A Mother's Nesting Instinct
April 5, 2006
by Tricia
Adoption is a very funny thing. In some ways it reminds me of the anticipation of pregnancy in that you don't really know your baby until he/she arrives. In other ways it's like the year I opened all of the Christmas presents my mother had wrapped and "hidden" in her closet. I was excited to know exactly what my gifts were, what they looked like and how much I would enjoy them. The down side was I had to wait nearly a month to actually receive them.
I have found both of these emotions to be true as we near the end of our adoption process. Gracie is coming! Soon! All of the natural nesting instincts I experienced with Morgan, Allie, Lindsay and Evan are creeping up again and it's all I can do to stay focused on the tasks at hand.
There is much to do: Packing. Making lists for our wonderful friend, Joy, who is traveling from Illinois to keep our children. Cooking meals for the kids to eat while we are gone. Re-packing. Shopping for items not yet checked off my list.
Besides the logistics I am constantly wondering how Gracie is doing. Does she have anymore teeth? How big is she now? The "nesting" is in full swing now.
Of course there are some physical differences between how I feel as we expect this baby and how I felt as I carried 30 extra pounds of baby during my other pregnancies. I must say this way is much easier in that respect! However, in a little over a month I will gladly carry 38.86 pounds (just had my suitcase weighed!) to the airport and excitedly board a plane that will take me to my newest little girl. How precious to know that what other adoptive moms have said is so true. She may not have grown in my womb but she has certainly grown in my heart.
