in case you hadn't noticed

I've continued on with my (very sporadic) posting over at the other site. I think I'll probably consolidate at some point, but then again, maybe not. If I get pregnant again (haha) I'll come back to here, but until then I'll just talk about all the kid stuff on the main page, since it's my page, and theoretically about my life, which involves the kids pretty heavily.

if I just leave a copy of this on my mother in law's table, is that too obvious?

Old advice you can ignore.
I've gotten most of this advice several times, so it's nice to know I was right to ignore it!

one month down...

I'm freaking exhausted. and Willow sleeps, most of the time. Kieran doesn't always. He's completely given up naps unless we drive somewhere, and then he will fall asleep within about 6 minutes of leaving the house. This generally means that he is a wreck by bedtime, which makes it harder for us to get him to bed, and leads to battles of "STAY IN BED! IT'S TIME FOR SLEEP!" versus "NO! DON'T WANT TO!" Good times. Willow, so long as she is fed and not dying of gas cramps, will go to sleep whenever, wake up to eat a couple of times overnight, and mostly go back to sleep. We're both big fans of the nursing in bed thing, although we both usually fall asleep during the process. Once we move and she's not in our room, that probably won't happen so much. I'm making Kieran sound like the bad guy here. He's totally not, he's just 3. Full of the deisre to be independent and do what he wants willy-nilly, but held back by the complete lack of logic and the fact that he still, a lot of the time, wants a good cuddle, and despite his best efforts to prove otherwise, he really needs us to be happy with him and gets really upset when he knows we're mad. He'll do something totally boneheadish, and then be crying because he didn't get his way, and all he wants in the world is for us to pick him up so he knows we forgive him. I'm a cruel bitch and won't do that right away, because I don't want him to get the message that you get cuddles and kisses for acting like an asshole. I always give in, but I make him stop crying like a maniac first. It's a compromise.

We're managing pretty well. We've had help most of the time, which makes certain things easier, but the times I've been home on my own with the 2 of them have gone pretty well. Kieran wants to hold Willow ALL THE TIME, but I'm confident he'll get over that as she gets bigger and able to do more, and the novelty wears off. I'm trying to teach him that if she's sleeping, crying, or eating, he can't, but he doesn't want to let those things interfere with his plans. He's even offered to feed her himself on more than one occasion. Sweet. Odd, but sweet. (sidebar, we tried a bottle the other night, and it did not go over well at all...) I drove to Halifax by myself with the 2 little ones, and it took longer because we had to stop to eat and settle a few times, but otherwise it was ok. We're heading back tomorrow, I'll let you know how that goes.

Anyhoo. Just wanted to check in and let whoever's out there know that we're still here! Doing well, and waiting for some kind of routine to settle in, because as sweet as this little girl is, she's totally random with her eating and sleeping. She does both a lot, but can eat every 20 minutes or every 6 hours, depending on ... something I haven't figured out yet. And there's no waking her up to eat or anything else. Well, we can wake her up, but it's not easy or pretty, and as soon as you stop harassing her / bathing her / poking her with sticks, she goes back to sleep immediately. Rough life!

the fun starts now

today is day one of me home with the 2 little ones. The bigger of the 2 has been super whiny and difficult and...3 lately, which has been a challenge with the 2 of us home, so it should be fun with just me. I'm foreseeing a lot of him spending time in his room, sadly, if he's going to be a jerk. The little one, 2 nights ago she ate constantly for about 3 hours, and then slept almost 6. I was fine with that. Last night, she ate constantly for about 2 hours, and didn't sleep any more than normal. And was awake for almost 2 solid hours starting at 2am. Which was less fun. So I'm a bit sleepy this morning. Which is normal for having a new baby, but if I can't complain to you, internet, who can I complain to? I'm very much looking forward to the time when she gets into some kind of routine with her eating, because we are not anywhere near there right now. It's very much a random thing, she may sleep for 3 hours, at which point I wake her up if it's daytime, or she may sleep for 1 hour, or 15 minutes. Regardless, she wants to eat when she gets up. There's no waking up to hang out for fun at this point.

Anyway. I'm going to spend some time with the big one while the little one naps.

the things you wish you knew

Apparently, women who ate chocolate at least 5 times per week during their 3rd trimester were 40% less likely to experience preclampsia than those who did not. As if you needed an excuse to each chocolate daily! I have to honey, it's good for the baby.

