Still on the honeymoon

Today is my due date. For months July 17th was the focal point of my life. But then Ella Kate and my body had other ideas! Now July 17th will be forgotten and July 5th is the big day. It was noon before I realized today's date. Funny how a date can seem so important then suddenly be "just a day" again.

Rob went back to work today. Laundry had to be done. Kolby needed someone to pick her up from Camp Success. Rhett needed breakfast. The baby vacation is officially over. The real world is starting to creep back into my days. No more napping at will and staying cool and cozy at home 24/7. We are all still very much in the "honeymoon " stage with sweet baby Katie though! I could sit and watch her sleep for hours...And I still will do that as much as possible, vacation or not.

Ella Kate has already grown and changed quite a bit in the last 12 days. The tabs on the newborn diapers don't overlap like they did at first. She stretches out a lot more now instead of sleeping in a little ball. She made the jump from eating at will/whenever to eating every four or so hours. She seems to recognize our voices and she is awake a little bit more than she was at first...But not much more. Though it breaks my heart, I think she is starting to loose some of that sweet newborn hair. No matter how hard it can be to have a newborn, these are the most precious of days! I wouldn't wish them away for any amount of sleep, energy or any other "mommy of a newborn" scarcities!

Honestly, I still can't believe she is here! I still just want to sit and hold her. I want to hold on to each moment and not forget how she looks, sounds, and even smells today. I don't want my baby to grow too fast. I don't want to forget the feeling of that sweet little newborn balled up and sleeping soundly on my chest. I pray that I will be able to remember this forever... Yeah we are still in the honeymoon stage.

And you know that saying about "the third time being the charm"... For me that has been true. It's more than just her ideal birth and hospital stay. In fact it has more to do with me than with the baby. It could be because I know that this is my last baby. They say with age comes wisdom...I'm not sure about that, but this time around the little things don't freak me out so much. I don't feel like I have to have my birth announcements out right away. I don't freak out after not sleeping for three nights. I know it will be hard to get out with all three kids at first and that all this is just a phase... A short precious phase that in ways will be over way too soon. I am letting, or perhaps even making myself stop and enjoy Ella Kate being a newborn. Maybe other people get that with the first or second baby...For me it took the third!

Completely off the subject, I have wanted to say something to those in the blog family who regularly read this (Yes, all five or six of you...who else would have read this far in this rambling post?)....

I can not thank you enough for your prayers and words of encouragement over the last weeks! The morning we left for the hospital to have Ella Kate, I was so nervous. As we drove across town I remembered all the comments from sweet blog friends who said they were praying for me. I really felt your prayers. It was such a comfort! AND I believe God answered prayers with the ease of Ella Kate's birth.

I feel very blessed by your prayers and the hand of our Heavenly Father. I felt his hand through out my pregnancy. I am so grateful and thankful for all of you who petitioned him on my behalf and provided "prayer cover" for my family. Though I have not met some of you face to face, you are my sweet Christian brothers and sisters and I feel very close to you! Thank you so much for blessing me and my family with your prayers and support! You are the best!

Back to the honeymoon... If I don't blog to regularly for the next few weeks, rest assured I'm just too busy enjoying this sweet baby and the family God has blessed me with! Love to all!