As you may have guessed from the title, our family has grown since my last post! Our son, Damari, arrived 3 months ago and we have been enjoying the shift in our family dynamic. As with any family, there will always be changes bringing home a new baby but there are also some factors to consider when it comes to the dynamic of your blended family. 

For 7 years, Braylon has been the only child, so I knew that bringing in a baby would be an adjustment for him. He’s used to being the center of attention, so I had several discussions with him before the baby came. Bray was so excited when we told him he was going to be a big brother. We let him know at the beginning of my second trimester so that he would have ample time to prepare to no longer be the only child. He’s already so helpful and caring so we knew becoming a big brother would be a great new role for him. I’m so thankful that he is growing so quickly in his new position. He checks on his little brother, runs in to give him random kisses, and talks about all the things he wants to teach him. He takes so much pride in being a brother and it warms my heart. 

Although this isn’t my hubby’s first child I knew that this would be a definite shift for him as well. This experience wasn’t just new for me but for us as a unit. When he found out he was going to be a father for the first time Braylon was already almost halfway here whereas for our son he found out when I was only 5 weeks pregnant. We also were actively trying to get pregnant. He experienced fatherhood in different seasons of his life so things are bound to be different. He has years of experience being a dad but every pregnancy, and baby come with their own set of possibilities. During the pregnancy and since giving birth he has been supportive and attentive to making sure not just physically but mentally that I’m ok. We’ve had discussions about postpartum and just what my body has endured over the last several months. He asks how he can be of more help and support to me with our son and that’s all I could ask for. 

As for me, this has been surreal honestly. I have gone from being a stepmom to a full-blown mom with 2 kids to care for and I honestly love it. The feeling I have looking at my son who changes every day is all worth it. He’s more than I could have ever imagined. I take a lot of pride in my family already so this was just icing on the cake. I still make time for just Bray and me to connect when he’s with us because I don’t want our bond to change. He’s my mini bestie and he showed me long ago that I could be a mom. I’ve learned a lot over the years with him and I’m learning even more now with my son and I’m extremely grateful for this season. I know I will continue to grow and figure out how to balance all the many roles I play but I know God will help me through it all. Overall, this has been a growing season for our family and I’m glad that I have the support I need around me. I’m living out several of my prayers!