My baby is doing well. The big one is adjusting, he's having a bit of a time with the fact that Mom's not always available to carry HIM around anymore, but he's having a great time home with his dad this week. The little one is adjusting too, she's still pretty sleepy and doesn't always want to wake up when she's supposed to to eat and stuff, but we're managing. She's doing well, gaining weight and stuff, but is definitely a sleepy, content little person.

I'm going to go make myself some supper. Grant and Kieran have gone to Rexton for the night so Grant can get his tires put on his car and his inspection done. Just me and the little girl! I'm not too worried, I'm on night duty with her anyway.

it's a baby!

and a girl, and even born on her due date. Things are going well so far!

The story, in short form. It's not really a long story anyway.

Tuesday morning I woke up at about 3am having some contractions. These were not the Braxton-Hicks "may sometimes be uncomfortable or even painful" contractions, they were real. But, happening anywhere from 10 minutes to almost an hour apart, so completely useless and just, well, a pain. Did that all day. Had a pretty good day regardless, took Kieran for a playdate until he about collapsed into a psychotic rage from fatigue. Took him home, he fell asleep in the car, but naturally did not sleep once we got home. So, up since 3 and no nap. Awesome. In pain. Even better. I thought they might be going away, and since I had 2 friends who both experienced false labour days or weeks before the real deal, I was trying to ignore it and just assumed it would go away. Labour did not agree with my plan. They finally got regular around 7:30, while I was lying down and Grant was putting Kieran to bed. Naturally. So at 8-ish we called Grant's parents, got our stuff together, and headed to the hospital with a not sleeping and pretty excited to go to town at night Kieran in tow. Got me all checked in, and Tiresa came to stay with me so Grant could take Kieran home to bed and wait for his parents to arrive. So from 9 until 11:30 Tiresa and I hung out, snuck downstairs to get a juice and a granola bar (I had half a bagel for supper, I was starving) and then regretted that since it made me sick. I guess the nurses were right. Also I drank the whole juice in about 28 seconds, that might have had something to do with it. Anyway. They weren't so good about the phentenol this time. They were giving it to me about every 15-20 minutes rather than every 5, which is what it takes for it to make any real difference. It doesn't even really make the pain go away, but it dulls it every so slightly and makes you loopy, so you just don't care so much. 11:30 the doctor came in and I had gone from 2-3 to 6cm, so he decided to break my water. Did that at 11:50, just after Grant got back. Tiresa left, since we were likely in for a bit of a wait after that. Not so! At some point soon after that, I had to push. I had no idea how dilated I was, but for those of you who have had babies, I really couldn't do much about it. So I had maybe 2 contractions of pushing but trying not to, and then one where they finally told me I could push, and lo and behold...



Willow Jenny Roach
8lbs 5oz
April 23 @ 12:16am

I have to say, *during* the 5 minutes of holy hell where I had no drugs whatsoever because it had just been such a gong show and it's hard to medicate a screaming woman, I was pretty unhappy. But, after they got the 'minor arterial bleed' under control, and got poor Willow woken up (I think she was a bit traumatised by the whole thing, she had no time to get ready to come out, she just arrived), everything's great.

That's it. She sleeps A LOT, and we're working on the nursing thing, which is a bit of a challenge because she falls asleep as soon as she's had a bit to eat, and then wakes up hungry, and there's a lot of milk waiting for her because she's not drinking it all at once. We'll figure it out. She's pretty cute. Kieran likes her, and wants to hold her all the time, and gets mad when we won't let him because she's screaming her head off or whatever.

The lady calls.

2 days.

Do you think though? really? I don't. I'm all for it, but I just have my doubts. Grant says Kieran and I should go to town every day, because then if I go into labour (in that like, 3 hour window) I'll be close and he won't have to drive all the way out here to get me. He also suggested I keep my hospital bag in the trunk, to save time. I should stick my camera in Kieran's bag, which is always with us, and then I'll be all set. Except that you can be too prepared, and then nothing happens. Watched pot / uterus and all that. I have been having contractions. The braxton hicks ones all the time, but they don't count. Real ones this time, which is AWESOME. I had some probably 2 weeks ago, then some a couple of nights ago, and then some last night. They hurt, I don't like it. I'd be much more tolerant of the whole thing if they served any purpose other than to wake me up and make me have to pee, but I have to wait until they subside to get out of bed. I'm sleeping with that Snoogle pillow, which is great, but I have it on the edge of the bed, and since Grant is on the other side, I have to climb OVER the snoogle to get the hell out of bed, and it's difficult to do.

