patiently waiting

to kiss these sweet toes.

to smell that beautiful new baby smell.

to see clenched fists and bent legs,

to hear wails and mewling cries,

tiny fingers and toes,

heads of hair.

waiting to meet them.

to hold them. to feed them. to swaddle them, spend sleepless nights with them.

to introduce them to their big sisters.

the other day, a lab tech was drawing my  blood and asked me what i was having. the girls and j were with me.

i said two more girls. she said "oooohhhhh" and harper said "i KNOW!! isn't it WONDERFUL????".

sigh. i love that girl.i was SO proud of her in that moment!

at the doctor several days ago i was 3 cm. i've had a night full of contractions since and sporadic day contractions...so it's only a matter of time.

my mom comes back tonight just in case.

it could be tomorrow, could be a couple more weeks.

but i'm ready.

and patiently waiting.

xoxo

s

i am also so very happy and excited for my sweet friend tina as she awaits the LONG anticipated birth of her first son, tyler. maybe our babies will share birthdays???? :)

 

Comments

[Joan]

I agree with Harper!!!!! It's going to be wonderful!!!!! And soon!!!!

[Antonia from the UK]

Oooh, how exciting! Best wishes from this side of the pond! I'm thinking of you!

[Kristen Cox]

hang in there!!! lots of girls is awesome. =) it won't be long now!!

[Jessica Woodford]

I'm so excited for you and your cute family! Wishing you the best in these last few days of pregnancy & a breezy delivery!

Take care
xo,
Jess

[Lorraine Johnson]

We are all waiting with you.... Hugs... Losh

[Vanessa M. Santamaria]

Harper is so right! It IS wonderful! So happy for you and I wish you only the best and a great delivery when the time comes! I can't wait to "meet" your babies on the blog :) xo

[Jennifer Camplin]

That will be soon in no time before you know it.

Looking forward to hear babies' birth announce!

[Melissa]

Oh, this just makes my heart melt. Yup, right now I'm a puddle of mush all over the office floor. Miracles are so wonderful! Hugs to you Steph!

[patti]

praying for a wonderful delivery!!

[Ann]

Thinking and praying for you and your family! And can I just say: Harper, you go, girl!

[Tina]

that is the cutest ultrasound...those little toes! I cannot wait to see the twins. we may just share the same bday. we'll see! hope you're relaxing. :)

[Jenni Hufford]

love that Harper!!! Praying for you all!!

[Elizabeth Saumell]

How exciting! Praying for the entire Howell family! God Bless, Stephanie!

[C. Rayevich]

Yeah for all these babies!!!! so exciting!!
xo

[Jill E.]

i'm giddy for you! my harper kate is a week old today and it has been such an amazing week! can't wait to see what they look like! good luck!

jill from mn

[Carrie D.]

see my daughter's toes during my ultrasound was one of my most vivid and special memories. so exciting!! i hope the girls wait until your mom arrives! xoxo

[Sarah Savage]

Oh, Stephanie....reading this just made tears start streaming down my face & can't make them stop. I am SO overjoyed for you and the miracle you are about to experience! The only bad part about it is that it goes by SO quickly, it makes my heart ache. Thinking of you daily & will be checking for updates often! Sending so much love to you and your family as you all await this precious gift.

[Andrea]

Wow, all the best for the exciting moments ahead of you. I love the scan photo of that chubby looking foot!! I will be checking back daily for updates and wish you and your family all the very best.

[Suz]

it sure will not be long now & your lives will change... for the good. Praying for you & the girls

[Debby Schuh]

Praying for you and the family every day... can't wait to see pictures of the new little girls! They are very lucky to have a mom and dad like you guys. So glad your mom will be there! Has she decorated a babies' room yet?

[kate]

blessings of rest to you now and healthy healing after..

[Marti Richards]

Right on, Harper! Reading that put the biggest smile on my face! (((HUGS))) So excited for you all! Oh how I love newborns and that newborn baby smell! :)

[Meghann]

Look at how perfect that little foot is! I am so happy for you, Steph & I am praying that everything goes so smoothly for you!

[Jamie]

Thank you SO much for taking us along on your journey through your blog. It is SO exciting! Can't wait to see the blessed news blog post!

[nancy n]

Oh, sweet babies! I can't wait to see pictures
of your sweet babies with their sweet sisters.
You are blessed!!!!

[JillT]

Enjoy the last minutes of "peace" (as peaceful as it can be with your big girls:) Been in hosp for couple of days so wondered what i would find when I opened your blog. You have a lot of excited stalkers out there!

[Jody]

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:)

[Mary W]

SO excited for you!!! Can't wait to see 2 more sweet Howell girls!!

[Hilary]

I get the same response when I say I have 4 boys...Ohhhh!!!...as if there is something wrong with having 4 kids of the same sex...it's nice to know that someone with girls gets the same response as someone with boys. Praise God that those girls have grown so long inside. Hang in there...you look beautiful! Praying for a safe and healthy delivery very soon!

[Debbie]

Very exciting - can't wait to her the news when the girls arrive. Big hugs from New Zealand!

[Jen Thompson]

Oh it's all so exciting Steph! I can not wait to see those sweet faces on my computer screen!!!!!

[Stephanie]

It's so exciting! I think about your impatience and I am too!!!

[Debbie]

good luck Steph !~ so glad to hear mom is coming back to help out with bigs. =)

[Elizabeth]

Can not wait to see your two beautiful girls! All the best and BiG HUGS!!!!

