We’ve got hiccups known as practice breathing. We’ve got normal aches and pains. We’ve got the baby bump (which has been a very comfy pillow for me lately). But of all the things in all the books and all the online reading, I certainly didn’t expect this.
At nine months pregnant, mom got some startling news from her doctor the other day. Baby Schmidt is racing to the finish line. It turns out he or she is growing exceptionally fast for his or her gestational age, with measurements that put our dear soon-to-be little person in the not-so-little category. Mom went to something called an ultrasound to confirm the details, and sure enough. Baby Schmidt’s measurements reveal a baby that could be as much as nine pounds. Already. At 36 weeks.
This came as quite the surprise to me, as I have resigned myself to thinking I will not be meeting my little person for some time yet. Just because the bottles are all sterilized and the clothes are all washed and the room is put together (and has been for more than a month now) doesn’t mean the arrival will happen any sooner.
But alas, perhaps it could. To me this is joyous news! My little person wants to meet me sooner rather than later! I’m pumped! So I can’t quite piece together why mom seems so worried. Worry has been the dominating emotion around here lately and I can’t say it’s my favorite. She is my person and I can’t stand to see her like this. But I’ve done everything I can do – including some fun in the snow today followed by serious cuddle time – to bring that worry out of her. Nothing is working.
Instead she continues to consult those darned books and blogs and all other sources of potentially scary information. Worry isn’t getting us anywhere. I realized today it never does. Pregnant or otherwise, worry tends to do nothing but stall forward progress.
“While we are focusing on fear, worry, or hate,” suggested author Bo Bennett, “it is not possible for us to be experiencing happiness, enthusiasm or love.”
From practice breathing to aches and pains to the bittersweet beauty of the baby bump, we’ve got a whole lot of normal going on around here. Even this news is okay news. Normal news. There is joy in these things. So I chose to focus on that – the happiness, enthusiasm and love. Because these are the emotional fuel for something much bigger than worry. These are the fuel for faith. And faith conquers worry every time.
Wiley's Wisdom 
Maybe it’s going to be a Christmas “special person” Keep on breathing! Merry Christmas to you all.
It could be…but oy, that would mean the stork comes tonight instead of Santa! 😉
Lots of love and Merry Christmas to you as well!!!
Wiles
🙂
Praise God your mom and baby Schmidt are doing great!!!! My last ultrasound was very similar…they estimated our baby at 10 pounds!!!! When they pulled him out the doc was like “well, here’s a 9 pounder” giggles…Praises praises for a healthy baby!!!! Wiles, your blessings are just starting my friend…Just cuddle up on that mommy pillow, exhale, and just be you…Your sweet face could calm the weariest soul!!!! Hugs to you cutie and your sweet momma!!!!
It brought my mom some solace reading your story, dear friend. Thank you for sharing. I will gladly accept the “homework” to comfort mom in time of need. Besides, that pillow is darned comfortable. For me, not my mom. 😉
Lots of love,
Wiles
Writetowag’s got it,Wyles. Snuggle in with your Momma and remind her these time estimates are just that – time estimates. My brother was premature back in 1946 and came in at 2 lbs. He quite literally fit in the palm of a man’s hand. He was the smallest baby that had ever been delivered up until that time at that hospital. We scare ourselves sometimes with too much info. Remind your Mom this has gone on for thousands of years and we are at the height of the best medical knowledge to date. All will be well. Love HuntMode, Elby, that Cat! and Ella, the Greythound
P.S., I came in a 4 lbs and just look at me now! Grin.
Oh my goodness, dear Huntmode! That is absolutely amazing about you and your brother being so tiny when you were born! And you’re right – look at you now. There’s no stopping you! 🙂
Lots of love,
Wyles
[…] What To Expect | Wiley’s Wisdom […]
Thanks for the pingback!
[…] What To Expect | Wiley’s Wisdom […]
Thanks for the pingback!
Dear Wiles, you are so sweet. You care for your Mom and your family so much. The doctors will take good care of your Mom, don’t you worry.
Dear Lyn,
I do trust in these doctor folks…I just wish mom had the sense to stop scaring herself with all this research that contradicts what the doctor folks have to say. But I digress.
Lots of love,
Wiles
C’mon out, little baby. Maybe Santa gave the stork the day off and the jolly old guy will bring the baby himself. Yay!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Oh Cupcake…how I wish you were right! That would mean tonight could be the night! I fear however that the little person is going to come whenever he or she is ready….darn it all. 🙂
Lots of love and Merry Christmas!!!
Wiles
I want to offer some words of advice but I have none – sorry. Thinking of you all
Thoughts and prayers are all we need about now, so that means the world. Thank you!
I agree with writetoway and huntmode! Focus on the love and joy and have faith that all will be well. Wishing you all a holiday filled with love and laughter. 🙂
It certainly is a special time to celebrate love and laughter. I wish all the same to you, dear Linda!
Lots of love and Merry Christmas,
Wiles
Wiley! I nominated you for the Blog of the Year 2013 award http://mykidhaspaws.org/2013/12/23/nominated-me-blog-of-the-year-2013-award/ Good luck!
Oh goodness gracious! Thank you!!! And that means congratulations are in order for you as well, dear one! High paw!!!
Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!!
Reblogged this on Wiley's Wisdom and commented:
The same is true the second time around. Funny how that works.