Yeah, we're at that stage again folks. The whining and complaining. It's actually not terrible. During the day I feel pretty good for a 9 month pregnant lady. Kieran keeps me very busy, but he's a pretty great guy most of the time, so it's ok. I still am trying not to really think about how a very needy tiny baby will fit into this equation. It just will, so we'll figure it out. I can occasionally catch a nap when he naps, something that I didn't do when I first had Kieran, but that I definitely will if given the golden opportunity now and (it's possible, but unlikely) if he happens to nap at the same time as the baby when she arrives. It's really the nights that are killing me. Kieran has been really hard to get to bed lately, which he's never done before. He just gets up. It's like he's just now figured out that he can get out of bed at night. Before he would just sit up there and yell at us or cry, but he'd stay in bed. Now he gets up. Sometimes every 3 minutes for an hour. We've tried several things, and the thing that works best for us seems to be just go up, tuck him in again, leave. There is minimal interaction, but I can't just ignore him, or he gets even more upset and gets up more. So I tell him, every time, that it's bedtime, he has to go to sleep, it's not time to play, no more cuddles, whatever he's asking for, and leave. Last night he only got up 3 times, which is really good considering what we've had some nights this past 2 weeks or so.

The fact that I'm not sleeping very well once he stays in bed and we go to bed isn't helping. I can't sleep on my back, and am not supposed to, but I probably would if it were comfortable. It's not, I feel like I'm being crushed. But it does make my hips feel better. When I sleep on my side, my hips are hopelessly sore. No-win. The best I can come up with is sort of a halfway between back and side on that stupid snoogle pillow.

Anyway. I'll keep you posted, I promise! I appreciate that this time I don't have people asking me EVERY DAY if I've had a baby yet. That's pretty annoying. I promise I'll tell you.

no news

naturally. My "your pregnancy this week" email today was kind enough to inform me that only 5% of babies are born on their due date, which I did know, since the whole thing is basically a guessing game. I did not know though, that 75% of babies are born AFTER their due dates. They don't tell you that. So that's exciting. I'm expecting to go over anyway, just because I did with Kieran, so why should this one be any different? Even though it has been pretty different. Who knows!

Anyway. I have an appointment tomorrow, my first internal, should be fun. I don't really see why they need to go poking around in there, I doubt it happens very often that they're like, 'oh, you're 6cm dilated, better get to the hospital!' I think you'd notice something.

We have a house showing tonight, so Kieran and I are headed out after he wakes up from his nap. He fights me every day on napping. It's easier when I don't have to get him out of the house by a certain time, but sometimes you have to, so yes, sweetie, you NEED TO NAP NOW. I'm bribing him with all kinds of things today, we're going out to the store (that's what he calls them all, except Superstore, which he knows specifically), and then to a movie (Empire shows matinees here on Wednesdays, we're heading to Horton Hears a Who at 3), and then to meet Grant for supper, since there will be people in our house. It's not that we NEED to go to the movie, but I think he'd really like it, and it's something different from wandering around our road / highway or just going to the mall. This weekend we're going to look at some houses, since the sale of our house appears to be moving along nicely. We're looking at a June 30 closing, which gives us time to find a place and not be moving with a 2 week old. All good things. Not that moving with a ... 2 month old will be a lot better, moving with a 4 month old was hard enough, but I'll just strap that little one on with my sling and do what I can. I'm sure Kieran will be very helpful with the whole process.

I'm going to go put dishes away and vacuum.

38 weeks

and my husband is away until about midnight Friday. So, hopefully no baby before that! Cause even if I call him, on my cell which he took with him, because he still doesn't have one, he'll still be the better part of a day to get home. I again have my sister and Tiresa on high alert, but I really don't think this baby's in a big rush to get here.

I am making good progress on the tiny sweater I'm knitting. I have one side and most of the back and other side done. Then we need sleeves, but they're not very big, and a hood, which is just a rectangle. I think I can handle it! I made buttonholes and everything. I looked up how to do crazy things like "slip stitch" and "yarn over" on youtube. That's a great site, not just for stupid people doing stupid things. The sweater is 3-6 month size, so I should get it done in time! I also got some super cute patterns at Fabricville, they have some really good member deals on this month.

