The days are flying by at this point, and thank goodness for that because my body is aching and I have never felt so ready to knowingly and willingly endure pain before in my life. Like, let’s just do this. I told Paul last weekend, “What if we all anticipated Jesus’ coming like we did to get a baby out of us by 34 weeks?!” All while in the middle of trying to put pants on and breathing heavy, because lung capacity is at an all time minimal amount currently, and it really was the thought I had haha. You just can’t make these things up. I have also definitely fallen over attempting to put pants on lately, so there’s that.
Moral of the story: Pants are always optional- especially while pregnant.
(But if necessary, these from the Ingrid & Isabel line at Target… holy smokes. So good.)
As Paul and I have gotten ready for baby- the car seat, nursery, birthing classes, hospital prep, etc.- we have also prepared emotionally the best we possibly can. We have valued every minute together and said “no” to a lot lately. If we can have an evening together, which isn’t often, we take it. We’ve done the nursery together, shopped for baby items together, and done as much as we can together. This is our baby and our new life, and it’s most certainly a team effort despite the fact I am the one carrying Baby K. Life is about to change as we know it, and we get that.
I have always known and believed you only fall more in love with your spouse as you grow older together. But, I didn’t expect to love him so much more and in so many new ways as I have throughout pregnancy. Sure, I figured I would love him in a new way as a dad once K is here, but being pregnant alongside my husband has grown a deep love for him that wasn’t there before. I didn’t even know I had space for it, and it’s been incredibly sweet to experience. I can’t hug or kiss him enough.
We have started to picture life with K around. At night we read a story from The Storybook Bible out loud to get into a new routine, and we talk to K a lot. We want his name to be on our lips and part of life before he’s even here. We pray for him as though he’s already here. We sit with Presley and let her sniff my belly, hear his name, and smell all of his tiny clothes and toys. His nursery has been free range for her to explore so that she, too, is as accustomed to this new tiny human that will be taking over all of our lives as best as possible.
So, to answer the question, “How have you prepared together emotionally for a baby?”
Well, it’s looked like taking every minute together we can, knowing now is the last of our time in our marriage we will ever be like this. It’s putting our phones down more than ever and feeling the baby move and kick together. It’s taking advantage of every opportunity we can to connect and do new things together. It’s going to the grocery store together, it’s being more intentional than ever to ask good questions at the dinner table. It’s stealing kisses whenever you get to, and it’s being blubbering babies together every time we finish something new in the nursery or see a little boy out and about or on television (For real, though. I have never seen Paul cry so much before until we were parents to be).
Preparing emotionally together for baby is just as important as prepping the home for baby. You can have all the best baby items, the best stroller, the best car seat, the top-rated mattress and monitors… but if you haven’t made baby part of your routine and life before he gets here in some capacity, I truly feel it only increases the shock of the new addition. Of course, we are first time parents. Of course, we can’t speak to that with full knowledge and I won’t even try to act like I know it’s true. But, it’s helped us prep for K. It’s made us excited and feel like he’s already part of our lives without even knowing him yet.
So there’s that. We’ve been incredibly intentional with time together, and have started to do life slowly but surely as though he’s here. There’s not a ton you can do to do that, but having his stuff around the house and making him present in the home before he’s here is something you can do.
We cannot wait to meet K! It’s crazy to think how close we are. Like, insane.
xoxo- Han
Outfit Details
This top is from Pink Blush, here. I got so many compliments on this adorable but slightly edgy crushed velvet top. Collar neck + crushed velvet= 2 trends in one top WITHOUT being too extra. I love it worn with this pair of black denim from Target (They’re less than $35!!!).
My slide on mules, here, are still my go-to right now in pregnancy. They’re the bomb.
All photos by Cottonwood Road Photography for The Cake by Hannah
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