby sister to be here (and still is!). But, mixed with those happy emotions, are some other feelings that I don't think she knows how to express. Now, she never said that she's feeling unsure....instead she has been showing it in obvious ways.

First, she has been clinging to me like she never does. (I would say if she clings to anyone in this house, it's usually her daddy!) But, even at home, she wants to sit by me on the couch, she wants me to put her to bed, she wants me to wash her hair, and the list goes on and on. She hasn't wanted to stay with grandparents this last week, when she usually jumps at the chance to go, and has instead asked to stay home with mommy and daddy! And, she has been overly emotional about the silliest things. Now, part of that is the yucky cold, cough, and ear infections she has had, which makes anyone whiny. But, it has been more than that. She has broken down in a dramatic cry over the tiniest events, and seems to need so much more attention and consistency than ever before. So, all that to say, these extra days with her have been much needed, and fun for us. She has even been a bit "clingy" to Carlie, which is really funny to watch.

Carlie, on the other hand, is gung-ho about this baby and relatively unaffected by these upcoming changes. She talks to Abby Kate through my tummy, telling her to come out, and even sings songs about "Abby Kate come out, Abby Kate come see us." She doesn't seem to be the least bit bothered by this baby coming soon---not yet, that is. I'm sure her adjustment time will be after the baby is here, when she realizes her world suddenly changed overnight. But, in the meantime, she has been spending some time at "the ranch", one of her favorite places on earth, with Gammy, Papa Ron, and Cailee. She has been busy having her nails painted, riding the Gator, shopping at WalMart for toys, and seeing every animal on the ranch that she loves so much. She comes home today, and I'm so ready! I've missed that girl!!

So, Kendyll has had lots of big girl time with us. We've gone to the mall, tried on spring clothes at Target (which she LOVED), taken her out to eat, rented movies, played games at home, rode her bike, and made arts and crafts together. She keeps calling them "special dates with just Mommy and Daddy". On Saturday, she did decide that a day with Grandma sounded fun. So, she spent the day shopping for her special birthday gift that they shop for together each year. She went all over town, before she finally decided on a Cinderella nightgown, slippers, and doll from the Disney store. My favorite part of her shopping trip was that she decided she needed to get Carlie something special for when she comes home. So, she picked her a new Care Bear and a pink baseball cap with a puppy on it. She even picked these things out before she found her own gift. When she got home yesterday, she laid Carlie's new things right in front of the door, so that her little sister will see them when she gets home today. Last night, Mark "cleaned up" her set-up, not knowing why it was all there. (which then provoked one of the crying episodes I described earlier!) So, we got it all set-up again....and it is so cute to see. She loves her sister and even said this morning that it was hard to sleep in her room without Carlie in the bed next to her (again....tears came quickly as she said that too!)

My other favorite thing from Kendyll's weekend date with Grandma was a book she made for me. The outside is decorated with her fingerprints in every color, which she turned into different animals. The inside says "Dear Mommy, I hop Abby Kat coms soon. I love you, Kendyll". It has a picture of me with a big tummy, and Kendyll standing next to me. Her hand reaches REALLY far and is touching my tummy. She said she drew us "both still in our PJ's at home". The back simply says "The End". I just love those little treasures from my big five year old. So, in the midst of waiting, we are having a great time as a family. I wanted to write some of these things down, to remember someday. This has all been a blur the last few days, and I know that all I will remember is the "waiting for Abby Kate" part....and I don't want to forget my other two precious girls in the midst of it all.