Seriously considering bathing the kids before supper tonight :) They had a bath Friday, not Saturday, not yesterday, but they's had an awful lot of play time outside... And tonight we won't likely be home until after bedtime tonight, so yeah. We'll maybe do a bath before supper.
Last night Hubby asked me a question as I lay on the couch downstairs experiencing some pretty intense pre-labour as he was doing his floor exercises and we were watching a bit of TV. "What did we have on our first date?" My thought "Were did that come from? How could I forget?" So I responded "We split a taco salad at Moxie's, and had the Banana Xiango for dessert." He said he'd never forget that either. It was August 23rd (Hubby's brother's birthday, coincidentally) 2002. Ten years this summer. Three years later we got married, a year after that our eldest was born. Alot has happened in the last decade, alot of moves, alot of babies...
As I'm nearing the end of this pregnancy, I'm noticing alot of people getting anxious. This is my first one where the whole time has been spent in a single congregation. Every week, I have people (mostly women, some who've never had children of their own, some who've had nearly a dozen) ask if I was still here with baby inside. For the last few weeks I've had questions of what gender I think it will be, theories about what gender it will be, guesses as to when I'll finally go into labour (bearing in mind that if I add all the days overdue I was with the boys, subtract the four days early the Girl was, and divide by three to get the average, I could still expect to go at least a week overdue with this one), asking how I'm managing at the end here, do we have people lined up to call for the big day, back up plans.... All I can really say is that it's interesting to hear these anxieties. For as much as I was obsessing about getting things ready and fearing I'd go into labour early, I can really say that I'm not that concerned. I'm a bit concerned to see how the Girl is going to adapt to a new baby.... That'll be interesting.
The crib is up, the car seat is dug out (not set up), and the bassinet is accessible. Baby clothes are washed and folded, my hospital bag is (more or less) ready to go, and every night Boy2 asks if I know when Baby will be coming out. Every slight gasp and twinge I express is met with concern from both Hubby and the Boy. It's kinda cute, the attention I get from the Boy.
Hubby went away and is safely back again. I think he's planning on blogging the happenings from Synod Convention in the next week, so if you are interested in what went on in Camrose last week, you can check him out. This is (hopefully) his last really busy week before winding down for the summer. He has meetings every night this week (except maybe Friday) and a wedding on Saturday. Then nothing (again hopefully) until after the Baby is born. He's missed having the evenings to spend with the kids and I and we've been missing him too. It's been a very nice day today with nothing but puttering about and going to the park to worry about. He was even able to doze in the sun this afternoon while the kids played out there :)
I will get some more pictures up, I promise. As well as a video or two... Just have to motivate myself to sit down with the camera at the computer.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
brief thoughts
Yesterday we did a little bit of shopping. Hubby really wanted pop (we pick some up every few months and it lasts a few months) and I wanted to pick up some black sandals. So I got my sandals, the kids got some as well, and as we headed toward the pop aisle, Hubby branched off with Boy2 looking for something else we had decided we needed. He caught up with me, looked at the box I'd put in, glanced down the aisle to the kind of pop he wanted was, then said "Oh, well." I said to go ahead and switch them since it didn't matter to me. He didn't go back, but he wrapped his arms around me in an exasperated hug. Keep in mind that the Girl is in the shopping cart, the boys are wandering around nearby, and I am currently a very large pregnant person. A woman passes us and just had to tell us how wonderful and cute we were. Hubby looked at me as she was leaving and said "It's just problem solving. It's better than bickering back and forth through the store." The thing is: that's how we deal with problems at home too. It's often better to hug and say "I love you" even though it doesn't change an opinion or the outcome of a discussion.
Hubby brought up the pieces of the crib late last week and they were just sitting in our room against the wall. The kids thought it was great. They could pretend to climb a ladder, hide behind the mattress, and just play around. Hubby leaves tomorrow for Camrose for Synod Convention for a few days, and all I could envision was disaster involving that crib, so I asked him yesterday if he was hoping to set it up before he left. It got set up this morning :) So now we really are truly set up and ready for the blessed day we bring the little bundle home (whenever it decides to come).
