Waiting

Today, BabyMunk has reached 39 weeks of gestation. Lord willing, in a week's time or less, we'll finally meet the little boy who will make us a clan of five!

When I was pregnant with JMunk and with LMunk, I just knew each one would be born early, and impatience clouded the last weeks of my pregnancies. Since JMunk was born right on her due date and LMunk was born one day early, I've been quite confident this entire pregnancy that BabyMunk would be born pretty close to his due date, too. I never really considered that he might make an early appearance, and until today I certainly hadn't considered that he just might take his time and come a little later than expected. Regardless, it's been a much different experience being at peace about when our boy's birthday will be.

But now we're down to the last week, and we're starting to receive phone calls and messages inquiring as to whether our baby has yet been born. My body is getting a little tired and it doesn't seem possible that there is any more room for this baby to grow. Tiny blue and green clothes are laundered and neatly in their drawers, a bag is packed for the girls' few hours away during the birth, meals are prepared and frozen, DMunk has lesson plans and syllabi ready for the semester; things are in order, and we're ready.

Still, I'm enjoying the quiet times when I lie down and BabyMunk gets busy, and only I can feel him move, only I know he's awake, and it's special. And I wish we could have more and more moments like that. But I'm ready to hold this baby in my arms, to kiss his face, to share him with his daddy and his sisters. I'm ready to welcome him into our family. I'm excited to see LMunk change from being the baby to being a big sister and to see JMunk nurture her little brother as she's been practicing on her dolls.

It's an exciting time in the Munky house, and we praise God for the blessings as we wait.