Getting Ready for #2

Along with all the other normal things going on in our lives, we have been trying to prepare some for Baby Jade's arrival. I guess we never officially announced it on our blog, but you can see the timer so you know she's due July 9th. I'm hoping for the end of June since James was 1.5 weeks early from his due date and he weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. I don't really want to go for a 10 lb. baby - totally ok with the more normal range in that category. So, that I will just have to wait and see.

Well, since we're less than two months and there's plenty to do, here's our list:

1. Paint closet


2. Install the closet organizer shelves and rods


3. SPRING CLEAN (you know, all the special extras like moving furniture around to clean around it and scrubbing down windows and doors, etc.)


4. After baby shower (which is May 30th - Thanks Kim, Rosa, Granny Hane, Felicia!), getting all the stuff organized and getting the rest of the stuff we need.


5. Spend lots of time with James (I think we want to get him a gift "from Jade" too).
   
6. Try to finish James' baby book so I don't feel like I've totally ignored his life since he was 3 months old.
   
7. Work on my project for Jade although I know I won't finish it before she's born. I did a cross-stitch with a scripture for James and decided I wanted to make it a tradition for all of my kids. I found a really beautiful flower one to make with John 3:16. I'm not really crafty so I want my kids to have at least one thing I hand-made for them.
   

1 and 2 got done last week (mostly by TJ - Thanks BABE!) and I'm able to put everything back in the closet. Those organizing shelves make a HUGE difference when you live in a small house and have 2 small bedrooms with 4 people's stuff. I know there's always plenty to do just to get things ready for a baby and we won't really be "ready" anyway, but the thing I want is just to get to enjoy her and our family time when she gets here. So the more that's done before, the better.

James has also been getting ready for "Baby Jade." Here are some of his recent things:

1. Sitting in his high chair yesterday I told him, "You and Jade will get to share your high chair." He said, "No, I'm sitting here." I told him he wouldn't have to have her sit with him, just when he wasn't sitting in it she would. He said, "Oh, ok."
   
2. Ask him anytime who is in Mommy's belly and he says very matter-of-factly, "Baby Jade."
   
3. When I'm going through clothes or diapers for Jade or anything else, he always knows who they are for, "Baby Jade."


4. In his prayers sometimes he likes to say a long list of family to bless, but he always makes sure to include "Baby Harmony" (my cousin, Talli's little baby born in March), and "Baby Olivia" (my cousin, Breeze's baby born in December). I asked him one day if he could pray for Baby Jade too. He studied me for a second, looked at my belly, and then said, "Please bless Baby Jade too."
   
5. Lastly, but also my favorite. I was reading to him in the glider chair in his room and Jade started to move around a lot after we finished and were just sitting, talking, and cuddling. He won't keep his hand on my belly long enough to feel anything, so I told him to watch my tummy to see Baby Jade move. He looked for about 5 seconds and then said, "Is she going to come out?" I just love my little boy!