Sara: Recently, I’ve been feeling baby move on a fairly consistent basis – yet another almost constant reminder of Justin’s and my little miracle. I’ve been hoping for several weeks that Justin will feel this little miracle, and was beginning to get frustrated that Justin couldn’t feel it and more fully share in my joy. The other night, as we were watching television, I placed Justin’s hand on my belly in hopes he would feel baby move as I had done countless times before. Surprisingly enough, Justin felt baby move!

Justin: It was different than what I expected. I thought feeling the baby move would be like a Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kick! Instead, it was more like a flutter.

Sara: And this mama is grateful baby’s movements have yet to feel like a Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kick!

This movement is a constant reminder that in just a few short months, we’ll have a baby to take care of. As such, our lives recently have been about preparing the way. We’ve started buying needed items for baby, such as a crib, car seat and stroller (ironically found on super-sale at our local hardware store) and more. I keep asking other mothers who have walked the path of motherhood before me for advice.

I often wonder what’s best for both our child and me as the mother. Occasionally, I’ll even throw Justin a bone and wonder what’s best for him, too, ha ha. As I worked on our baby registry, I spent hours on various sites comparing reviews of products and asking other mothers what items were truly necessary for the health and well-being of our child.

Like many new parents, we question whether to use disposable or cloth diapers, what car seat is the safest, and if it’s better to breastfed or use formula after I go back to work. Before we got pregnant, I had no idea there were so many decisions to make!

Preparing for a baby is an awesome responsibility. However, as I ponder this past Lent, I realize I’ve felt “too busy” or “too tired” to do much extra prayer. After becoming pregnant, I realized our lives will never be the same. We do need to think of our child before ourselves. However, not making time for our spiritual life is not the answer either. I’m beginning to realize just how hard it may be to balance family life, work, our child’s needs, and our spiritual life (both as individuals and as a family). Perhaps this is God’s way of preparing the way for me to realize exactly how difficult balancing family life may be.

For now, I wonder what would happen if I used a fraction of the time preparing for Easter this next week that I’d typically spend preparing for baby. What would happen if I asked other trusted friends about the spiritual life as readily as I do about the best brand of diapers? Would our Easter be more meaningful and sweeter because of it? I’d like to think so.