Right now.

I have so enjoyed your nesting process:) Was the Girl with the Pearl Earring wonderful?!

Really, it does come back. I too had an easier time the second go-around than I had the first. I say a big hurrah for an 'experienced' body and a smaller baby who decided to come 3 weeks earlier.
As we all are, I am anxiously awaiting baby girl Edwards and join in the congratulations for you all. Praying for a safe and happy delivery a healthy baby and mom at the end of it all.
God bless you all.

When my daughter was born, my son was just about three years old. Although excited about her birth, I struggled with how my son would feel. I was so afraid of neglecting him...it had been just us for three years. I struggled with how would I give him the attention he had and deserved in the past. It took a couple of long months for my guilt to subside. One thing that helped me was to have a weekly mommy and son outing. Whether it be a trip to the library,Target or the grocery store, it really helped me to get some quality time with him and it made me feel like we re-connected from the busy weeks. Plus it also gave the two of us something to look forward to.
My advice is to take a few hours a week and make them for Simon. Leave the baby with your husband and vice versa and let him be the center of attention.
Congratulations and enjoy scrapbooking with all the wonderful pink/girly items out there. It is such a nice change from blue!
Kym

Best of Luck Ali! I am having my own repeat c-section next week, and it took me a long time to feel calm and accepting of the choice to do so. Reading your words really hit home for me because I have been doing and feeling the same way about our older daughter. She's only 2 and a half and although she is excited I can only imagine how this is going to effect her once her little brother is here. After a difficult first pregnancy and emergency c-section, we didn't think we would have any more children either. My best advice is to have lots of healthy snacks around the house, I remember being so hungry recovering from the first one and not having anything to eat in the house at 3am. Also take any help that is offered. I remember having an aunt that brought us dinner one night and it was the best thing in the world. So nice to have a home-cooked meal that I didn't have to make myself. Again big hugs to you and the rest of your family and good luck!!

Ali - best of luck to you. My advice is to just live in these moments and enjoy the crazy, sleepy, wonderful early days. My youngest is turning three in April and I miss so much my newborns. I have had four c-sections - and each recovery was easier than the previous one!

Best of luck and all the best wishes to you and your family, Ali. You will remember how to do everything around a baby. I'm looking forward to see some pictures of her. :)

No advice to give - it all comes back to you and you will be amazed at the extra love that is just there for the taking for that new little bundle:) And simply hold on to the fact that eventually the sleep does come back!

I just watched the movie "Girl with the Pearl Earring" this week...it was great, but I think I need to read the book.
You seem like such a grounded and down to earth person that having two children will come naturally to you.

1. Enjoy being in your PJs until noon (or later). Just try to be dressed when Simon gets home from school.
2. Carry no guilt if you are in your PJs until noon (or later). Just try to be dressed when your husband gets home from work.
3. Feel completely comfortable if you are still in your PJs at dinner time. Now you're all dressed and ready for bed! Of course, by this late in the day, you will most likely be covered in spit-up so I would advise you to find another set of PJs.
Carry on.

My son had just turned five when our daughter was born, and at times it felt like I was "starting over" again. But it's amazing how quickly things come back to you :0)
I do know that I was less protective of her sleep in the beginning. Not worried about noise as much as with Evan. I wasn't quite as anxious all around. I did make sure to have something special for Evan at the hospital as well for becoming a big brother. And someone had told me to let him come in first before they bring the baby to you. I was able to give him some much needed attention at that point and then he met his little sister :0)
Good luck! :0)

You truly are an inspiration, Ali. As the mother of two littles ones, the best advice that I can give is to just make time for you. I often forget that, but feel so refreshed when I come back to my family after being away from a while.
Also, if you want one more book to add to your list of "should reads," I suggest The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. :)
Happy Friday!

My best advice is to go buy a few small toys/books/puzzles/activites for Simon so that if you've had a rough night with the baby and you are tired you can pull out something special so that he can play near you, occupied while you rest on the couch. it worked like a dream with my older son.

With my first child, I talked constantly to her like she was another adult in the room. When my second child was born, it seemed like everything was so much more busy, I don't think I talked to him as much. I also think I babied him more because he was probably our last baby. KWIM? So, my advice is talk to your baby just like you did with Simon. (I'm assuming you talked to Simon : ) Sounds silly, but I really think it helps the baby learn language and even improves your relationship with the baby! : )

Best advice is love every moment of it and take special time with Simon when he comes home from school! When I had my 2nd child, I never thought I could love another human being as much as I loved my first child. I was actually scared of those feelings. When he was born, my eldest started school. It gave me time to rest after a planned c-section but what it gave me was time alone with my second son during the day. When my first child came home, I took the time for him. I think he still felt really special because mom took time for him and I developped a special bond with the little one also.
I love my two boys and I am close to both of them. They are very different but to my youngest, Zachary is a god, an idol, in a whole a great big brother.
Enjoy it, it was the best gift for me, to have 2 beautiful kids.

Yes, I'm certain that it will flood right back -- the 'how to care for a newborn' :) The four of you as a unit will function beautifully :)

I have 2 kids, boy and then girl too. I think you should think beyond the early years, and how the two of them will be here when you are not. After taking care of my 90 yr old FIL, w/ my two BIL and one SIL, it took all of us to do things well enough. Life is best lived w/ others and you are giving Simon that now. I think my daughter will call her bro Ja-Ja for the rest of his life after she started that before a year old one day as he passed by her getting into the car!!(His name is Jon Peter, Peter for my FIL and husband!) I think I am feeling inspired to put together all the pages of my daughter's baby book now!!!!! SUe B>

My daughter is 6 months old, so I don't have any advice for multiple kids. But the best advice I got from my mom when my little girl was born was that "the dishes can wait and the laundry will be there tommorrow." Meaning, spend your valuable time on the important things, your sweet new baby and her big brother!!

Ali: such a special time for all of you as you welcome little "A" into your lives. I had 3 "Cs" with my 3 boys and each was very different. My last two were "scheduled" for convenience since I had out of town help. It put my mind at rest about how to handle my younger boys at home. The best advice I got was to make sure I had some inexpensive little things (small books, maybe a matchbox car) stashed away for those times when a gift was delivered for the baby and the older sons were feeling a bit left out. It helped distract them so they could enjoy their little brother a bit more. Best wishes to all of you. Thanks for sharing this time with us.
Amy K in FL

I wish you a peaceful, love filled next couple of months! Enjoy!

sending positive thoughts your way...my only advice is enjoy every second of it! they grow up way too fast.