The Final Countdown

Ding!  This turkey is DONE! :)  Yes, I am beyond ready to evict this kid from her oh-so-comfortable uterine home.  I will, of course, let her decide when the time is right, but I am officially offering firm words of encouragement to get a move on.  As my belly continues to expand my patience unfortunately is slimming.  I never really thought about it before I was pregnant, but when you get to the end it's a really weird moment in life when you know that something HUGE is about to happen, but you have zero clue when it will actually take place.  There's just that magic window between 37ish and 42ish weeks of pregnancy when it is supposed to occur, but that's kind of a big window when you are preparing to add another human being to your life.  And, not just any ordinary human being...one you created and relies on you for everything.  I have to give her a place to feel safe and secure, nourishment and a clean diaper here and there.  A little warning would be nice, but so far her lips are sealed...or I just can't hear her.

So...this is #3, and it's evident.  When #1 was baking I think we had everything prepared FAR in advance.  Hospital bags were packed several months ahead of my due date and items were purchased and waiting for him.  It gets a little harder to not procrastinate with the addition of each child.  I have had mental lists floating around in my head since the puking phase of this pregnancy lessened and I felt human enough to tackle them...however, they have been far from tackled until very recently.  I had several spurts of nesting fury kick in, only for them to cure things that are so far from necessary when it comes to bringing a baby home, but you can't argue with nesting. I found myself at the top of a ladder at 8 months of pregnancy making sure every last speck of dust were sucked and wiped from the tops of the kitchen cabinets and upper reaches of our vaulted living room.  Last week I decided that my world would fall apart if I didn't get my office/craft room organized after it had been sitting in it's perpetual state of confusion since January when we finished the basement.  Why, you ask?  Because my hormones told me it had to be done and I'm not messing with that!  On a more baby-prep front...her tiny clothes have been washed, itty bitty diapers are waiting to embrace her tiny tush, the car seat base has been installed in the truck which will be our getaway vehicle when the time is right and, yes...we FINALLY finished the nursery! :)

I always had big hopes for a precious nursery with the boys, but it never came to fruition.  Mostly because, when we moved in, X-man was already 6 months old and I couldn't ever find the time to make the picture in my head reality.  Gokey came quickly behind him and the room was already put together...we would have had to tear it apart, paint and put it back together again.  It didn't happen.  This time, we had to move both boys into the same room together, so I was able to cowboy-ify their room and make it what I wanted and then was left with an empty nursery to do with as I pleased!  I love it!  I find myself wandering in there in the middle of the day and plopping down in the rocking chair to daydream about snuggling with a newborn again...such a fleeting stage, and so sweet.

So...this is your official invitation, little Jilly Bean.  We are ready and waiting.  Though your Daddy won't admit it, you will have him so wrapped around your little finger...I can't wait to see him hold you for the first time.  And there are two little boys that have gone so unexpectedly baby crazy that we can't walk by an infant in the grocery store without them ooohing and aaahing and telling the world who we are expecting.  And then there's me...your Momma, who can't wait to feel you in my arms after all of these months of feeling you tumble in my belly.  C'mon out baby girl...and be easy on your mother when you make your way! :) 

Meet Our New Friends...

Myrtle always leads the way... :)

We live in one of many developments in this area that have little ponds in the midst of all of these houses.  Our little pond is pretty well hidden and is not very close to our house...needless to say these ponds attract many feathered guests.  We have lived in this house for 3 years and, though there have been infrequent visits by pairs or small groups of ducks or geese into the central part of the neighborhood, this year has brought something new.  We have noticed a pair of mallards (I am assuming they are the same pair each sighting, only because this behavior is out of the ordinary) that have spent a lot of time just hanging out in random yards since early spring this year.  They made their first visit to our yard a couple of weeks ago.  The boys get EXTREMELY excited about this!  I think they would really like to love on these little friends, but Mac and Myrtle (yes...we named them today) don't share these same sentiments!

Awwww...come back!

Until today, every sighting in our yard has been out front...usually just laying together in the middle of the yard soaking up the sun.  Today, the sun has been MIA and a nice steady drizzle has taken its place.  I happened to walk past the back door and glance out to see them both in a wet corner of our yard, splashing in the growing puddle back there, happy as mallards in muck! :)  Myrtle then waddled across the yard, Mac willingly following, just checking it all out.  I love that they made a visit, just hope that they don't decide to do so when the dogs are back there on a nicer day! :)

Feliz Cumpleanos, Mr. Gokey...