It's the wee lad's birthday, so we're going to go out for lunch and then do some fun stuff this afternoon. I'll also have to take some pictures, of course. It's really nice out, I'm going to see if he'll go along with me to a couple of places downtown, and then maybe we'll go for birthday ice cream. He's napping in preparation for his day of fun, so I'll take advantage of that and like, shower. Wooh!

As always, I'll keep you posted with any baby news.

weekend du liberte...

coming to an end. Grant ended up spending the night in Rexton with the out-laws and Kieran last night, so he'll just call when they're on their way home. I ended up doing a sweet pile of not much. Had supper Friday and lunch yesterday out with a friend from work, bought a bassinet and a 4 pocket canvas storage thing for the wee lass, and then came home around 3 and hung out the rest of the time by myself. I rented a movie on PPV, which was odd and not as entertaining as I had hoped, "Margot at the Wedding". I also knitted! I'm making a sweater, and I have the back done as far as the sleeves, and one side done just a bit past that. Wooh! Baby sweaters are pretty small, so I have a chance of actually finishing it. Once I look up how to "yarn over" and "bind off".

My pedicure ended up being the homemade variety, which turned out remarkably well, I think. No facial or massage. I napped and knitted instead. Just as fun!

quick

and pointless. just an update to tell you there is no news. Just another regular checkup, pee in cup, weigh, blood pressure, measure, heartbeat. One more of those, and if this baby hasn't decided to make her grand entrance by then, they start to get more intrusive. I did, however, get to do the swab for group B strep again, which was as fun as the first time I did it. They said that apparently it can just go away, and that the test is very accurate and good for 5 weeks, so yippee. Go stick this giant swab in your no-no bits and we'll let you know how it turns out.

I'm done work, which is fantastic. I had to promise like 7 people that I would call them when I go into labour so they can come visit me in the hospital. And as many, mostly the same people, offer to be my drive to the hospital should I happen to go into labour this weekend while Grant is away. My plan is to clean the house, we have a showing tomorrow, and I'm going to try to get a pedicure, and maybe a massage or facial. They have one massage that says "perfect for expectant moms", so I'm all over that.

anyway. my laundry is done, so I'm going to put it in the dryer and go to bed. I'm SUPER CRAZY on my CRAZY weekend of freedom. I think I'll take some antacid first though, because I have indigestion, and that makes it hard to sleep. I think having a bed to myself will make it easier though.

37 weeks

I figure we're good to go, right? I have an appointment tomorrow, and I'm hopeful that they'll be able to tell me if I'm in imminent danger of delivering. I don't know that I would believe them, even if they did tell me that, because they told me that every week last time, from about 34 weeks on. Liars! I don't actually even know if they do internal checks yet, because again, last time was a bit different. I either am or will be 37 weeks now or on Friday (depends who you ask), so I'd think they'd want to sort of...see what's going on in there. But maybe not. I'll let you know, because I'm sure you're curious. About my inner lady parts. Mmm.

Still not sure about the name thing. Grant's not crazy about my name, so we'll have to think of something else. He's over Riley, which is good, because I know too many boys and dogs with that name. He also has suggested some which I just don't like at all, not that they're bad, just not my taste for my child kind of thing. We have one that we both like, and that's the closest we've come to anything so far, so it's a start.

My bag is packed, and put away so it doesn't taunt me like it did last time. All the baby clothes, new and from Kieran, are clean and some are put away. I had just done the new ones, but a lot of them are too big for a tiny baby, and will be replaced by the mostly used (by Kieran) tiny sleepers and stuff. I am *such* a fan of the tiny terry sleepers, we have like 50 of them, it's great.

Ok, I'm out. Grant's playing hockey, I didn't eat supper but I had a 4lb muffin at our staff meeting after school, and I'm just not hungry. Also, I have heartburn constantly, and eating most things makes it worse. Like chocolate. What kind of cruel joke is that to play on a pregnant lady??

further adventures of my bladder and other parts

because you want to know, I can tell. I have had this ridiculous cold all weekend, but it seems to be going away now. Not gone, by any stretch, but going. I had a cold forever ago, and then had a sore throat for like, a month and a half. Nothing else, just a sore throat. I actually got my doctor to look at it once when I was there...she offered...and she said my tonsils are so small she actually thought I might have had them removed. So THAT wasn't the problem. Anyway, cut to like, this past Wednesday. I have just a little tickle in my throat, a little cough coming on. Gross. This turns into a full-blown hacking disgusting full-body racking cough.

