| We rang in 2007 with the birth of our daughter, | | | | patted her head lovingly and told her "when we get |
| Jessica. Our son, William, who is now four, had been | | | | home I will tell you all about my day, so it will be like you |
| telling us since before I even took a pregnancy test | | | | were here too". It was the most precious thing I had |
| that he was having a sister. He was triumphant when | | | | ever seen. |
| she actually "popped out my tummy" as he calls | | | | As Jessica grows older, she is all smiles and laughing. |
| childbirth. At six months postpartum, we are beginning | | | | Truly, the most laid back baby I have ever |
| to settle into our expanded brood. It has been an | | | | experienced. She lights up whenever her brother |
| overwhelming, exhausting, rewarding, magical | | | | enters the room. If she doesn't get a nap (usually |
| experience. In many ways going from one to two | | | | because we are at one of brother's grand |
| young children in the home, was more of an | | | | adventures) she remains in her sweet and cheerful |
| adjustment for me than becoming a first time mom. | | | | disposition. Like her brother, she seems to be a budding |
| The pregnancy was draining from the start. The first | | | | extrovert, and loves being around crowds and people. |
| trimester found me exhausted and nauseous most | | | | The most challenging aspect of going from one to two |
| days. A small blessing, William still took afternoon naps | | | | kids for me is meeting and balancing everyone's |
| most days. Just having that little break was a miracle. | | | | needs. Jessica's needs revolve around keeping her |
| By the third trimester I was swelling, huge, with joint | | | | away from illness and giving her the opportunity to get |
| pain and ready for the baby to be here. We did | | | | naps. William's needs revolve around big adventures of |
| everything we could think of to prepare William and | | | | learning and exploring his world, spending lots of time |
| assure him that he would still be loved when the baby | | | | with friends, and burning off his energy. Since |
| came. After Jessica's birth I had to be hospitalized for | | | | preschool is out for the summer, we are mostly |
| some postpartum complications and then winter hit. | | | | meeting William's needs. Thankfully, Jessica seems to |
| One of the coldest and longest than anyone in Ohio | | | | be adjusting to the busy life. Our days are spent with |
| could remember. Between being cooped up in the | | | | playgroups, trips to the park, and other grand |
| house and running back and forth between doctor | | | | adventures. We hope that when school resumes in |
| follow up visits, the first three months passed in a | | | | the fall, Jessica will have more opportunity to be home |
| sleep deprived blur. | | | | and get her naps. Either way, both kids seem really |
| The one saving grace was that William adored her | | | | happy and fulfilled. |
| from the beginning. He was so proud to be a big | | | | Now that we are just adjusting and finding a routine, |
| brother. He was almost four, ready to give up naps, | | | | William has been telling us that he'd really like a brother. |
| and ready to start preschool. He seemed to be such a | | | | Yesterday he asked if we could make another baby |
| big kid to me now. He loved to help feed his sister, hold | | | | get into my tummy so he could have a baby brother |
| her, kiss and snuggle with her. He didn't care if she spit | | | | someday. I told him he'd have to wait and see. He |
| up or drooled on him. He just loved her unconditionally | | | | assures me he would like lots of babies. Several times |
| from day one. We decided a few months after her | | | | now he has came over to me and said "thank you for |
| birth that he needed a little more stimulation and put | | | | popping Jessica out of your tummy. I love her so." The |
| him in preschool a few hours a week. The first day | | | | one thing we can honestly say, any baby would be |
| we went to pick him up from school, he immediately | | | | lucky to have such a wonderful big brother. |
| rushed over and jumped in the baby's carrier with her, | | | | |