[Mary Jo]

Really and truly happy for you and your family! :0)

[Es]

How exciting!!! Will be praying that all goes smoothly for u. Can't see to see pics of those precious babies:)

[Deborah]

Could you wait till Monday? No, that's selfish of me. You go ahead and have those lovely babies safely and happily.
I'll be away all weekend at a Girl Guide(Scout)camp but will run to the computer when I get back to check for news.
Blessings!

[Kate]

SO excited for you and your family! Sending good thoughts your way for an easy delivery!! Can't wait to see them!

[maria O]

so excited for you,j and the girls,best of luck! my thoughts are with you and you family for a good and easy delivery,can't wait to meet them.I agree with Harper..girls are wonderful! in my house we have one little girls and our second little girl on the way am due Feb 20, and is coming so fast too best wishes with the 2 two new baby's that are on there way.
maria o

[Robyn W.]

I'm so excited for you and your darling fam!! I hope that everything goes well - you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!! It's going to be such a special day for you!! Hugs friend! And...LOVE all the photos in the last post of you guys - just beautiful!! Good luck! It will be fabulous!

[sharron]

Blessings for a smooth delivery...cannot wait to see and hear all about those moments!!!

[norah]

I just said to my husband "the twins are coming" he has no clue what I'm talking about!!
I'm an ex OB nurse and 3cm with twins & contractions is a good sign that they will be here soon.
Good luck!
I lost my twins at 3months and would love to have had them. They must be so much fun and your two girls will be so happy to have not one, but 2 new sisters!
Love & prayers are with all of you let us know asap!!!
Norah

[Chris Dodaj]

I'm just delighted for all of you! I can't wait to see those beautiful baby girls!

[Christine Campbell]

Ok, i'm sitting here crying like a fool at 11:50pm all by myself. I guess I'm just really tired - but SO SO SO EXCITED for you all - I CAN'T FREAKIN WAIT to see who they look like...Sadie or Harper - I've just got a feeling they are going to look more like Harper :) Rest as much as you can!! ((HUGS))

[Jill Sprott]

I am SO incredibly excited for you, Stephanie!

[Amy K]

Out of the mouths of babes...yay for Harper!
Excitedly waiting with you!

Blessings...

[Ally]

Ahhhh, I am trying to be patient too! But I am on pins and needles awaiting the announcements of Tina and you both! I was just looking at the SC baby list too and marveling at the fact that none of the babes have shared birthdays yet. I keep thinking that would be so fun if someone did! Thinking of you all and wishing for easy, non-worrisome deliveries! You're going to do GREAT!

[Pearl Maple]

Just so sweet, babies are one of life's treasures.

[Kathy Martin]

What a precious little foot! Yes, you will be kissing them shortly! What an awesome Thanksgiving you will have!

[Stephanie Eaken]

That little foot is the cutest thing!! COngrats on making it this far & best wishes for the days to come! So glad your mom will be w/ you!!!

[Bessie Segal]

I'm so excited for you all as the time draws near.

The recent family photos you posted are beautiful and seem to show your personalities really well.

I wish you health and ease when the time comes and look forward to hearing about and seeing pictures of the new girls.

Best wishes, Bessie - Bonnie Scotland

[samantha]

Harper is so sweet. It is wonderful! It's great that you made it this far, enjoy your last few days before the birth. I hope you get some extra rest. Can't wait to see pics of your beautiful new babes with their big sisters. :)

[bluemoon]

Wooohooo! Look at that sweet little foot! If you disappear from blogging land, we will all know why :))))... I wish you all the best Stephanie! How exciting! I think you'll all be home for Thanksgiving together! Cheering you on from way up north! Hugs!

[Tina Collins]

What an exciting time! Rest up and best of luck with the delivery. Can't wait to see all of your girls together<3

[pidgen]

I've been giving my mom and sister updates on your pregancy as if I grew up with you or something!! LOL. You have an amazing way of making your readers feel so connected with you ... what a talent and gift. I love Harper's response -- children mimic their parents and it just made me smile that she would say that with so much excitement! Praying for your whole family!

[Kat Layton]

OMG! I am so excited for you! You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers! Good luck!

[Angie F]

So glad you are *ready*!! Hope everything goes smoothly!! Take Care! Sending prayers and positive thoughts!

[Nirupama]

Whoa...3 cm, could be any day now, wow!! Good luck and congrats. So happy and excited for you!!

[Bea Monforte]

This is so exciting! I wish you all the best. Your daughters are so cute, and the new babies will be as cute as their big sisters ;)

[Amy P.]

I pray that you have a safe delivery & your babies are healthy!

[Misty Munn]

Praying for a safe delivery and two precious, healthy little chicks!!!

BTW, lovin' the "edited" blog title :)

[Linda]

Wow, what a special blessing that Harper shared. I have been watching your blog for several years and I love how you can feel the love your family has for each other.

Best of luck during next few months and I am praying the babies come into this world with only love.

[Andrea Dick]

Good luck. Try to relax before the big event. Life is about to change. You have so many little helpers, it just might drive you crazy;)

[Mel brewin]

Harper is sooo right!!! Girls are wonderful!!! They ROCK. Praying for a safe delivery for you. You are one heck of a woman steph. Can't wait to see what these gorgeous girls look like. Blessings

Mel xx

[Dolly]

Out of the mouths of babes LOL! Your Harper is such a riot, do you keep track of her "Harperisms?" You have carried these two sweet girls with such grace (and yes, I mean the dignified form not the physical to quote you LOL)What a wonderful family you have, thank you again for sharing with all of us. I agree with several other readers; you have a way of connecting with all of us and making us feel a part of your life. I look forward to seeing those adorable girls soon.

[Natalie]

Wishing you the very best labor and delivery! can't wait to see pictures of your sweet little girls!