I have a few videos and pictures I want to post, but they are still on the camera. They'll likely come up before the weekend as well.
The kids are crazy as ever, not sleeping as much as they probably should (even though I covered their bedroom windows with tin foil to keep the sun out), very excited for the baby (well the boys are, the Girl really has no clue yet), and looking forward to various trips and holidays planned for the summer. I'll post more later, but now I need to go get the Boy from school.
Hubby brought up the pieces of the crib late last week and they were just sitting in our room against the wall. The kids thought it was great. They could pretend to climb a ladder, hide behind the mattress, and just play around. Hubby leaves tomorrow for Camrose for Synod Convention for a few days, and all I could envision was disaster involving that crib, so I asked him yesterday if he was hoping to set it up before he left. It got set up this morning :) So now we really are truly set up and ready for the blessed day we bring the little bundle home (whenever it decides to come).
I have a few videos and pictures I want to post, but they are still on the camera. They'll likely come up before the weekend as well.
The kids are crazy as ever, not sleeping as much as they probably should (even though I covered their bedroom windows with tin foil to keep the sun out), very excited for the baby (well the boys are, the Girl really has no clue yet), and looking forward to various trips and holidays planned for the summer. I'll post more later, but now I need to go get the Boy from school.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
plans and reading
Ever have the feeling that you are running out of time? There's lots and lots of time to do something, then all of a sudden you have relatively little time? Tuesday I had my prenatal visit with the Dr. We did the Group B Strep test, then she hands me my prenatal papers to carry with me and tells me to come back in a week. Yikes! Now, of course, this isn't the first go around we've had of this. By the time #4 is expected we know the drill. I knew I'd be switching to weekly visits. I knew I'd be bringing home my prenatal papers. But for some reason having them in my hand and walking out the doors to the truck suddenly brought me a sense of "Oh, no. I need to pack my hospital bag."
There is absolutely no reason for me to rush this. The Boy decided to arrive after his due date, Boy2 had to be induced 2 1/2 weeks after his due date, and my Girl surprised me by arriving 4 days before hers. I'm currently sitting at 4 weeks to go, so at best there are 3 1/2 weeks to get everything done. Realistically I can plan on 4 1/2 weeks. But yesterday I finally washed and put into drawers the little sleepers for the baby. Today I was going to pack my bag (I may still, but why rush?). Hubby has said that the crib will likely go up on Monday.
My boys are quite anxious for the big day. The Boy wants to give the new baby his favourite Teddy. Boy2 is planning on bringing his nums (soothers) to the hospital for the wee little one. The Girl really has no clue, but this morning she brought me the book "Franklin and the Baby" to read to her. I read it to all three of them and then the boys started talking about how excited they were. The other day I was cutting an onion and gave a bit of a yelp when my eyes started stinging (it was a very, VERY strong onion!). The Boy looked at me very concerned and asked what the baby did to make me yelp. Was it coming? He is such a thoughtful child!
My poor tired feet got a treat this week. Hubby insisted that I get a pedicure :) It was very nice. But I was told that since my skin is so dry and I callous so easily I should come back in 6 weeks for another one. I think I'll be ready for another one after this child decides to come :) I could probably start to have them fairly regularly without being bullied into it.
The Boy has a Zoo field trip coming up at the end of the month here. I can't believe how few weeks are left! There has been so much learning packed into this year for him, it's a wonder his head doesn't explode! That sponge just soaks everything up! And his brother isn't that far behind. Unfortunately, Boy2 has his father's memory and the Boy has mine. You can read something to Boy2 and he'll remember it almost verbatim. The Boy has to look at the words and actually read them. So when getting the Boy to read, it's almost better to not have his brother there, otherwise Boy2 will end up telling the story instead of the Boy reading it himself. Oh, well.