Dear Gokey,

I knew when I had kids that they would grow up, but it still seems to catch me by surprise when another year rolls around.  Today you join the ranks of the Terrible Two-year olds...though, I am pretty sure you have solidified your membership long before today! :)  So, in my annual tribute to my littlest man, let's take a little stroll down memory lane.

Ahhhh...two years ago today.  At this moment I was exhausted, I believe I was trying to sleep through contractions that just wouldn't go away.  They had started the evening before and I told your dad, though they weren't at all painful, that I just knew that this was it, so if there was anything else he needed in the hospital bag, he should pack it before bed.  We had a failed trip to the hospital in the middle of that night and we were sent home at 6 am because there was no progression, but I still knew I would be holding you in my arms before long.  Mother's intuition usually doesn't fail!  So...I was napping...kind of.  We had a short appointment with the OB later in the morning where there was a little progression and he commented that he would probably see us in the middle of that night...I still knew it would be sooner.  Around noon, Daddy came in and woke me up to eat some lunch.  He made me a sandwich and I sat on my Yoga ball at the table to eat.  That's when the real deal hit.  I forced my sandwich down between intense contractions, knowing this would be my last meal until you arrived.  After lunch, Dad helped me downstairs and filled our big bathtub so I could soak.  I sat in there a LONG time while he and your brother played outside the bathroom.  It was a comfort to hear X-man's giggles and squeals and I couldn't wait to add another unique laugh to my little brood.  After my super soak, Dad helped me out of the tub and I told him to call Grandpa Moose to come over and hang with X-man so we could go back to the hospital...I knew I wouldn't be turned away this time.  I was right!  I was admitted and after having to change rooms several times due to odd things like heavy machinery jackhammering and beeping right outside of my birthing suite window, we were finally settled in.  Aunt Adie and Nana came to keep us company, but mostly kept each other company as Dad and I walked up and down the hallways for a couple hours, only stopping to monitor your steady little heart beat.  Only took a couple of hours and a brief bout of pushing for your squirmy little body to slip into this bright, beautiful world!  Your daddy called it weeks ahead of time.  He knew you would be born on Cinco de Mayo because of all of the mexican food I ate during my pregnancy...he must have known what he was talking about! :)  You came out so alert, beautiful and HUNGRY!  There is truly nothing like the moment I got to hold you in my arms for the first time.  Though we had a room full of doctors, nurses and family who witnessed your arrival, for a few perfect minutes it was just me and you.

A boy and his dog...

Fast forward two years now...it's hard to believe you were ever that tiny!  You are still a little guy for your age, but you don't let that hold you back.  Afterall, you have to keep up with your big brother!  You are definitely a Momma's boy, which I am absolutely OK with, and you have a snuggly, affectionate side like no other.  You are a talker and, though it doesn't always come out like you want it to, you have very little problem communicating.  You are quick to hand out "I love you's", "please's" and "thank you's" to my delight.  You have big brown eyes that I could almost fall into...people comment on them everywhere we go, but you don't seem to notice or care.  Just like your momma, you have developed a true love for animals.  You are a little wary of the larger livestock type animals, but if it is canine or feline, you are magnetically drawn.  Your very favorite furry friend, though, is our Stella dog.  You love her and she loves you and the time you have spent in your short 2 years climbing on, snuggling with and lovingly torturing her most definitely outweighs the amount of time you have spent in slumber (not that that means a lot).  Your very best friend, however, is your big brother...I hope that it is always like that.  There is nobody cooler than X-man and you will attempt to repeat anything he says, complete any acrobatic feat he performs and get into any trouble he suggests...I adore the two of you together.

You told me you were just resting...

On the flip side, you have a stubborn streak rivaling nothing I have ever experienced!  At a mere two years of age I seriously think you have mastered the eye roll, and I expect I will see that expression for many years to come.  The attitude that you can wear is almost humorous...it takes everything in me to remain stern when all I want to do is giggle at the little man that stands before me so defiant and a whopping 32 inches tall.  You are very emotional, and dramatic, but I love that about you...nobody can perfect the staggering fall to the floor, resting your forehead on the carpet in obvious distress like you have.  Your daddy may not be quite as dramatic, but one of the things I love about him is that he doesn't hold anything back...I hope you keep that quality as well.

I just helped your tearful little self into bed for a much needed nap and it took everything in me to make you stay there.  You don't know how much I wanted to spend the next couple of hours hugging you and reading you the same 14-word-total board books we have recited over the last couple of years.  But, alas, you must rest up for the celebrations to come.  I love you to pieces, little man.  Thank you for bringing your offerings of joy, chaos, laughter and love to this little family.  Happy Birthday!!!!

Such a little man...where did my baby go?

