We brought her home three years ago, almost to the week. We blinked and this happened.

We washed everything. We pulled out all the things we had forgotten that we couldn’t live without. We marveled at the size of the tiny clothes we folded. Our memories were jarred pulling bouncy seats and nursing covers out of closets.

I smelled her hair and held his hand, knowing that our time as three was short. 40 weeks is fast approaching and for the first time in many weeks, I stopped working and stopped allowing myself to be distracted and instead, prepared my home and my heart for another baby.

There isn’t much left to do except go through the motions of the next week. I’m not sure how ready one little family can be, but we are.

Last week we celebrated our 3-year-old before she really turned three. I made some cute invitations with Charlotte’s picture, clearly depicting the theme.

(True story. We got to the Disney store and I saw the price of the Rapunzel wig. I said, “Charlotte, put this on and let Mama take your picture!” It was robbery. No way. Maybe for Christmas. Maybe.)

We had all of her little classmates and friends at a local bounce house kiddie facility. Bounce, pizza, cake, out. Awesome. This place was a party producing machine. I didn’t have it in me to get all Pinteresty like I did last year you know, being nearly 9 months pregnant and all. (Note the message in the sun on the invitation.)

We kept asking her why we were having her party early. She said, “Because da baby’s comin at my birfday on Nobember 2nd!” True. There is a real likelihood that that our children will have the same birthday. Charlotte was due Oct. 28 and born November 2. (Thank you, Pitocin!) This kid is due Oct. 30.  So, seriously, they could have the same birthday.

People act like this is a big problem or something. They always say, “Oh! That would suck if they have same birthday!” Huh? Seriously? There are many, many siblings who share birthdays.  Want proof?

Meet my twin cousins Scott and Meagan. This is them on their 1st birthday in 1983. Cute right?

See. twins and other multiples are siblings who share birthdays. I find it hard to believe sharing a birthday with your brother or sister is as scarring as people keep telling me it is. They’re like, “Oh my God! Are you going to have SHARED birthday parties?” Um, yeah. Probably. Like next year when they’re 1 and 4. What do they care? Cake, presents, done. They’re kids.

People are then like, “But, what about when they’re older! They should have their own day!!!!” Geez, relax. If we act like it’s bad thing, it becomes a bad thing. Guess what? We’re gonna make it an awesome thing. So help the person who says anything negative to my children about shared birthdays. So, Baby #2, don’t worry. If we meet you on your sister’s birthday it will be awesome! Anyone who said it isn’t is not invited to our awesome parties. So there.

One month. Tomorrow marks one month until my due date with Baby 2.0. I’ve had an extremely uneasy feeling hanging over me in recent weeks. I can’t explain this obnoxious monkey on my back. He’s a rotten, hairy little beast whispering to me that I’m somehow failing and will never be ready for this baby. This monkey enjoys making sure I feel overwhelmed and unprepared to leave work and be home. He’s the reason my husband has been putting his arm around me in the kitchen and reminding me it will all be okay.

Every moment of my October is planned and scheduled out so I can fit everything in I need and want to do before my October 30 due date. Charlotte’s Halloween costume is bought, her birthday party is scheduled a few weeks early. I’m sending out invitations this week. I’m adding to my work list and taking time to develop a plan for my departure.

I got an welcome and much needed reprieve from my worries this weekend. My sister came to town and threw a brunch in honor of Baby 2.0. Just family and close girlfriends. I felt like the luckiest person on the planet to have my mom and sister plan a lovely party for me. I couldn’t stop smiling, chatting, sipping coffee and eating fresh made doughnuts at one of my favorite coffee/lunch spots.

The best part of the weekend? Taking pictures with my sister, knowing that Saturday was likely the only day in our lives we will ever be together in person with round bellies to bump and pregnancy symptoms to share. We won’t be back together until after my baby is born. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance to snap these pictures. I look at these and my heart swells up. It knocks the monkey off my back like it had never been there.

Me at 35.5 weeks. Julie at 24.5 weeks.

This weekend and these pictures are the reminder I need not to be stressed or dread this month. Instead, they are the reminder that this October is the last month of my life as the mother of one child. The last month as a family of three. I’m choosing to embrace all the excitement, good or bad. Let’s go October. It’s gonna be a good one. Take that, monkey!

From the profound to the ridiculous, here is a list of worries that have crossed my mind in the last week:

• That I will not be ready for maternity leave in time to get everything done that I need to do at work or home.
• That I will be more than ready for maternity leave and have time to kill.
• That someone will mistakenly think that Sen. Lindsey Graham is from North Carolina and not South Carolina. I prefer we keep that crazy beneath us where it belongs.

• That someone will say that I am somehow swollen in any way at all. I did not swell with my first pregnancy. I don’t plan on swelling this time. I pity the person who says that I look the least bit swollen. I will lose it. 
• That someone will now open fire in a Starbucks, specifically my Starbucks, simply to prove a point. Come on, Mr. Schultz, we could get shot in any public place. Why highlight one of your fine stores?

Courtesy: Caracas Chronicles

• That when I get into Starbucks, they will be out of Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
• That my kid has a cavity.
• That I will have a moment of pregnancy brain like I did last time. You may recall this $600 mistake.
• That I might get hemorrhoids.
• That this baby will resent me because I didn’t spend $250 to get 3D ultrasound pictures of him/her like I did their sister.
• That I might hear “Blurred Lines” on the radio again any time, ever. Remember earlier in the summer when that was “my jam?” Shoot me.  (But, not at Starbucks, please.)

Oh! Hello little blog! I have missed you SO MUCH this week. I’ve just been so insane in the last couple of weeks. I’ve been busy at work, a full blown third trimester insomniac and generally moody bitch.  So, maybe it’s good you haven’t been hearing from me.

I have to tell you about today, however. Today my coworkers threw me a baby shower, a sprinkle if you will. It was wonderful and kind and  helped bring me back from the hyper work-focused, mopey haze I’ve been in lately. They invited Greyson, donated to the March of Dimes in honor of our baby and gave me the first thing that is just for Baby 2.0. Take a look at this tribute to my Harry Potter fanaticism. Do they know me or what?

I almost started crying when I saw my cake. This is where I love to be. I’m the author of Somebody’s Parents and I work with some really cool people who unknowingly give me a nudge back in the right direction. Expect more writing here. Mischief managed.