Now, those of you who have been or are pregnant understand the delicate nature of the bladder at this juncture. You really need only look in its general direction to encourage it to attempt to empty its contents. It does not mind if you are not near any kind of appropriate bladder-emptying facility. So, when you combine this bladder with body rocking coughing fits, things are not going to end well. I would have a gross coughing, struggling for breath fit, and then either about wet myself or have a contraction. Which also makes me have to pee. Still today, I'm walking down the hall and if I start to cough, I have to stop moving and stand there with my legs crossed until it stops. I'm sure the surveillance cameras are LOVING me.

This weekend wasn't a total write-off though, we had my mom and Grant's parents up for visits, and the Easter bunny brought an obscene amount of stuff, which we immediately divvied up into "stuff we really like" and "stuff that Grant will bring to work" (I can't bring most things to work, because they have peanuts or peanut butter in them, and we're peanut free). I also had a lovely shower at which we played a pretty fun Mad Lib game and ate way more than necessary. Including, but by no means limited to, a peanut butter cup blizzard cake and a lovely assortment of appetizers and cheesey things. The pile of baby stuff is growing, and the places to put the baby stuff are still...nonexistant. I did clear out 3 drawers in my dresser, but that won't be enough space. I have like, a bag of clothes from my mom, stuff she kept from when we were little, and some new clothes from friends and family from my shower, and will soon have all the stuff we had for Kieran that isn't like, too too boyish. Sleepers, blankets...I have no idea where we'll put everything. Kieran will likely have to share a bit, we can hang some things in his closet and use his big shelf, and we'll just keep the 'may need in the middle of the night' type things in our room.

I got an email from Babies R Us yesterday congratulating me on the arrival of my baby. I have registered as being due April 23rd, so I'm not sure why they sent me that, but they did offer me 10% off on any of my remaining registry items, which is nice. I could get the bassinet maybe. We'll see!

I have a lot of work to do, so I should work on that, I guess.

lessons learned

so, I had in my head that 2nd pregnancies were easier. They're not. You get bigger faster, but not so that you look pregnant earlier, just so that you have NO clothes that fit and look sort of paunchy. You feel grosser earlier and for longer, and have all kinds of fun "2nd (or subsequent) pregnancy" things. Like groin pain. Come on! It feels, most of the time, like I've been doing too many thighmaster exercises. Or like I got kicked in the junk. Unpleasant. And contractions. For no reason. Not the harmless Braxton Hicks ones either, real ones that make you stop what you're doing and say oh, ok...ow.

Another lesson I learned just today after sitting waiting for my appointment for an hour. Even if you're sure you've got the lid on your pee-in-a-cup securely, you shouldn't drop it on the floor, because it will open a little bit and that's gross. And you'll have to pretend like you didn't just drop and spill your pee in the waiting room in front of like 15 people, and you'll probably get some pee on your hand, and all this will happen while the nurse is waiting for you to come back and get weighed etc.

I have to go do parent-teacher interviews, but I only have one, so it should be relatively quick. I'll be back.

I'm back! I was gone for like an hour, you didn't even notice.

After the pee-spilling hour-long wait incident, all went well. El bambina is measuring one week big in the head, and 2 weeks big in the abdomen, so she's a good size. The doctor assures me she will be over 9lbs. I said, yeah, they thought Kieran was going to be big too, had him at 7.5lbs at 36 weeks, and then 6 weeks later when he was FINALLY born, he only weighed 8lbs9. She said no, with these measurements, statistically she'll weigh over 9lbs. Not crazy more, not 11-12lbs, but 9 for sure. I said...thanks? I am measuring just over 2 weeks big, but my fluid has not gone all crazy, it's normal. Also, a cyst I had has gone away, so that's good news too. I didn't ask about like, ok, so when will I *have* the baby? I will next time though. This is a lot harder than last time, Kieran is a great kid but he just wants to rassle all the time and play and run and chase and run and play and I'm exhausted at the best of times. I had a cold about a month ago, which has been a sore throat since then, and which has now turned into a cough and stuffy nose and sore throat, and the nigglings of a fever, and I'm not impressed. Thankfully I have no more teaching this week, parent-teacher tomorrow and then a 4 day weekend, during which I get to have a baby shower and go to Erin's wedding shower. There will apparently not be strippers at either, sadly, but I'll manage.