Luv,

Momma :)

A Weekend Without Kids...

We are very lucky.  We have never struggled trying to find a sitter for a night out or special event.  We literally have family members who might duke it out to determine who "gets" to take our boys so that J and I can have an outing.  We have never had to pay a sitter and for the most part when J and I make our departure, the boys don't even notice our absence because they love their temporary caretakers.  So...over a month ago I asked my Mom (Gigi) if she and my step-dad (Papa) would be willing to take the boys for a weekend before Little Miss Chip arrives.  Turns out they had already wondered if we might be up for that and were thrilled at the idea.  They picked the weekend and we delivered boys. :)  This past weekend was that weekend.  Gigi picked X-man and Gokey up around 2 pm on Friday and off they went...we were left with a quiet household and a few dogs.

Since X-man came along our identities have most definitely centered around the titles of "Mom" and "Dad".  Turns out we have a hard time straying from that, even when the little hoodlums aren't around! :)  J spent Friday afternoon mowing the lawn and I put a 2nd coat of paint on the boys' new bedroom.  This was a project that I started on Thursday despite everyone informing me that I was insane to try painting with two little "helpers" as my figure is slowly inching in on the affectionate phrase "as big as a house".  It actually went very smoothly and aside from X-man helping me for a few short minutes, they pretty much stayed out of my hair and I finished coat number one without any spilled paint.  When the boys left, my goal was to have the room completely finished and put back together again so that they could start fresh when they got back on Sunday.  I should mention that this is a great milestone because Gokey would be moving from the nursery into big brother's room to share, in prep for itty bitty sister's arrival.  I should also mention that I have experienced a great deal of anxiety about this transition.

On with our day...we finished up our mundane tasks, got cleaned up and went out on the town...to Red Lobster! Yes...we are exciting folks.  Had dinner, took a jaunt over to the mall to pick up a few things and then settled on a trip to Side Pockets, a local pool hall for an evening of friendly competition.  Well, the word competition should be used lightly...I really was not much competition at all.  We had a great time bantering, flirting and throwing back a few Cokes (the soft-drink, not the powder).  I think I pulled off one win out of the seven games we played...that was because J scratched on the eight ball.  Go me!  Then we very excitedly headed home for a FULL NIGHT OF SLEEP!

One of the things that I reveled in the most in our Kid Free Weekend was the element of spontaneity.  The ONLY thing we had planned and scheduled far in advance was a couple's massage at a local salon for Saturday morning.  So, we slept in (until nearly 8...never in a million years would I have ever thought I would have called that sleeping in), puttered around, got showered and dressed and went to breakfast.  We were seated around 9 a.m. with just over an hour to spare until our massage.  At 9:10 my phone rang and it was an unfamiliar number.  I answered despite the roar of the breakfast crowd surrounding me to hear a receptionist at our chosen salon ask, "are you on your way to your appointment or do we need to reschedule?"  Huh?  I politely informed her that I had scheduled the appointment for 10:15.  She informed me that they had it scheduled at 9 and then put me on hold.  I walked outside as I sat on hold, trying to disguise the steam spilling from my ears in my fuming state.  A manager got on the phone and said something to the effect of, "I don't know if you just wrote it down wrong or what, but the 10:15 appointment we have scheduled has been there for weeks."  I not as politely informed her that I had called nearly 5 weeks ago to schedule the appointment and put it on my electronic calendar while I was on the phone with the person who screwed up, and KNOW that it was at 10:15 because I had to make a special slot for it since my calendar only goes by half hour increments.  GRRRRRRRR (I was tempted to roar into the phone).  She then back-pedaled a little and apologized and said she felt bad about the "miscommunication" (whatever) and would send some compensation by mail to be used in the salon at our convenience.  Yeah...thanks.  I sullenly made my way back to my poor husband who had been so excited to experience his FIRST professional massage and broke the news and then like a silly, hormonal pregnant chick had to choke back tears as I did so.  He, of course, wasn't phased...gave me a pep-talk and we enjoyed the rest of our breakfast and a necessary grocery trip afterward (I know you are extremely jealous of our exciting lifestyle now). :)

The rest of our weekend seemed to fly by.  We finished up what we needed to on the boys room, moved the furniture back in (J had to do a little handy modifying to make things fit like we needed it to after a near panic attack from me before he once again saved the day) and then admired our great masterpiece.  Since we had a big breakfast, we had skipped lunch so we went to an early dinner and then came home and relaxed in front of a couple of movies, I fell asleep on my honey's lap during the second one and then we retired for the night.  Got up, went to church where I thanked God that we were child-free that morning as there seemed to be something in the air that caused mass chaos among all of the children present that morning and for once, it wasn't mine causing the trouble.  We hung around a little and visited afterward without someone yelling for a cookie or crying because he spilled his lemonade for the 3rd time...and then I REALLY missed them.  We went to lunch on the way to Papa and Gigi's and spent most of it gushing about how excited we were to pick up the boys.