There is absolutely no reason for me to rush this. The Boy decided to arrive after his due date, Boy2 had to be induced 2 1/2 weeks after his due date, and my Girl surprised me by arriving 4 days before hers. I'm currently sitting at 4 weeks to go, so at best there are 3 1/2 weeks to get everything done. Realistically I can plan on 4 1/2 weeks. But yesterday I finally washed and put into drawers the little sleepers for the baby. Today I was going to pack my bag (I may still, but why rush?). Hubby has said that the crib will likely go up on Monday.
My boys are quite anxious for the big day. The Boy wants to give the new baby his favourite Teddy. Boy2 is planning on bringing his nums (soothers) to the hospital for the wee little one. The Girl really has no clue, but this morning she brought me the book "Franklin and the Baby" to read to her. I read it to all three of them and then the boys started talking about how excited they were. The other day I was cutting an onion and gave a bit of a yelp when my eyes started stinging (it was a very, VERY strong onion!). The Boy looked at me very concerned and asked what the baby did to make me yelp. Was it coming? He is such a thoughtful child!
My poor tired feet got a treat this week. Hubby insisted that I get a pedicure :) It was very nice. But I was told that since my skin is so dry and I callous so easily I should come back in 6 weeks for another one. I think I'll be ready for another one after this child decides to come :) I could probably start to have them fairly regularly without being bullied into it.
The Boy has a Zoo field trip coming up at the end of the month here. I can't believe how few weeks are left! There has been so much learning packed into this year for him, it's a wonder his head doesn't explode! That sponge just soaks everything up! And his brother isn't that far behind. Unfortunately, Boy2 has his father's memory and the Boy has mine. You can read something to Boy2 and he'll remember it almost verbatim. The Boy has to look at the words and actually read them. So when getting the Boy to read, it's almost better to not have his brother there, otherwise Boy2 will end up telling the story instead of the Boy reading it himself. Oh, well.
Monday, April 30, 2012
a bit of this...
Well, it's been a busy time. We made our way south for a few days, saw some family, experienced a bit of spring :). The kids have been busy, busy, busy. Growing in understanding and attitude. I've said before and will likely say again and again how impressed I am with the Boy and his learning from school. Constantly amazed. He sat down and read me three new books that he'd never picked up before! I'm very pleased that he (and all of them) have a love of reading and that it's showing through how quickly he's picking up the concept of reading actual words.
It's making Boy2 anxious to start school so he can lean all this stuff too! I'm being asked "When is it my school day?" So I let him know that after the Boy turns 6 and around the time the Girl turns 2 will be his first school day. It'll be pre-school, but school none-the-less. The personalities of these kids is amazing. All three so different, yet similar. They all look so different from each other as well, it's little wonder they are so different. But here are a few pictures we took. I am going to try and print some off to frame for us and various grandparents. Hopefully in the next day or two... If I can motivate!
It's making Boy2 anxious to start school so he can lean all this stuff too! I'm being asked "When is it my school day?" So I let him know that after the Boy turns 6 and around the time the Girl turns 2 will be his first school day. It'll be pre-school, but school none-the-less. The personalities of these kids is amazing. All three so different, yet similar. They all look so different from each other as well, it's little wonder they are so different. But here are a few pictures we took. I am going to try and print some off to frame for us and various grandparents. Hopefully in the next day or two... If I can motivate!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
preparations and trips
I think I'm actually looking forward to the 20-30 mm of rain that is forecast for the next 24 hours. We need to clean away some of the last of the winter ick.
This afternoon, the Girl woke up a bit grumpy and just kept repeating the word "hat. Hat." I got her hat out, but that wasn't what she wanted. She got down, walked to the bookshelf (where she had earlier pulled a bunch of books off) and grabbed a Cat in the Hat book. She's been on a real Dr. Seuss kick recently. Even some of the more recent ones that aren't written by Dr Seuss but have the Cat in the Hat learning logo. It's kind of cute, but I am sometimes surprised when I don't start speaking in rhyme :)
Boy2 has been awfully grumpy of late too, but today he's been better. I think alot of the Easter chocolate has finally worked it's way out of his system. Of course it doesn't help when people keep replenishing the supply but since we don't live close enough to various grandparents to really spoil the kids it's alright to let "grandparent-types" indulge them occasionally.
