Dadda and I were talking today about how different this current pregnancy has been from our pregnancy with you. While Momma's morning sickness was much longer and stronger with you, the overall pregnancy was quiet. Calm. You were an active baby, but not a hard kicker. Your sleep schedule mirrored mine, as did your periods of activity. I also had relatively few Braxton-Hicks contractions. You did arrive two weeks early, but somehow we knew you were going to be an early baby.
The Bean, on the other hand, has made his presence known. At night, just as Momma is settling in for sleep, he gets active. His kicks, nudges and flips are enough to take Momma's breath away. Over the last three weeks the Braxton-Hicks contractions have, at times, been debilitating. During meetings at work, I often catch co-workers watching my stomach with a mix of delight and horror. In short, your little brother is a wild man!
I wonder...will this be a key difference between you and your little brother once he arrives? You were such a thoughtful, old soul. Very few things rattled you, and you tended to quietly size up situations with your clear, knowing eyes. Even when you took a surprise tumble or conked your head, it was rare that you would dissolve into tears. Dadda and I were always careful to not over-react, but on your own you would generally just shake off the shock and get right back up on your feet. You were also a VERY cautious kiddo. You always had a keen sense of the spaces around you, distances between furniture, the drop from stair to stair, or just how high the couch was from the floor. Every move was calculated, which is why I think you were a fairly late walker. I often saw your little brain's wheels turning...why take the chance, when crawling was faster and safer? You were able to walk on your own at 12 months, but you chose to wait until month 15 to use it as your primary mode of transportation. Safety Peanut!
Will The Bean be the opposite, or at least dramatically different? I think so - maybe. Momma's brain knows he will be different from you in many ways - but will probably also share a lot of similarities. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the dinner guests heard The Bean's due date was January 17. A look of wonder passed over his face, and he exclaimed, "Oh! That's an 8 in Numerology! AND you're having a boy? That is a very powerful combination. You should expect an old soul." I've reflected on that...I HAD an old soul. You. Peanut, you were truly an old soul...is it possible we will have another? If so, what does it all mean?
As The Bean's due date, and your Angel Anniversary, approach I find my brain occupied with these questions. The fear and anxiety of having another baby - of the awful possibility of losing another child - has been replaced by a more universal pondering. Maybe this is "normal" in situations as abnormal as ours. Maybe it's part of my brain's healing process. Maybe it's a message from you, "Slow down, Momma. Enjoy this second chance. Love my brother...it doesn't replace your love for me. Just keep talking about me, too."
No problem there, Peanut. You will be the center of our stories, laughter, and tears for a lifetime. And beyond. To the moon and back, baby boy. To the mooooooooooon and back...
-Momma
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