Alright. I have stuff to go through and organize. 10 days left! Lots to do.

still a girl

so says the u/s scanner person. And she was completely without hesitation, so I think we can be pretty sure. I said to her that the last time the report said it "appeared female", and she looked and said "yes, it's a girl". Ok then! So, I have my name that I like, and I've told Grant that he has to hurry up and think of something else if he doesn't like my name, cause I'm getting pretty attached to it.

I have to go home, we had a "brief meeting" after school that went over an hour...usually the way.

13 more work days.

8 more weeks

ish. I really hope not more. I'd be fine with any time between 4-8 weeks from now. Cause either way, we're not going to be ready, so the baby might as well come whenever! Names, places for stuff and for babies to sleep...they're overrated.

Since you're wondering, I'm sure, I can't see my bellybutton anymore when I stand up. I can't bend over. I can't sit straight up with my legs crossed like a normal woman, but if I sit back far enough it's ok. My other favourite way to sit, with both legs pulled up, also does not work. This baby is low. I feel like I'm smaller than last time, just because I was SO BIG last time, but looking at pictures, there's not much difference in like, protuberance. Which is interesting. I have my ultrasound on the 10th, and then biweekly ob checkups starting the 19th, so hopefully they'll give me a good (and more accurate) idea of what's going on down there.

Since you're also wondering, I'm registered at Toys R Us (#40501555), if you want to buy me stuff. I want to register at SuperStore and Old Navy for baby clothes, but I can't, so oh well. There's not a lot we need, but some new sleepers and stuff maybe. I'll let you know if the 'girl baby' verdict changes after the next ultrasound, but even if not, that doesn't mean we need all pink things.

I have to go watch Dexter now.

interesting stuff

my mom passed this little tidbit along to me, apparently an apple a day keeps asthma away, for your baby, if you eat it while you're pregnant. Also, eating fish once a week reduces incidence of eczema. Weird, eh? I have been eating lots of apples, but not fish. I love fish, but it's just not something we eat a lot of. I'll have to make a point of it though, just in case. 9 weeks left, it should help some!

I'm also a bit nervous. Although nothing really ended up happening last time, other than you know, bedrest and all that crap, baby-wise, everything turned out fine. Late, but fine. But it was just at this time that things went to hell in a handbasket. What I found really creepy, in re-reading my posts from last time, was that I thought that exactly what happened, might happen. And blogged about it, like 3 days before it did. I'm psychic! Or something. I'm having again those fun braxton hicks contractions, and they definitely do pick up, and or I definitely do cause myself to have a good one, when I do anything beyond strolling around. There are a lot of stairs and stuff at school, and it's especially noticeable if I'm sitting or resting for a long time and then get up and do something right away. They're not coming regularly though, and not more than 4 an hour for sure, so I'm still good as far as I can tell. I'll keep you posted.

Anyway, so I'm just a bit nervous of something like that happening again. I go to my doctor in just over a week, on March 4, and have an ultrasound the 10th, and hopefully they'll be able to tell me something, or set my mind at ease, or...something. I start to see my OB on the 19th, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks (which I think is 2 weeks later) and then every week. I'll be done work by the time the every week timing kicks in, so they'll be glad for that. They have someone in mind to replace me, so that puts one part of my mind at ease. I have 8095 things to do before then, and about 20 days in which to do them. I think people are figuring out that I'm leaving soon, and they keep coming to me with things to put on my to-do list. I'm doing my best!

joys of toddlerhood

Kieran still has a cold. He sounds like an old man when he sleeps, because he's all snorkly and snoring. I've done all I can, drugged him with the weight-guideline (which for him is the same as the age dosage, but still) of decongestant-only cold medicine, since GOD FORBID we give our children cough medicine, it will apparently do them much harm. Not that it seems to work anyway, but still. He's got the cool mist vaporiser, the vaporub generously applied, he's had a nice steamy bath with the vapour bath. He's still snorkly and snoring and coughing. I've tried giving him honey, since that is not technically a drug and apparently it works better than cough syrup anyway, but he won't always take it. I mixed it with his grapey decongestant, and that seemed tasty enough, but it didn't really seem to work.