The Boy had his student led conference yesterday (he got to show off his knowledge and learning to mom and dad). At first he wanted just Daddy to go, but we all went. I am so pleased with him! The teacher is pleased with him. I can hardly believe just how quickly he's picked everything up! His writing, the number recognition, the math patterns, the units they've covered, and he remembers just about everything! The child is like the proverbial elephant!
Speaking of elephants, Boy2 told me the other day that elephants were pretend. He doesn't remember seeing them at the zoo in Calgary. I told him they were real. They live in Africa and India, some in jungles and some in the grasslands. Then I mentioned the trip we're taking this weekend (we're going to Red Deer Saturday for a friend's Ordination and then on to visit family, but we're hoping to get to the Zoo in Calgary Sunday). His eyes lit up and he said "We're going to see elephants at the zoo? Elephants live at the zoo!". I think it will be an awesome day :)
Yesterday evening I wanted cookies. We had no cookies in the house. So I made cookies. What usually happens is that I have an urge to bake first, then I bake whatever looks interesting. That's why I made Blondie bars the other week. This time, the need for cookies preceded the act of baking, which I thought odd. Then I woke up this morning with the overwhelming urge to get out the boxes of new born clothing, wash them, and put them into drawers. I figure this is the nesting that is supposed to happen in the last trimester. I've just never been able to do it or think of it. With the first one, we were moving to another province, so any nesting urges I had were used to pack and clean. With the second, we already knew where and when we'd be leaving for internship, so we had slowly begun packing again. And with the last one, again, we were moving so those needs to nest were used to pack and clean. Now there is no need to pack, no need to clean (other than the normal every day cleaning which sometimes gets done), and I have to suppress this one for a few weeks. Two months before the due date is a bit ridiculous for me. Especially since I am more likely to be over due than early.
So we'll pack and clean for this trip. When we get back I will try harder to maintain the regular cleaning and then in May we will get baby stuff out in preparation. Sort through all those little clothes (especially since we don't know what model we'll be having), find a spot in the bedroom for the bassinet, get size 1 diapers (no point in newborn diapers for the kid. My history of making babies suggests a larger rather than smaller babe), and pack a hospital bag. Might have to get a new infant car seat. We'll have to check the expiration date on the one we have...
This afternoon, the Girl woke up a bit grumpy and just kept repeating the word "hat. Hat." I got her hat out, but that wasn't what she wanted. She got down, walked to the bookshelf (where she had earlier pulled a bunch of books off) and grabbed a Cat in the Hat book. She's been on a real Dr. Seuss kick recently. Even some of the more recent ones that aren't written by Dr Seuss but have the Cat in the Hat learning logo. It's kind of cute, but I am sometimes surprised when I don't start speaking in rhyme :)
Boy2 has been awfully grumpy of late too, but today he's been better. I think alot of the Easter chocolate has finally worked it's way out of his system. Of course it doesn't help when people keep replenishing the supply but since we don't live close enough to various grandparents to really spoil the kids it's alright to let "grandparent-types" indulge them occasionally.
The Boy had his student led conference yesterday (he got to show off his knowledge and learning to mom and dad). At first he wanted just Daddy to go, but we all went. I am so pleased with him! The teacher is pleased with him. I can hardly believe just how quickly he's picked everything up! His writing, the number recognition, the math patterns, the units they've covered, and he remembers just about everything! The child is like the proverbial elephant!
