Everything has been happening so fast. It's been very different this time around. When Naomi was still in the warmth of Mama's belly, we had much time to reflect and prepare for her arrival. I found time lean in close to Nadia's belly and offer loving words to Naomi. I guess you could say those were my first conversations with Naomi. But these days, finding time to do so with our little miracle that will soon be joining us, has well, to put it simply, escaped us. Not that we are not filling the air with tremendous love and anticipation, but more like we just find our day to days so busy with the care of a now 2 and half year old Naomi, who's grown from my little whispers to her in Mama's womb, to full blown conversations. We've also learned that caring for a house, especially when Papa works full time with long commutes and Mama is bearing the weight of a pregnancy and toddler....well, let's just say we have our hands full :)
In the midst of all that, we still have managed to slowly prepare what will soon be not one, but two little girls filling our days with sunshine. There is no mistaking how joyous and miraculous that sounds. Yet, there is one thing that has escaped us - we've been so preoccupied to nest our cozy little home for a new member that we have almost missed a very huge, yet somewhat sad milestone about to take place. We are so eager to bring on the new twin size bed for Naomi to grow into and call her own, we are so anxious to re-arrange the room in a way that safely fits the baby's crib. We are so occupied with the happy chaos of preparing for this new life, that we almost forgot one very important thing....
....our little Naomi is growing up.
Tonight marks the last night that she may be sleeping in the crib that has housed her dreams from the first day that we brought her home. As I type these words, she sleeps peacefully in her room, tucked away inside the same protective nest where we watched her stand for the first time, and where we have watched her literally grow before our very eyes. It's such an odd thing preparing for a second child. Your love and attention is spread so thin that if you aren't careful, you can easily miss the moments that are so important and special for each little life. I don't want to make the mistake of not being there in my full consciousness to see each of Naomi's milestones, nor do I not want to give our new baby girl the same attention that we so carefully gave Naomi when she was in the belly. And although we may never find that perfect balance of the two, I know that as we continue on over the next couple of months heading into the birthday for our little one, we will without a doubt be as ready as the two of us can be.
The picture up top has so much impact to me. Maybe it's a feeling only her Papa or Mama can get from this picture. It speaks to how much Naomi has grown - how far she has come. She has so much mature emotion and understanding of the ever growing world around her. She knows that her baby sister is on the way. She's excited for her new bed, and her new friend that she will be sharing her room with. Today she even said that she's loves her. If anyone in this home is ready for the new baby it's Naomi :). I guess as a Papa, it's both hard and beautiful to embrace all the changes that come with being a parent and seeing your child grow up. I'm excited for the days to come. I can't even imagine how much overwhelming love will be in this home when our baby girl is here, but one thing I do know - I'm going to remember these last days of just the three of us. Seeing a chapter end always makes me sentimental. But when the book is as beautiful as the one that is our life, there is always the next chapter to look forward to.
-happy hubby
