Ohhhh Pregnancy....I hate you.

Just when I was cursing you out (you know the swollen ankles, morning sickness, mood swings, smell aversions, kicks to the kidneys, ribs & bladder, varicosities, big fat sweaty belly part of you) and wishing you to be over, a new feeling washed over me in a wave of hormones that only another pregnant woman can appreciate:

Pregnancy....I LOOOOOOVE you!

Don't go away in 16 days!  Don't leave me forever!  (we've decided to not have any more kids after this)  I love to rub my big belly.  I love to exchange knowing smiles with other women as I struggle to fit down the grocery aisle.  I love the smiles and excitement and congratulations that people extend to me when they see this 9 month belly hanging out. I love feeling life inside of me. I love taking a trip up to the buffet table for seconds without feeling like everyone in the room thinks I'm a pig!  I even love commiserating with other women about the bad pregnancy stuff.  I CANNOT believe I only have 16 more days to enjoy this.  I haven't been paying attention!!!!

All joking aside, it does make me really sad that I won't ever be pregnant again.  Even though I know in my heart of hearts I don't want any more kids.  Pregnancy is just so miraculous and special.  It really is an amazing ride.

We'll see what the hormones bring tomorrow!

Today my mom suggested that I make a calendar for the kids so they can cross out the days until the baby comes as a way to help them prepare for this big change in their life.  That's when I realized that my scheduled c-section is only 17 days away.  AGGGHHHH!

I need to make one of these calendars for myself!  I'm in total denial that we are about to have a baby.  We have no names picked ou, nothing is unpacked, the infant carseat is (hopefully) somewhere in the back of the garage I think, and I have a to-do list a mile long. 

Now here comes my big long whine....and I know it is mostly the hormones talking....

I'm too busy to have a baby right now!  I'm having too much fun this summer with Delaney and David doing all the summer kid stuff:  beach, playgrounds, pool parties, berry picking, ice cream cones, visiting friends, playing in the sandbox, sidewalk chalk, etc.  I remember feeling this way when I was 8 months pregnant with David.  I was weepy all the time because I would not ever have any more one-on-one time with Delaney.  This time, I know a newborn and c-section recovery will bring our summer to a grinding halt.  Then in September, Delaney starts preschool and David is most likely starting his pre-school program (for his speech delay) in November when he turns 3.  It hit me today that these are my last 17 days of  being a free SAHM with no set plans or place to be.  I love waking up in the morning and deciding what to do for the day based on how the kids and I are feeling.  If we want to go to the beach - we can.  If we want to stay home in our jammies until 11am - we can.

I need to stand in front of a mirror, stare at my huge belly and say over and over, "You are having a baby in 17 days.  You are having a baby in 17 days.  You are having a baby in 17 days.  You are having a baby in 17 days.  You are having a baby in 17 days."  Maybe that will get it through my head.

Does anyone else with multiple kids ever feel this way?

I liked Nurse Jenna's post about Birth Plan vs. Birth Wish.  I didn't type up a birth plan for Delaney's birth because I kind of thought it might be a lot like planning a wedding (which I HATED).  With a wedding - the more you plan, the more things can go awry.  It's the same with a birth.  The more of a set idea you have in your head of how the birth will go, the more chances you have to be disappointed. 

With a wedding, no matter what goes wrong, you will still end up married at the end of the day.  And with your child's birth, your midwife/doctor will do whatever it takes to get your baby born in the safest, healthiest way possible. 

And isn't that the whole point?

Getting married!  Oh wait, no that was 7 years ago today.

One year ago today...hmmmm....right where I am now, just with no pregnant belly.

On a funny note, my husband and I were talking about how today is our anniversary as I waddled around the kitchen and both kids were whining about breakfast.   I asked him, "On the morning of our wedding, if someone gave you a picture of me with this huge belly and our two kids (I point to them as they whine and wail and the dirty kitchen) and told you that this would be your life in 7 years would you still have met me down the aisle?"

He PAUSED for a while and then kind of giggled and said, "I don't know...."

I punched him in the shoulder and then we gave eachother a Happy Anniversary hug and kiss.  We're twisted.

