This morning, almost our whole play group and all of our kiddos gathered at a nearby park to have lunch together and to celebrate the Button. In a way it almost feels strange that baby’s arrival is close enough to shower, but with only 4.5ish weeks to go, it was perfect timing. I love these mamas and their little ones, and it has been sweet to share in the joy of each of our new arrivals as they’ve all been born. We started out with six moms and kiddos in play group, added another mom and her son, and then let time runs its course. Since we began gathering well over a year ago, four of the seven of us have had a second baby. The Button will be munchkin number 12 in the group, and no doubt #13 and #14 will follow close behind. We’ve started to joke that we’ll have to meet in public places only, or that the group will eventually need to divide into two smaller bunches to manage our growing crowd.

It was a good deal of fun to watch our two year olds interact today as they ran around together, up steps and down slides, round and round in the wood chips and grass. They’ve all changed so much–even though it seems like mere minutes since they were all under one, they’re now talking and having little conversations, interspersed between sharing and paling around like old friends.

Between manning the littles and trying to catch up with each other on the latest since our last group gathering, it was a busy morning. And it was a beautiful one. The weather was more spring-like than summery, we had a delightful lunch to celebrate baby (PB&Js shaped like onesies, fruit salad, blueberry zucchini muffins, cheese, crackers, and pink and blue rice crispy treats), and Henry and I had fun opening up some lovely gifts for his soon-to-arrive brother or sister. It’s such a humbling thing to be celebrated, and the whole morning was a sweet reminder of community–and of the friendships God has blessed me with on this journey of motherhood.

Even though we still have plenty we’d love to do before baby gets here, I’m feeling super grateful that there are few things we know for sure no matter when baby comes. He or she is already so loved and wanted here. We are surrounded by amazing friends and family who will help us to usher in this new life, and there’s no way our world won’t be better and changed by such a sweet little addition. I can’t wait to wash baby’s new blankets and items from today that will make his or her arrival feel even more tangible and close!

thankful for all that God provides!

mm