Getting Ready....

My husband said to me once when I was going through a difficult time, "God doesn't give you anything you can't handle." At the time I didn't think this was true, but have come to understand that it really is. When I had my first baby, Tony, I felt I wasn't ready for motherhood and that I didn't prepare enough during my pregnancy, but I soon found out that I really didn't need to. I learned how to be a mother in my own way and with help from the Blessed Mother. I gave my baby whatever he needed, he always came first. A friend of mine had her baby boy a month before Tony and she came to visit when Tony was one month old. When she left I was dumbfounded by her knowledge of what her son needed at any given time; whether he needed to be changed or burped or fed she knew her son so well and I felt that I didn't know Tony very well! I thought that maybe she was just guessing, but then a month later I found myself knowing what Tony needed all the time. It was amazing. My husband would ask what Tony needed when he was crying and I knew based on the time of day it was or his schedule and I even amazed my husband sometimes by my knowledge of our sons' needs.

When I had my second son, John Paul, I felt completely different, mentally, than with Tony. I actually felt ready, like being a mother and wife was really what God planned for me. I remember in the hospital after John Paul was born feeling so....normal. It was like he had always been with me. Once we brought him home the feeling changed a little while trying to adapt to having two babies and not one. Now, more than a year later, everything the two boys do is new and exciting and our life is crazy sometimes but I wouldn't want it any other way.

We have a third baby coming in August and I have to admit I am a little nervous about having three. It is hard going to the grocery store with a one year old in the cart seat and a 2 1/2 year old in the cart throwing everything out of the cart but where does the third baby go? Is my double stroller going to turn into a 3 baby stroller like I have heard happens (one in each of the seats and a third in the basket underneath)? Mass is a whole other issue. Right now my husband and I go in shifts and only go as a family when there is a special occasion, but those special occasions will be tough when we are outnumbered especially if the church doesn't have a cry room. These are only a few challenges that lie ahead but I feel that with humility, lots of patience, prayer and God's grace I will be able to pull through. After all God does't give you anything you can't handle....right?

As far as getting ready for the dress dare goes I am excited that I can wear non-maternity skirts. Pregnant ladies out there in need of skirts I highly recommend the Old Navy roll over jersey skirts. They have maternity ones also, but the regular ones fit fine with a belly and are really comfy to wear. God Bless everyone and have a good week.