Life brings many changes. I sit here tonight with only 10 weeks left until my official due date. Something about reaching that 10 week countdown makes it feel so much closer. I can see the light at the end of this physically painful and emotionally draining tunnel.

As excited as I feel, I also have some reservations. Will baby B be as laid back as little M was? Will breastfeeding go relatively smoothly? Will he sleep for longer stretches sooner rather than later? Will this labor and delivery be harder than the less than 6 hours I experienced with Makenzie? I’m thinking likely yes on that one.

Funnily enough, I didn’t have many concerns about those types of things before Makenzie. I wondered more about the big picture. How would my life change? Was I ready to be a MOM?!?

I learned that life didn’t have to drastically change. It took some time, but I realized that I could still be my own person and live my own life. Yes, I could still have a life while being a mother…an even better one.

I had heard the clichéd “you don’t know what truly unconditional love is until you have a child” statement before. I am now a cliché. I never knew I could love so much. I never thought I could physically ache over another person’s wellness. Not just sympathy, but deep-down-to-the-guts-and-bones empathy. I’ve already shared numerous times how having Makenzie motivated me to become the best version of myself possible and brought much personal growth. It all came from that love.

I gained new perspective on what truly mattered and spent more time in those things. I laughed more than I ever had. I still laugh numerous times a day from her antics. I get to do things like a kid again. Holidays, traditions, trips to the grocery store, visits to the park, etc, etc, etc all hold such opportunity and simple joy. To put it plainly, life became more fun.

I won’t deny that some changes came. Financially things changed, as I decided to stay home from work and, let’s face it, kids cost moolah. We didn’t have as much disposable income for things like home projects we hoped to accomplish or traveling. We had to set budgets and more closely watch our spending. We may no longer have the freedom to purchase things we desire without much thought, but I don’t view it as a sacrifice. With love, you make things work. So, we do and are  happier for it.

I guess that is all I need to remember now, as well. With love, you make things work. I will do just that as I adjust to two, even if it creates more of a challenge than I had the first time around. A special thanks to Chelsey for prompting this discussion with her question for the Q + A series!

• What is the biggest change you have encountered in your life so far?
• What changes concern you the most about becoming a mother? Or, if you are already a mom, what changes were the hardest for you?

Hello, hello! Are you all having a good day? Today has gone much better for me. M is no longer sick. Peter was home to help out. I have a more carefree time ahead of me for the next few days, which I plan on enjoying. All good stuff.

I also had my 30 weeks doctor visit earlier today. I can hardly believe I’m in the final 10 week stretch. 75% of the way through!

The visit went really well once again. I am measuring properly. My blood pressure looks good. Baby B’s heart rate is strong. Everything checks out. 😀 Expect to hear a lot more of these updates from here on out. I now go in every two weeks instead of every four. Something about that switch makes the time pass by so quickly. I’m not complaining! Maybe this pregnancy is going faster than I thought?

When prepping Q + A questions from you all, I noticed that there were quite a few relating to baby stuff. I will share some of those now. 🙂

How did you decide on your daughters name?? How will you decide what your little boys name will be??

I always loved the name Makenzie. It goes as far back as when I played with dolls and Barbies. When I mentioned it to Peter as an option, he loved it as well and we were set!

Choosing Braedon’s name was a bit different. We had no clue on boy names! We actually picked it out from a kid on Peter’s (much) younger brother’s baseball team. He suggested it. I like it. We had another winner.

Will you be having more children after Baby B is born?

Not that we plan on! You never know how things may change…or if God has a different plan. But, as of now, the answer is no.

What kind of car do you drive?? Do you think you will get a van now that you have two children??

I won’t disclose more than the fact I drive a compact four door. A van is my dream car. I never thought a day would come that I would say that. But c’mon! The room? The automatic sliding doors? Car seats not on top of one another? Yes, please!

How long did you breastfeed M for? Do you plan to do the same with Baby B?

I breastfed M for about 7.5 months. At that point, my body would not keep up no matter how much pumping, fenugreeking, and suckling I went through. She got frustrated and lost interest as well.

I plan to breastfeed B for as long as possible. Actually, one of my biggest worries is he won’t breastfeed well. I love it! I know I will do all I can to make it successful and that’s all I can expect. I will feed him ideally for a year, hopefully for at least 6 months, and realistically for as long as it works well for both of us.

Do you think it is okay to work out while you are pregnant?

Always, always speak to your doctor and go with his/her personal recommendation for you, but in general – yes, I do. Completely! Working out during pregnancy can alleviate some of the body’s pains, fatigue, etc. It can help prepare the body for the workout of labor – believe me, it’s a workout! It can also help with returning to fitness and exercise after the baby. The key is to not try anything new and adapt to your body’s current level of fitness. I never exert myself too much and continue workouts I have been doing for years. I trust my body and it hasn’t failed me.

• If you want kids, what are some of your favorite names? If you already have kids, how did you choose their names?
• What would be your dream car?
• ASK ME ANYTHING to keep the Q + A series going. I have quite a few more good ones I am excited to share.