   

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

We had such a great summer day today.  I took the kids strawberry picking in the morning and the strawberries were perfect!  I swear that nothing on Earth tastes as good as a fresh strawberry that is all warm from sitting in the sun.  Both kids had a blast, running around with juice running down their chins. 

Then we went out for ice cream with Dad after dinner.  Life doesn't get much better than that.

Even though this is my third pregnancy, I still signed up for the weekly fetus updates from Babycenter.  In case you are unfamiliar, it's a little synopsis of what is going on in the womb at each week of pregnancy (how big the baby is, what is forming, etc.)  I love them, I'm absolutely addicted! 

When I was pregnant with my first, I scanned my email inbox every day hoping that another week had gone by and I had "earned" an update.  I read everything twice and then thought about it all day long.  I loved thinking things like, "Well, of course I'm tired today - I'm making the baby's liver!"

Now, as Baby #3 is growing inside me, I'm completely distracted at all times by my other two kids, husband, life in general.  I rarely get to focus on my pregnancy (or myself for that matter! )  So now the weekly emails give me a 30 second chance to think about Baby #3.  And to marvel that he/she already has fingernails!!??!

My kids are shy, especially my 4 year-old daughter.  In new situations, she likes to take a while to observe things before jumping in to talk to someone new or participate in the activity.  I never really thought much about it since I was shy as a kid too.  And I think I turned out ok! 

But recently, I've run into several people along the way who think shyness is something that needs to be addressed in occupational/speech therapy.  They ask if I've discussed her shyness with a pediatrician.  They ask if I'm worried.  Or they are offended when my daughter doesn't instantly say "hi" and give them a hug. 

Seriously???  People get offended when a 4 year-old won't say "hi"?  IT'S A FOUR YEAR-OLD!  Someone even suggested I make a sticker chart to reward her for saying "hi" to new people. 

It just interests me.  I grew up in a family where a bunch of the members were shy.  I thought shyness was pretty common in kids.  But recently, I've been hearing more and more negative comments about it and people trying to suggest ways to "fix it".  

Are your kids shy?

Today was a lot of fun. (except for bedtime - but I'll just skip that part!)  I dropped Delaney off at her friend's house at 9am and she stayed there until 3 pm.  It was wild!

So I got to have a whole day with one-on-one time with David, which was really great.   I always get to feeling a little guilty when I think about him being the middle child.  He's so quiet, I fear for him getting lost in the shuffle once there are 3 kids aroudn here.  And he's so big now! We went to Storytime this morning and as I watched him walk up to the librarian and wait for his stamp, I had to do a double take.  He's so tall.  And wearing real underwear.  And smiling with pride at his craft.  Crazy....

Anyway, the Storytime was cute.  They read books about seeds and planting and then went outside and planted some peas in a dixie cup.  David was so proud.  He even had to carry his dixie cup with him into the post office afterward.

We did a little grocery shopping and then came home and made my official rainy day lunch - grilled cheese and tomato soup.  He took a nap and I got a TON of work done. 

When Delaney got dropped off at 3:00, David woke up and we all made chocolate chip cookies.  Then the kids went upstairs to play.  Eventually I realized that I was hearing running water so I went tearing up the stairs to find them each with a sponge and a bar of soap on their hands and knees.  "We're washing the floor, Mom," said Delaney.  They actually did a pretty good job!  And I only had to use 4 towels to mop up all the puddles and sink overflows.

We made spaghetti for dinner and the night pretty much degraded into tantrums and yelling and general chaos after that.  But now they are asleep and I get to go watch my "chick flick" with my milk and cookies.  

My husband and I often joke about the fact that we need a wife (i.e. someone to do the dishes, clean the toilets, take care of the kids, make dinner, etc.)

Now, we've upped the ante and decided that we also need a husband!  We have so many projects that need doing around the house and my husband is very handy.  But, there's only so many hours of the week that he's actually home.  I'd rather see him play with the kids.  

So where do we go to find this other couple to come live with us and do all our grunt work???  Wouldn't it be funny if we showed up at a Swingers party with that request? hahaha

I've been chuckling about that all afternoon.