Right now.

as a mom of three.... my favorite mantra has always been this.....
When your baby is taking a nap.. and you are trying to decide what to do with this down time ask yourself " can I do this while she is awake?" Usually you can fold laundry, do dishes ect. while she is awake, you usually cannot create, read a book take time to sit and relax.. So when ever I would start doing a task I would ALWAYS ask myself this.... Good Luck!

Ali,
So happy for your family. :)
As best I can remember, here are my most helpful tips for you:
1. Abdominal Binder - after my c-section this was a life saver. You can get them at medical supply stores. It's a very wide elastic velcro'ed band that goes around your abdomen and "holds you in" much like a girdle would. It's so comfortable and helpful in times that you need to cough or unexpectedly laugh or use your abdominal muscles.
2. Snacks - If you are nursing, put a small basket or tupperware container of crackers, dried fruit, (something non-perishable) and a bottle of water near where you'll sit to nurse. I always needed nourishment while sitting to nurse and it was handy to have it right there, in case someone else wasn't available to get it for me.
3. Phone Headset - My best friend had one of these when her baby was small and it was so helpful to her not to have to strain to hold the phone with her chin.
4. Take Out Menus - You can go online and print takeout menus from all of the nearby restaurants that you like. Keep them in one place and when you need a last minute meal, you'll have a stash of menus to browse. (easier than having to go online for each one)
5. Slow-Cooker Meals - there are a bunch here. http://www.slowandsimple.com
6. Noise machine or small fan - Some babies sleep better with "white noise" so we had a small fan in Noah's room that we'd turn on when he slept. You can keep it under the crib so the breeze doesn't affect baby, just the noise will be heard.
God's blessings on your new little life! :)
Love,
Jennifer

ali, good luck! my baby is going to be 1 this friday(13th) and i don't know where the time has gone! i've done my best to reflect and love and cherish...but those little moments go so fast! she was my 2nd c-section...it all went great....good luck ith all of that!! having my mom with me is always such a blessing!! i'm all for turning off the ringer, sleeping while she sleeps, holding her and just rocking for hours....and falling asleep with her on my chest...heavenly. nothing could be better! i'm excited to hear the news!! good luck again!!

Ali,
Good luck to you and your family , with this new bundle of joy. You have such a wonderful outlook on life and family that this little girl will be very lucky to have you all.

I don't have any sage advice. Except to enjoy every moment which you are so good at doing. You inspire us all to appreciate the everyday moments. I wish you the best as this new little one enters the lives of three who'll love her so much. Enjoy!

Ali-
Something that was helpful to my two boys when our youngest was born...I tried not to expect too much from them. I let them lead in how soon they approached the baby. I didn't expect them to hold him or kiss him. I asked them questions, like what do you think of him? Not telling them, "Isn't he cute?" It was surprising some of the thoughts they had and when I looked at things from their perspective, I could see thier point of view. When they visited at the hospital, I reached for them and made sure I wasn't holding the baby. Giving my full attention to them and then taking time to further introduce the baby. They were curious, intrigued, and loving. We also had a little birthday party in the room, the hospital did that for the boys. It was so sweet, a few balloons and a little cake. it went a long way to making them comfortable. They were 5 and 7. My five year old seems to be very much like Simon and he took to the new addition the best! Enjoy and do what you do best cherish these times!
Looking forward to pictures!

Best wishes!

My blessings and prayers are all on your side. Congratulations dear Ali. You are in for delightful moments. God Bless!
Kind regards, Olga, MIA, FL

Best wishes to you and all your family. Bet you can't wait to meet her..... xxx

Ali, Maybe Simon is too old for this, but when I had my little one and a toddler, to ward of jealously during all those long daytime breastfeeding sessions... I had a basket of cool toys/books that I only brought out while breastfeeding.

I agree with some of the 2nd time moms.. I just had my 2nd and he is an easy baby compared to my 1st, but waking every 3 hours all through the night is hard. So, sleep is priority, but i also need to get out everyday even if it's to go for a walk or go to the store. It helps my mood immensely.
My 4 year old loves the baby , but also has difficulties with transitions so I am trying to work through that. I find I'm very protective of my new baby and try to find my patience for his behavior when he is trying to gain my attention. I love the comment about making a weekly date with your son... that is a great idea! I am going to do that too. GOod Luck and I can't wait to see your new baby girl! I'm sure there will be lots of new scrap material in the future!

