Then and Now

With 5 days to go until Campo is born, Doug got up in the attic and brought down various baby tools such as the car seat, bouncy seat and play mat. This of course brought great excitement to the girls and they immediately started inspecting these "new" old things that they don't remember sitting in and using themselves. And of course, after inspecting, came climbing in! In my 38 week hormonal rage in which I find myself, I got extremely nostalgic and sentimental. I started this post just to show pictures to compare the Then and Now but ended up writing love letters to me special girls. Please indulge a very pregnant woman's sentiments!

My dearest daughters,

I can't believe how much you've changed and grown since you were once so small. I remember when each of you barely took up any space in the car seat and now look at you! Hanging out of them and making your parents fear that you'll break them! When I was pregnant with Me Too I wondered if I would have enough love for both of you. I quickly found out that I did have enough love and then some. I am sometimes so overwhelmed with love for the both of you that it feels like my chest will explode yet I know that Campo will add that much more love to the mix. Surely now my chest will explode! While I don't worry that I will have enough love, I do worry that I won't have enough of myself to give all 3 of you. I worry that at times you will feel ignored or slighted. I want to tell you just how special you are to me.

Big Bear - I'm so proud of the little girl you are becoming so quickly before my eyes. I love your laugh that makes everyone smile. I barely ever go a week without someone commenting on your laugh. I love your imagination. You come up with such great things and you are so creative. You are about to be the big sister of not 1 but 2 siblings and you are going to do such a great job. I am amazed more and more each day as you learn and grow and change. You are such a big help to me. In this late stage of my pregnancy, you pick things up, bring things to me, and even distract your little sister sometimes allowing me to get things done. While you don't need physical attention as much as your sister, you crave quality time and activities that stretch your imagination and intellect. I don't always have the time or energy to be as creative as I feel I should be in planning activities for you. I hope that I can do better once we all get settled in with Campo. I promise at least to do my best to meet those needs. I am so excited to see you in your new role as big sister x 2 because I know you will rise to the occasion. You are going to be Mommy's life saver time and time again - big expectations I know! But I also know you will excel as you do in so many things. And I know that your little brother will just adore you as your little sister already does. You don't even know it. You don't see the look in her eyes as she watches you. You don't see the smile that lights up her face when you walk in a room. And you can't understand how all the little things she does that annoy you - taking your toys, following you around - are actually her way of trying to be just like you. I hope one day you will know how much she loves and admires you just as I do.

Me Too - You are about to be a big sister! Finally you won't be the smallest! There are so many things about you that I admire. You don't get frustrated easily. You'll keep trying and trying at something and if it doesn't work, you find another way to do it or ask for help. This is not a quality you got from your mother for sure! I try at something once or twice, get frustrated and mad and give up! I love your beautiful smile that lights up a room and your mischievous eyes that tell me in an instant that you're either about to or already have done something wrong. You need a lot of physical attention. Snuggling, cuddling, hugs and kisses. I won't be able to do as much of that as I do now...at least for the first few months when your brother will need me so much. This does not mean that I don't love you or that I don't want to be snuggling with you. I will do my best to hug and snuggle you as much as I can after the baby comes. I think that you are going to love having a brother because you have some tomboy in you. You will be able to play rough and tumble with him, dig in the dirt with him, and fill your pockets full of leaves and other treasures with him! But I also think you'll love him because you have such maternal way about you. You love babies so much and get so excited when you see one. And I see how nurturing you are to your baby dolls. I know that you will be a great big sister.

Love you!

Mommy

Okay - now for the pictures!!


Big Bear Then...






and now...





Me Too Then:





and now...