Lila's birth part 1

How do you begin the story of one's birth? It is a miracle, a journey, time suspended.

The few weeks before Lila was born were uncomfortable and yet I still didn't quite feel prepared to make the transition to two. I didn't even pack my bags until I was 40 weeks or so, and even then, they were partially packed.

I wasn't emotionally prepared to leave Charlotte and I really wasn't sure how she was going to make out without nursing to sleep and during the night (if she woke up). I tried to treasure my time with Charlotte and remember that this was it... before everything was going to change.

We had our pictures done by a good friend (who is a potter - check out shaniestozek.com) and decided to do an outdoor shoot. The pictures here are a few from our shoot. I love having these memories, the last few before our family of three became a family of four. Tim and I went on some dates and saw a few movies.... a date night that is hard to pull off with a fussy newborn!

Wednesday morning (August 18th) Charlotte and I went to the beach and played in the sand and tried to cool down in the water. We had a picnic and enjoyed time with my cousin and her little guy! After a visit with Kathryn and Eden, we headed to the OB for my 39 week appointment. Little did I know that I would be heading to the hospital for monitoring and blood work that day, and induced two days later! My emotions were all over the place, and I was scared for my baby and for the loss of my ideal of what her birth was going to be like...