Speaking of elephants, Boy2 told me the other day that elephants were pretend. He doesn't remember seeing them at the zoo in Calgary. I told him they were real. They live in Africa and India, some in jungles and some in the grasslands. Then I mentioned the trip we're taking this weekend (we're going to Red Deer Saturday for a friend's Ordination and then on to visit family, but we're hoping to get to the Zoo in Calgary Sunday). His eyes lit up and he said "We're going to see elephants at the zoo? Elephants live at the zoo!". I think it will be an awesome day :)
Yesterday evening I wanted cookies. We had no cookies in the house. So I made cookies. What usually happens is that I have an urge to bake first, then I bake whatever looks interesting. That's why I made Blondie bars the other week. This time, the need for cookies preceded the act of baking, which I thought odd. Then I woke up this morning with the overwhelming urge to get out the boxes of new born clothing, wash them, and put them into drawers. I figure this is the nesting that is supposed to happen in the last trimester. I've just never been able to do it or think of it. With the first one, we were moving to another province, so any nesting urges I had were used to pack and clean. With the second, we already knew where and when we'd be leaving for internship, so we had slowly begun packing again. And with the last one, again, we were moving so those needs to nest were used to pack and clean. Now there is no need to pack, no need to clean (other than the normal every day cleaning which sometimes gets done), and I have to suppress this one for a few weeks. Two months before the due date is a bit ridiculous for me. Especially since I am more likely to be over due than early.
So we'll pack and clean for this trip. When we get back I will try harder to maintain the regular cleaning and then in May we will get baby stuff out in preparation. Sort through all those little clothes (especially since we don't know what model we'll be having), find a spot in the bedroom for the bassinet, get size 1 diapers (no point in newborn diapers for the kid. My history of making babies suggests a larger rather than smaller babe), and pack a hospital bag. Might have to get a new infant car seat. We'll have to check the expiration date on the one we have...
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Fun pictures!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
rituals
So, I'm sitting here waiting for the kids to get ready to go outside. The Girl is ready. I got her ready. I asked the boys to go to the bathroom before we go out, so they take their sweet time. Boy2 eventually made it into the bathroom, but he brought a book in with him, so he'll be a while. The Boy could go upstairs, but he wants to wait for the bathroom down here to be vacant. Oof!
Speaking of bathrooms, there is a new ritual for our middle child. Most mornings (6 days a week) Daddy goes out for a run. When he comes home, he usually has breakfast while he's cooling off, then he showers. Not surprising. However, what is surprising is that Boy2 has started asking his Dad to shower. He will sit there and wait until shower time, then go upstairs to go potty while Daddy is in the shower. He will ignore me when I ask him to use the toilet down here. He wants to keep Daddy company. He will watch him shave and wait until the water is turned on before doing his "business". One morning this week, Hubby finished in the shower before Boy2 was done, and he was told to go back in the shower until potty time was done. Oh, boy! Kinda cute, but very silly.
Yesterday I had a prenatal in the afternoon, so Hubby came home a bit early to watch the kids. I got a text saying that they were planning on walking to pick the Boy up from school. That was great. A few minutes later I got another text saying that they were driving. The change? Boy2 was in the bathroom with Richard Scarry. Again, kinda cute but there are times it seems a bit ridiculous. At least he's in the bathroom and not still in diapers :)
The Boy is becoming very aware of things going on, too. There are alot of birthday parties in his class. Some that he's been invited to, some that he hasn't. I guess there is one where the boy said he was invited, but there hasn't been an invitation. "Why can't I go to ______'s birthday party?" Try explaining that there is no invitation and you don't know why there is no invitation. For a boy very aware of relationship dynamics, it's difficult for me to try and explain it in a way that is positive.
We made it through Spring Break alright. There are a few very tuckered kids right now, and it will get worse through this week with the evening services, but that should go away after Sunday and Monday. Sleep will do that :)
The Girl now has two of her second year molars. That first one must have been a bear to cut, since that was when she stopped sleeping through most of January and February. This last time, she would just wake up in the middle of the night saying "Ow, ow" over and over. But it's come through, so we should have a bit of a break before #3 decides to emerge.
She is also getting into her various chairs without assistance now. She can climb into the van and into her car seat, and if there is no tray on her high chair, she'll tackle that feat as well. There is absolutely no fear with her. She also lets us know what she wants and when she wants it. "Need juice! Need juice!" "Want sauce, want sauce!" (apple sauce). And she has alot of her colours down too. Such a clever girl!