X-man and Papa posing with the biggest fish of
the day...X-man caught this one ALL BY
 HIMSELF! :) 

When we arrived to pick up the boys, I walked into the kitchen to find Gokey sitting at the bar eating lunch.  It took him a few seconds to realize I was there, but when he did I got the biggest grin and exclamation of, "MOMMY," as he leaned in for a big, gooey kiss.  I was barely inside the door when X-man grabbed my hand and started leading me to the basement to show me what they had been up to.  It was as I was heading down the stairs I heard Gokey yell to my mom, "I done now," eager to give up lunch so we could do some snuggling.  We hung around for a while, looked at the pictures that were snapped over the weekend and listened to their adventures before we headed home.  They both passed out on the 30 minute drive across town and contentment settled in as we pulled into our Home Sweet Home. There have been a few "reprogramming" issues in the 24 hours since, but we are settling back in.  I am also proud to say that the boys did great for their first night in their new room!  Took a little while for them to settle in and decide to sleep instead of party, but then they slept through the night without even a whisper.

Time away is always good, but it also always seems to serve as a great reminder that time together is far better... :)

The Dirt Finder

My oldest, X-man, was born clean...and has stayed that way.  He hates to be dirty unless dirty was his mission (he is still a boy, afterall).  He insists on having a napkin at dinner and comes away looking flawless...not bad for 3 1/2 years of age, and this has been going on for a while.  Then there is Gokey.  He is a totally different story!  He will find a way to make a mess out of something I completely think will be mess free when I hand it to him.  Dinner time is just proof that a bath is REQUIRED following (you should see what this boy can do to a peanut butter sandwich) and he is content to sit in a dirty diaper for hours on end if you let him.  He has proven to be a mud-magnet.  Today was no exception! :)

After a rough morning of boy brawls and all out uncontrolled chaos in our little home, I decided that a trip to the park was warranted.  Of course, in order to make that happen I would have to get dressed without them killing each other in my short absence.  Luckily, we all survived relatively unscathed.  We headed off to a little park that we don't often visit, but is relatively close by.  After the boys played on the equipment and with a few other kids for a while we decided to put our shoes back on (shoes were absolutely optional on such a beautiful spring morning) and explore.  This park has an abundance of trees surrounding open fields and a good sized pond, which happened to be nearly dry on this trip.  X-man was determined to find us some frogs, so off to the dwindling pond we marched.  We stood on the cracked, dehydrated pond bed discussing how it got that way and Gokey suddenly decided to heave the stick he had harvested on the way there into the water.  His mistake...running toward the water's edge to get close enough to do said heaving. Since the pond was a mere shadow of what it once was, the ground was very dry farther out, but nearing the water's edge it turned into the thick, gooey sludge that, if you have have ever been brave enough to stick your toes into the bottom of such a pond, you know there's a chance you may never see them again!  Before I could even yell his name he had planted both "fast shoe" covered little feet in the grime and as I reached for him he fell forward and both hands disappeared as well.  I literally had to pull him up by the belt loop on his tiny shorts and this is what we had:

They certainly have a way of keeping me on my toes...and elbow deep in dirt! :) 

Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...

Boys...it's just what I know!  I have "known" that this little "Chip" that I carry was a boy from very early on.  I was convinced...I don't know why.  This pregnancy has been much different than both of my previous pregnancies, but I don't put a lot of stock in that.  Every pregnancy is different, right, and shouldn't something be said for mother's intuition?  So...I had my sonogram this morning and, unfortunately, since my whole house seems to be horribly ill right now, I had to go it alone.  It made the whole thing kind of anticlimactic.  It's such an amazing thing to be able to see that little baby from the outside and I have always been lucky enough to share that with my husband, but it is what it is.  I went in, the technician went through all of the routine checkpoints...saw ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, saw that little hearbeat flashing away, saw that elegant little spine and even got a little wave from our little "Chip!"  Then the technician asked if we wanted to know the gender, and my response was, "of course!" :)  However, this little baby was MODEST!  That's something new...both of my boys showed the goods willingly, laying there spread-eagle in their pride.  This one had those little legs all tucked up and crossed and wouldn't budge.  The technician said, "we'll come back to that," and found a few other measurements to be taken.  When we returned, we found those little legs still all tucked up and crossed.  I recalled a conversation with an ultrasound technician during my 20 week scan with my first baby.  She said that 90% of the time those innate female and male things are ingrained within the womb already and boys will willingly show the goods, while girls tend to hide it all...interesting, huh?  The technician took the probe and gave baby a good jiggle and, voila!  She pointed out baby's little hiney, and 2 legs coming down and then these 3 little lines..."this is a baby girl!"