Best of luck! Enjoy it!

I totally admire you doing a repeat c-section. My first four babies were born naturally, and then #5 was a c-section. It was a tough recovery and I wouldn't choose to do it again. But you know what to expect since you have done it before and it sounds like you will have help from your mom. I loved the quiet time I had with the baby while recovering--just watching him and really being able to take in all the moments that I would have missed if I was up and about. Have your journal nearby to record your thoughts (I know you will) and let everyone else do the household stuff. When I nursed the baby I'd read to the older kids so they were getting some mommy time as well. Blessings to you all--can't wait to hear about her arrival!

My best advice came straight from the best baby on the block book....even though your first child now will have to share you...giving them a sibling is one of the best things you can do! Can't wait to see all your pages about the love between Simon and his baby sister. Best wishes!

Just relax & enjoy everything about the experience. It will all be fine. I have 4 children & forgot everything between each one of them, but it just all comes back to you & each child is different anyway. So excited for you! ;-)

Something I often forget when I have a brand new baby in the house is to CHANGE THEIR DIAPER! I feel silly about this one, because I have 4 children. (ages 7, 5, 2, and 10 months.) But every time without fail when I have a brand new one I forget to check their diaper every two hours. Set a timer.
Take LOTS of photos of your pregnant tummy every day up until you deliver. That final huge belly photo is wonderful to have.
Don't feel like you have to legitimize your existence for at least 2 months after you have the baby. Say to yourself "my job is to nourish and love this baby. IF I do that today I am satisfied." It is always very hard for someone like me to feel satisfied with just keeping a newborn happy and loved...I always want to jump back into my very fun full routine. (I am a little ADD...always like to have 5 things going at once.)
Don't panic if you wake up with massive night sweats for several weeks after you have her. This is your body's way of releasing all the extra fluids it has been retaining the past 9 months. Keep fresh cotton tees handy for quick night changes and sleep on a towel for a few nights.
Enjoy. This sweet little creature will be a big grown-up girl before you know it.
I'll be saying some prayers for a peaceful time of transition and a healthy and positive birth for you and your family!
Congratulations, Ali!

Best of luck to you at this time, I'm sure that's coming an wonderful future to your family =)

I'm in your shoes right now- about to pop and wondering when. I am expecting my third, and what I learned with having #2 is that you don't need the same information the second time around. That darling baby will have the same basic, basic needs- and you can certainly change a diaper (love your cloth choice- I'm a cloth mama too)- but really, this girl will amaze you. She will arrive and be her own little person with her own set of needs- and somehow, the miracle of motherhood is that you'll know those needs and how to meet them. It is beautiful- and so exciting! Learning this the second time around has made me so incredibly excited to meet this new person- not just in the cute, snuggly baby way- but really wondering who he is and how he will fit with us. It is such a blessing that they all come so different- such an adventure!
Good luck, Ali! May you have a perfect delivery and quick recovery!

Ali, I am so excited for you.

It is amazing how much you can love a second (or third or fourth) after you have experienced the love for your first child. It doesn't seem possible that you will love the second as much and the worry about how your first child's life will change can be stressful. But when baby two arrives you find that indeed it is possible to love even more.
Your first child's world will change definitely but mostly by expanding to include the love of a sibling. Think of all the chances Simon will have to teach, model, and share he never would have had without his new sister. Your circle of three will always be in your shared past but your new family of four will be a different, richer, even more love-filled place for all of you to grow and flourish.
My first, a girl, was just two when her identical twin brothers were born. The anticipatory stress about how her life would change was great and the adjustment for all of us was acute. Still, despite the roller coaster of the first few years with so many young children, it has been an amazing journey. Several years later we even added a fourth (a girl)!
My advice is remember to "apply the oxygen mask to yourself before assisting others." There will be many needs that must be attended to and as a mother it is easy to overlook ourselves. For everyone to thrive though, mama needs to make sure and take care of herself.
Blessings to you!