34 week update

Okay, it's been a while since I've complained about being pregnant here, so this is the obligitory update to keep you all informed: yes, I'm huge, and uncomfortable, diabetic (and hungry!), and cranky.  But, we have been so blessed that Little Girl is healthy, growing and kicking (hard!), and that there have been no serious complications.  For all my whining about gestational diabetes, things have been better this time around.  My sugars are low, usually, even when I'm not exactly following my diet.  So low that I'm only having to test twice a day instead of four times, and there is not even a mention of medication (yes!). 

For those of you who don't believe I ever look pregnant, here is (very, very embarrassing) proof that my body is capable of looking huge (please be kind, Adam's suggestion was to cut off my head--it is not exactly flattering):

Some things I am loving right now:

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  Tums Smoothies, Berry Fusion flavor.  I need a hip holster, seriously. 
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  The pink shirt I am wearing in the picture above, and it's teal twin.  I also am loving a certain maxi dress from Old Navy (sorry, no link, they don't sell it anymore, I guess) . . . sooooo comfy.  And since I've outgrown about half of my maternity pants and capris, it's good to have a pantsless option. 
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  My body pillow.  And the Unisom my OB okayed for occasional use.  Because insomnia sucks, but it goes to a whole new level when you are pregnant and up several times in the night anyway.  Getting a good night's sleep around once every week or so really helps me not resent being a mom. 
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  Jimmy John's Beach Club (#11).  Yeah, still craving it.  I have to be a little smarter about eating it now, but dang it, it's so good! 
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  Adam's t shirts.  There are very few things that still stretch over my belly that I wear to bed, I'm so glad he has quite a lot of old shirts. 
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  Katie's excitement for her new little sister.  While Adam will not sit and squeal with me over pretty beaded binky clips and teeny tiny diapers, but I do have one person readily available who will as long as I am willing to count days and weeks for her every time we talk about it. 
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  My bra extender.  Because although my cup size doesn't go up too much, my band size definitely does. 
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  Up dos.  Yeah, I've been trying out some fancy (and some less-fancy) stuff with my hair to keep it off my neck in the 105 degree weather.  I think I've worn my hair up this summer more than I have in my whole life.  It's actually kind of fun, until I look at a picture of myself like the one above and remember why I usually keep my hair down. 
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  Nesting.  I am finally allowing myself to organize and prepare stuff for the baby.  I was going to wait another couple of weeks, but I've been going crazy trying to force myself to do other things, so I'm just indulging the urge.  Hopefully with helping Isaiah with homework, preschool, toddler time, karate, Katie's birthday, Adam's real estate courses, and preparing for Max's birthday and Halloween I should be able to fill any extra time before the baby's born.  Right?

So there you have it.  Six weeks to go, and still breathing! 

First Days of School

Isaiah started second grade Wednesday, August 11.  He's in Mrs. Thomas's class, and so far seems to be doing great!  (Of course SEPs are Thursday, then we'll really have a better idea.)  He was a lot more excited about the idea of school than the reality, but he is having fun playing with friends at recess again.  Here he is on the first day as he's leaving for the bus:

Today was Katie's first day of her second year at Aunt Shelli's preschool.  She was much more nervous this year than last year since her cousin Keirra went to Kindergarten and wasn't there with her.  But after she warmed up and started playing she felt a little better.  I think we're still excited to go on Thursday!  Here she is in her new "school dress" as we arrived at preschool: 

Another milestone

Look!  Sleeping in a big boy bed!  Tonight's the first night so we'll see if it sticks, but I have to say: he looks so big in that bed.  It's crazy how excited he was as we set it up.  He kept turning off the light, climbing in, and declaring a "nap." 

As a side note, isn't it cute that he's sleeping with a baby doll?  The last week or two he's been asking me to sing "Rock-a-Bye Baby" at bedtime instead of our usual "I'm a Child of God."  And he's enlisted Katie in sharing her baby dolls so that he can rock them and cuddle them, too.  I don't know if it's coincidence or if it's all the baby talk around our house, but he is definitely in a nurturing mood lately.  Either way, it's good timing.  Hopefully he will continue taking care of his "baby" alongside me in a few weeks. 

Rite of passage

08/10/10

Every little boy needs to get his hair cut at a barbershop, don't you think?  I just love taking Isaiah there, and was so ready for Max to have a real professional cut his hair. 

Yeah, he looks a little worried.  He handled it better than I would have expected a 21-month-old to.  He was so proud of his hair cut afterward (not to mention his sucker), and has never looked more handsome!

New freedom!

While we're talking about Katie, I just have to share her new accomplishment!  On Thursday, August 12th Miss Katie Ellis learned to ride her bike without training wheels.  We're still up for lots of practice before it becomes automatic, but look at the pride and accomplishment on her face!

Not one to be left behind, Max has also perfected the art of riding a scooter, pushing off with his foot.  With a little help he can also ride a two-wheeled scooter, but it is too big and unwieldy most of the time.

Birthday Wishes

Okay, this is beginning to be a bit of a tradition!  Katie's birthday is coming up next month and she hasn't forgotten that Isaiah's birthday list was published here, so she reminded me that we needed to do it for her this time.  Here's her list:

In case you don't read 4-year-old, here's the translation:

Trix (yes, the cereal, which we currently have 2 boxes of already)
Barbie clothes
New clothes (specifically a dress)
Swimsuit (she has 4 already, but does that matter?)
Dora CD
Bakugan (Isaiah's got this one covered)
Dress-up dress
Earrings
Doll house (she has 2 doll houses, but she's hoping for a more grown-up Barbie house)

So, we're in full-fledged party planning mode for the next few weeks as we plan Katie's Pinkalicious party.  Wish us luck!

Still breathing! I promise :)

Okay, so I know it seems like I have disappeared from blogger-land.  But I haven't.  I've just been overwhelmed with so much going on this summer and then preparing for getting kids back in school.  But . . . breathe a sigh of relief . . . routine is returning to our corner of the world, and with routine comes regular quiet time for Mom to get things accomplished.  Like blogging, for instance (what, you thought I was going to clean the fridge or prep a nursery?  psh!).  So brace yourself.  Next week I'll have both big kids in school, and you will be deluged with posts of pictures and anecdotes from the summer.  Mixed in with the things that are actually happening now.  I might even post a picture of my ever-expanding belly and bore you with the details of poking myself several times a day and restricting carbs (*sob!*).  In the meantime, enjoy this awesome picture of Max using chopsticks.  I think he's pretty talented for a one-year-old.