"WHAT?" I exclaimed in shock.  "I have two boys and I just knew this was a boy, I am floored!"

"This is NO boy," she confidently stated.

I am STILL in shock!  I have just gotten so used to the boy thing...I have fantasized about a little girl and oohed and aahed at all the adorable, pink, frilly little outfits (which is odd, considering I am SO far from frilly), but just figured that we didn't "do" girls.  I guess I should have listened closer to X-man who has insisted from the beginning that he was having a baby sister.  If you suggested that it might be a baby brother, he would adamantly, almost scold, that he was indeed having a baby sister and refused to believe otherwise.

So...here we are!  Entering a new realm of pinkness!  Time to put away the frogs and snails and puppy dog tails!  :)

Baby Bliss!!!

Anybody who has been near and dear to me during my last two pregnancies can vouch that I spent more time vomiting than I spent daydreaming about the baby-to-be.  Which makes my neglect of this blog reasonable.  Yes, we are expecting Numero Tres...sometime in mid-July!!!  And...I'm sick, of course, though not nearly as bad as I was with the boys.  For that I am grateful.  I had my first midwife appointment this morning and we heard the sweet sweet "whoosh whoosh" sound of that itty bitty heartbeat to Daddy and the boys' delight and to my great relief! :)  I think I have been beaming ever since.  You would think that after going through two pregnancies with great outcomes, this would be old hat, but my anxiety has been much greater this go around.  I finally feel like I can get excited after this morning's appointment though, so that is my plan.

The boys, on the other hand, started their excitement weeks ago.  X-man is convinced that he is having a baby sister.  If you suggest that it might be a baby brother, we just don't know yet, he will adamantly insist that, "no, it's a baby sister."  I guess he has been there, done that with the baby brother thing, and is pretty sure he doesn't want another one of those.  Anytime you mention anything about a baby, Gokey comes straight to me and mumbles something about "baby" and "mommy" as he pats my belly.  I am actually surprised he gets as much of it as he does.  Since we told the boys about the impending arrival, Gokey has been carrying around my childhood Cabbage Patch doll and refers to him as his baby.  He's at an age where he just accepts the fact that there is a baby in mommy's tummy and that is good enough for him.  The process has been a little funnier with X-man.

Early on when I explained to him that I had a baby in my belly his next assumption was that it would somehow crawl out of my mouth.  After several very toddler appropriate conversations about how a baby would exit mom's body, one morning he put his hand on my belly as we were sitting on the couch together and said, "the baby is in your tummy and it's gonna grow and grow and grow, right?"

I responded, "yep," thinking that it was starting to click for him.

"And the baby is cute, right mom?" He questioned.

"I'm sure," I exclaimed, "both you and your brother are!"

"Mom, say 'Ahhhh,'" in his little toddler voice.

"Ahhhhh," I politely complied thinking we were changing subjects as 3 year olds are apt to do.

"Mom!  I don't see it!"

I suddenly realized he was peering down my throat in hopes to get a glimpse of his "baby sister."  Ok...maybe it's all a little over his head.  That conversation then turned into a vocabulary lesson about the little hangey-down thingy in the back of your throat and uvula is now one of his new favorite words.

Several days later it was very early in the morning.  The boys had just gotten up and Gokey was demanding cereal.  I was in a rush to get it together because if I don't get something in my stomach very quickly then I end up sick in the bathroom (hopefully that's where I end up sick, anyway).  I was delivering Gokey's gourmet meal to him to the sound of X-man asking for cartoons when I realized that there was no hope of breakfast for me because I needed to get to the bathroom ASAP.  Gokey was occupied with his cereal, but I didn't even have time to flip on the TV as I sprinted to the bathroom.  Obviously, X-man followed to see what was up and walked in to me kneeling in front of the toilet as I heaved.

I could feel him peering over my shoulder and he suddenly gasped, "OH NO!  The baby sister! It's gonna fall in the toilet!"

Between heaves I was trying to explain to him very calmly that the baby was just fine and was just making me a little sick.  He then proceeded to pat and rub my back as I finished up.  What a kid!  :)

I can't wait to see what precious moments are to come!  Yay for babies!