It’s been quite a busy few weeks. I’ve been fully in the throes of nesting, and it’s been a whirlwind of projects in and around the house.

We’ve been outside a lot as the rain clears and the temperatures linger in the low 60s. This is one of the only times I truly appreciate living in a warmer climate. It’s been wonderful being outside and working in the garden. I know when the temperatures climb to 100+ degrees in the summer I’ll be struggling once more, but for now, I’m enjoying the golden sunshine and crisp wind and moody skies.

Last week I did some pretty intense work in our garden as the weather warmed up. I planted jasmine, apple trees, broccoli, tomatoes, beans, and marigolds, and reorganized furniture, cleaned the front porch, and mowed our wild lawn. It felt good to be working in the crisp February air, even though I was pretty sore for a few days afterwards.

Michael had a lot of fun hanging out with my dad while I got tips and pointers on how to work some of the power tools I borrowed.

Then, Jake and my dad spent a weekend tiling our main bathroom. I was so grateful they finished it before baby girl arrived — despite the rain that made cutting tile outside a bit more difficult! It was a project we’d hoped to complete before moving in, but never actually did. Now, aside from painting touchups, the bathroom is complete.

Michael also had a blast “helping” my dad with the grouting process.

This past weekend Jake leveled out the northern section of our garden (with some help from Michael). We’ll put down some native grass seed so we have a place to sit and walk barefoot while keeping an eye on our growing veggies.

Maybe it’s because we’re drawing so close to having our second baby join us, but Michael seems to have grown up in leaps the past few weeks. He got a haircut, and we stopped to have a coffee date afterwards. He looks so much bigger and older. It makes my heart ache in a bittersweet way.

He’s such a sweet, spirited boy. He talks constantly, narrating what he’s doing or what’s going on around us. Being outside, as always, is his ultimate favorite thing. He sings quite a lot, and loves his harmonica (which I conveniently hide from time to time). He always wants to help, with whatever we’re doing: so often we load the dishwasher or sweep or make the bed together. His excitement for things I take for granted never fails to humble me.

I’m nearly 38 weeks pregnant now, and I’m feeling a slow shift in my body and mind as we draw closer to the end. Nesting has moved from cleaning and house and garden projects to more internal work: mainly handicrafts and quiet time — as much as can be expected with a toddler — and as many naps as I can manage.

We’ve been spending afternoons coloring together, or making cookies, or walking around the garden. He’s developed a new love of daffodils after all mine burst into bloom, and asks me to draw them whenever we have the crayons out. I do my best.

As for handicrafts, I finally finished the crewel work project I’ve been working on for over a year. I love the way it turned out: embroidery projects aren’t my main passion, but I do love having one to pull out when the fancy strikes. I started another: my grandmother got me an embroidery kit for my birthday from Avlea Embroidery. It’s my first time doing counted thread work, which is harder than I expected. I’m still enjoying the process and look forward to having a beautiful table linen when it’s finished.

I also completed a knitting project: a purple kitty for a dear little girl at our church.

I feel like many of my current projects are a race against the clock: how much can I finish before birth? Do I have a day to finish this sewing project, or a few weeks? There’s no way to tell. I feel suspended in a strange, liminal state: all plans have the shadow of the unknown over them. It’s beginning to feel “real” (especially when you start getting groceries that expire after your due date).

My due date is only a few days before the beginning of Lent, so God willing, I will be rejoining the church services right before Pascha (or a little before). I will miss the communal aspect of Lent where all of us undertake the sober task of focusing on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

As we on the Julian calendar approach Lent, I’m reminded that this will be a strange Lenten season for me: the Church sets aside 40 days of healing for mothers postpartum where they are excused from all services. These 40 days aren’t mandatory, but strongly encouraged. In a culture that idolizes the “bounce back” of mothers’ bodies and minds, I appreciate this tradition that prioritizes healing and recognizes the sacredness of labor, delivery, and postpartum.

But even in this time set aside for rest and healing, I will be undertaking the Lenten journey. My fasting will look different: prioritizing my nourishment and rest as I heal from labor and delivery. My almsgiving will look different: giving continually from myself as I sustain a baby with my body. My prayer will look different: instead of attending church services, I’ll be attending to a newborn at all hours as well as my toddler.

Pray for me, dear friends, as I watch and wait over the next few weeks, and as we enter into this new season: liturgically, and also in life.