Vanity

Since I was young, I have always hated the "belly-button pop" of a pregnant woman. I have always felt it was ugly and embarrassing. In fact, it was the one thing I always dreaded about being pregnant. I know it is just vanity to feel that way....but I can't help it.

Thankfully, in three pregnancies, I have never experienced the belly-button pop! I couldn't be happier about that!

So....we have started the paper chain countdown until mom and Grandma Dooley come. We have twelve links left. I can't wait to see them. I know Mom is hoping that I make it through all those links before Ethan is born, and for her sake I will give it a half-hearted attempt. But I can't honestly say that I wouldn't be just as happy if Ethan made his appearance before she did. I am so ready to be done! I want my body back. I want to be able to get out of a chair with some semblance of grace (a pretty cheap imitation to be sure, but still more graceful than possible at this point.) I want to be able to find a comfortable position to lay down in bed and actually get some sleep without having to mound numerous pillows around that give no help whatsoever. I want to be able to wait longer than ten minutes before running back into the bathroom. I want to be able to hold my sons on my lap without the pain of being pushed on from both inside and out. But most of all, I just want to be able to hold my new son, to snuggle him against me and love him completely. Who can blame me for wanting that sooner rather than later.

But before I can allow Ethan to be born, I have to be able to celebrate Nick's second birthday. I can't believe he will be two years old on Tuesday! Where does the time go? He is so precious, and so much fun. He may push me past my patience level more often than not, but for the most part, he keeps me laughing over one thing or another. Since his birthday falls on a weekday, we will celebrate tomorrow. Not that anybody will be here except for us, but I don't wait until Nick gets home from work to have a "party" because we would have to fit dinner, cake, and gifts in just a short couple of hours...not giving any time to enjoy the celebration. So after church and nap, we will have a little party for Nick.

I hope you all have a great weekend. I want to wish a very Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad. Twenty-three wonderful years and counting. Thank you for the outstanding example you show of a successful marriage. I love you.