Anyway. He's napping now. I tried to get him to sleep on his side, but he's not interested. As is generally the way, he decided he needed monkey and a nap about 3 minutes after I put poor snotty monkey into the washer for a bath. I don't tell Kieran about this ahead of time, it does not help. He was way early for wanting a nap, and just seems to have some kind of sense about monkey being unavailable, which makes him want / need him right away. So I had to endure just over half an hour of begging and pleading and crying and "need monkey, please? please?" and explaining that it wasn't because he wasn't asking nicely (which is generally the case when he wants something and doesn't get it, or because it's 7am and he wants chippies {which can be potato chips or chocolate chips, neither a breakfast food}) but that monkey was snotty and gross and was having a bath and then needed to dry off. He only ended up drying for about 10 minutes, just enough so that he's not wet, but is still a bit damp. The kid needed a nap, so we compromised.

I'm going to shower. I'd like to go out this afternoon and feed the cats I'm cat-sitting, but I'll have to see how the roads are. I may leave Kieran at the sitter's, so I can just run in and feed the kitties. They're not big fans of me. They might be today, their parents have been away for almost a week now, but so far they've been mostly indifferent to my visiting. Oh, it's just you. Thanks for the treats. You can go now.

75%

that's a pretty good score on a test, but not quite good enough for a baby, development wise. Another 4-5 weeks though, and it's anybody's guess. Last time they told me that (although it always says 37 weeks, and they do like babies to stay put as long as possible) after 34 weeks, they aren't generally going to take drastic measures to stop labour if your body decides it's ready. I'm hoping to get to my last day of work, which is April 4th. Any time after that, which will be 37+ weeks, is fine by me. We're listing the house and hopefully selling it and buying a new one, and there's always Kieran's birthday to plan for. He'll be 3, I can't believe it. I'm torn between a cowboy party and a Blues Clues party. He likes both a lot, and is not helpful in deciding.

I'm at my sister's house because we have no power at ours, since 9:30 last night. It's frigging cold there. We only have baseboard heat, sadly. Grant's gone to work, Kieran and I are here. He's napping, as is the dog, finally. I think I'll join them shortly.

over 2/3 done.

That's fun, and terrifying all at the same time! We're going to list the house at the end of the month, and are just going to break down and hire someone to do all the little, inside things that need touched up before we do so. We're sort of looking for a new house too, since those things go together. Scary stuff though! We do not have a name, Grant had one that he liked but he got it off the top 10 most popular girl names from last year list, so I told him no. I have a name, but I'm not sure he's crazy about it, and it's sort of a big deal, naming person, so we really should agree if possible.

I'm back to the needing to pee frequently and getting heartburn after every meal, regardless of what it contains stage. Fun! I have gaviscon at home, rolaids in my purse, and something else I can't recall that Jenn recommended to me at work. The 1st and last are pretty gross, but work better than tums and rolaids. The rolaids come in a handy stick-in-your-purse size, so that works in a pinch. On the topic of needing to pee frequently, I also have a cold, and the sneezing is NOT working so well with the trouble holding the pee in aspect of late 2nd pregnancy. I didn't really have this problem with Kieran, or after Kieran, but apparently my bladder is like, oh, ok. I give up! I'm going to have to start doing some serious Kegels, or after this baby comes I may need depends. Gross.

Anyway. That's about all my news. Things are going well, I have an appointment next Monday. It's actually about 6 weeks after my last one, not 4, but I had to reschedule and this was the best they could do. So rather than 28 weeks, it's about 30, but meh. I get to start going every 2 weeks now, AND I get to have an ultrasound on March 10, which is the day after March break ends, haha. Not my fault! Can't reschedule those things. I thought about going for a 3D ultrasound, there's a place in Moncton now, but they want to see you before 29 weeks, so I'm just a shade late. Things start to get a bit crowded after that, so they can't guarantee the good pictures and stuff. And frankly, I'm not paying $150 for not good pictures and stuff. I'm going to see if there are any pictures in my file from my last one, because lately everyone asks me if we're having a boy or a girl, and I say probably a girl, they're like, well, so-and-so was having a girl, but had a boy! So, not helpful. I'd really like to know, and at least get some idea of how sure I can be. I'll see how that goes, and also see if they can have another peek at the next scan.

It's bedtime! Nighty night. I'll keep you posted.

conversations with a 2 year old

almost 3, I suppose.

In the car, driving home from Becky's house (his sitter).