Yesterday I met the intern who will likely be assisting with the delivery of Baby. It's always interesting for me to see the learning of these medical professionals in training. I've been very fortunate so far. The resident who saw to me last summer was also the resident in emergency when the Girl took a pretty bad tumble in the fall, and he remembered me. That was kind of neat. But yesterday the intern was feeling around for the baby's head to make sure it'd turned. All I could feel was alot of kicking up past my belly button as the poor child was complaining about being pushed on :) I remember the same thing in the hospital waiting to be induced with Boy2, but the nurse trying to find the head didn't push in the right spot, so I had to show her. The head nurse looked at me and said "This isn't your first, is it?".
I went out to a local maternity store today in hopes of finding a light dress. I did find two. One I tried on but it didn't look right, and the other never made it off the hanger. When I looked at the price tag, I thought "Even if I wear this post partum, I can't really justify that price!" So we'll likely go into Edmonton in the next few days (between services since it is Holy week, after all) and see what we can find there.
Speaking of bathrooms, there is a new ritual for our middle child. Most mornings (6 days a week) Daddy goes out for a run. When he comes home, he usually has breakfast while he's cooling off, then he showers. Not surprising. However, what is surprising is that Boy2 has started asking his Dad to shower. He will sit there and wait until shower time, then go upstairs to go potty while Daddy is in the shower. He will ignore me when I ask him to use the toilet down here. He wants to keep Daddy company. He will watch him shave and wait until the water is turned on before doing his "business". One morning this week, Hubby finished in the shower before Boy2 was done, and he was told to go back in the shower until potty time was done. Oh, boy! Kinda cute, but very silly.
Yesterday I had a prenatal in the afternoon, so Hubby came home a bit early to watch the kids. I got a text saying that they were planning on walking to pick the Boy up from school. That was great. A few minutes later I got another text saying that they were driving. The change? Boy2 was in the bathroom with Richard Scarry. Again, kinda cute but there are times it seems a bit ridiculous. At least he's in the bathroom and not still in diapers :)
The Boy is becoming very aware of things going on, too. There are alot of birthday parties in his class. Some that he's been invited to, some that he hasn't. I guess there is one where the boy said he was invited, but there hasn't been an invitation. "Why can't I go to ______'s birthday party?" Try explaining that there is no invitation and you don't know why there is no invitation. For a boy very aware of relationship dynamics, it's difficult for me to try and explain it in a way that is positive.
We made it through Spring Break alright. There are a few very tuckered kids right now, and it will get worse through this week with the evening services, but that should go away after Sunday and Monday. Sleep will do that :)
The Girl now has two of her second year molars. That first one must have been a bear to cut, since that was when she stopped sleeping through most of January and February. This last time, she would just wake up in the middle of the night saying "Ow, ow" over and over. But it's come through, so we should have a bit of a break before #3 decides to emerge.
She is also getting into her various chairs without assistance now. She can climb into the van and into her car seat, and if there is no tray on her high chair, she'll tackle that feat as well. There is absolutely no fear with her. She also lets us know what she wants and when she wants it. "Need juice! Need juice!" "Want sauce, want sauce!" (apple sauce). And she has alot of her colours down too. Such a clever girl!
Yesterday I met the intern who will likely be assisting with the delivery of Baby. It's always interesting for me to see the learning of these medical professionals in training. I've been very fortunate so far. The resident who saw to me last summer was also the resident in emergency when the Girl took a pretty bad tumble in the fall, and he remembered me. That was kind of neat. But yesterday the intern was feeling around for the baby's head to make sure it'd turned. All I could feel was alot of kicking up past my belly button as the poor child was complaining about being pushed on :) I remember the same thing in the hospital waiting to be induced with Boy2, but the nurse trying to find the head didn't push in the right spot, so I had to show her. The head nurse looked at me and said "This isn't your first, is it?".
I went out to a local maternity store today in hopes of finding a light dress. I did find two. One I tried on but it didn't look right, and the other never made it off the hanger. When I looked at the price tag, I thought "Even if I wear this post partum, I can't really justify that price!" So we'll likely go into Edmonton in the next few days (between services since it is Holy week, after all) and see what we can find there.
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