Mum, wook!
what honey?
moon!
yes, that is the moon. The moon is really big today, isn't it?
a cookie!
it does look like a cookie. I wonder what it would taste like?
(making struggling noises from the backseat) Can't WEACH it! Can't WEACH, mum!
It is pretty far away, you're right. Hard to reach.
Idea!
what's your idea love.
Need a wadder (ladder)!
Oh, good idea babe, but mummy doesn't have a ladder in her car. It would take an awfully big ladder to get all the way to the moon, I'm not sure we have one big enough.
Idea!
another idea? what is it.
Need a pwane!
Oh, a plane, excellent! I bet if we had a special plane we could reach the moon cookie.
mmmm, cookie. I have one?

See how he works that? all about the cookies.

He comes around the corner of the island in the kitchen the other day.

hey mum.
hey buddy.
how you mekkin out?
How am I making out? Pretty good bud, how you making out?
good.
glad to hear it.

We go from this to the incoherent mumblings though, that I am proud to say I understand most of the time. This is my best phonetic spelling of a couple of nights ago, 90% asleep boy with a soother in his mouth.

mmmm. be-keh mah heh.

yeah, what? Fortunately, in context, and having heard this request clearly many times, I know he wants the blanket on his head. I can't sleep like that, but he loves it. If he doesn't have the blanket, he has Monkey on his face. Whatever works!

just when I get to thinking, sure, we'll be fine...

then I'm struck by some small detail like...I'm going to be responsible for TWO LIVES now. And my own, but that's sort of understood. It freaks me out. Also, our room is a good size, but we have giant furniture, and since the baby will have to share our room, that sort of makes it tricky to find a place for the playpen. We'll squeeze it in, but likely will have to rearrange some things...somehow. I'm just not cool with the 2 sharing a room. If we had to, we'd make do, but I feel like it's going to be a huge enough imposition, I don't want that to be one more thing. Hey honey, we brought home ANOTHER kid! Nice huh? Yes, and not only do you have to share the precious time previously owned by you, but you have to share your room too! Sorry you won't be sleeping well the next few months, but hey, neither will Mummy, so, at least I can relate.

Also, I have a picture. I thought it was about time I started documenting. This picture is from last weekend, so just over 25 weeks.



Lovely, I know. I tried to not do a headless picture, with the timer and some books serving as a tripod, but it was just a terrible picture. I looked like a 38 year old cousin of myself, so I opted for the original, tummy only shot. I have to see if I can find one from last time, hang on. Ooh, here's a nice, shirtless one? WTF was I thinking there?



Damn unflattering, not sure how different the 2 are.

Anyway. I have 2 friends with 2 babies now, and they're still alive, so I guess that gives me some hope. Kieran is generally a sweet, easy going guy, but then we have days like today where he's just tired and inconsolable for most of the day, and thus prone to irrational weeping and tantrums. We're very similar these days, what can I say.

who is this woman, and why does she get to have a baby with Matthew McConaughey?

so. unfair. it's not that I'm jealous, but seriously, who is this woman? I bet their kids are going to be UGLY. Fugly, even.

but the poor little fetus didn't get one present

I won't tell her, it would only make her sad. The wee lad, as usual, made out like a bandit. Basically I made a list of everything he might like, and my in-laws bought everything on it. Including some things that I had put on there as like, "books for Little Touch - he has these ones" and they bought those ones. His favourite gifts are blocks and a blocks farm animal puzzle, his cowboy hat (a real one, of course) and the ride-on digger.
Grant and I made out pretty well too, I got a Flip Ultra camera, some high brown boots, 2 cook books, all the stuff on my 'kitchen needs' list, and 2 new travel mugs. I'm keeping both, because I can have one at work and one for the purse for Starbucks etc. The most surprising (and very fun) gift was from Erin, she got me the box set of "My So-Called Life". Did you watch it? I did, and I loved it. Did you know there were only 19 eposides? Ever? I did not know that. Anyway, Grant and I watched a couple shows last night, and I was worried that it wouldn't be as good since I'm not 15, but it still is. It's good now too because there is actually a plot that follows the grown-ups, which I can't say I ever noticed the first time around. Also, hello Jordan Catalano. He's still a big attraction, I'll be honest. Although his "acting" in the early shows is a bit...melodramatic. I didn't care then, and I'm not going to let that get in the way now either.
Kieran needs a new shirt, he's got peanut butter on his. Tragic, I know! Later skaters.