- I am at that point of pregnancy where people look at me with either deep sympathy (females) or concern that I might just go into labor any second (males). I lumber/waddle when I walk, my legs and feet are tree trunks and bricks, respectively, by the end of the day and more than one person has remarked that my belly couldn't get any bigger. News flash folks: it can and it will! Still, less than four weeks to go.
- We almost have a nursery! My poor husband...I don't even want to calculate how many tons of furniture he has had to haul around and move (hello, hernia). Following yet one more great rearrangement/redistribution of heavy things, everyone has a place to sleep, store their clothes and sit and recline while attempting to doze between hourly night wakings/feedings. I feel like it's been a marathon to finally get to this point where I can nest properly...I will be doing a load of tiny laundry later this week just because I finally CAN!
- The house has come together beautifully, if I do say so myself. We have hung most of our artwork and photos which has really made it feel like home. We're also hosting a housewarming party next weekend (You: You are crazy. Me: Yes, yes I am) and it will be so nice to have all our friends and "family" out to see we are. There are still maybe 10-12 boxes to unpack (mostly the motley boxes o' shit you throw together when you're sick of proper packing) but otherwise we are pretty much there. Did I mention I'm never moving again?
- The kids are adjusting really well. Last week and this week we've had daily swim lessons and playground programs, plus the usual therapy sessions and life-living to do. They are both doing phenomenally well in their swimming, especially Pacey. He and his best buddy are sharing an adaptive lesson with a private instructor and it could not have worked out better. They motivate each other and his mom and I get to sit and gab during the lessons (each of our other two kids happened to land in the same class too so we spend the three-hour block the whole thing takes together).
- Miracle League has finished for the year and it was just an amazingly positive experience. I know some people have mixed feelings about the idea of separating kids with special needs out in this way, but for us, for my kid with special needs it was perfect. And frankly, I think it was exactly how all kids should learn sports, in a completely supportive, non-competitive environment without parents having to hover. The biggest global hurdle that Pacey faces on a daily basis is that his cognitive delay requires him to spend a little more time processing incoming information and formulating responses. In the Miracle League environment, he had that time with no pressure from anyone, just cheers and support. I'm amazed at how much he learned about the game of baseball and how it is played, and he really improved his skills by emulating his buddies. Plus, he just love, love LOVED having bigger boys be his buddies. Much more fun than having mom or dad running around there on the field with him. I don't know where we will go with baseball, or any other sport for that matter, but I'm so pleased that he had a chance to be independently part of a team and learn some new skills.
- I feel compelled to mention a little something about Chris because we totally skipped over Father's Day. We agreed back in April that we were going to skip celebrating Mother's Day and Father's Day for the most part. There was so much going on, B's birthday landed on Mother's Day and the kids are both still at ages where they really need help expressing their appreciation. In retrospect, I don't love that we made that decision. Parenting can be so thankless at times, and I think that we need that one day a year to hear from our kids and our spouses that we are doing a good job. Doesn't have to be extravagant to be meaningful. Anyway, Chris spent Father's Day unpacking and organizing the garage, a task which sucked so mightily it can't be described. I wish I'd taken more of the opportunity to let him know what a great father he has become (he's never been a bad dad but I'm sure he would agree that he's grown and settled into the role as the kids have gotten a bit older). He is someone that took a variety of sometimes non-traditional parental influences and put them together into a really good parenting style. The kids love him dearly (and so do I).
- I still can't get absorbed in a book to save my life. I am actually going to put my library request list on hold because I'm not able to get through anything before it has to go back. I think I remember this from the end of my previous pregnancies, but it's still weird. I am missing the mental escapism. Let me know if you have any books you've read lately that you just couldn't put down. Oh, I did read Jodi Picoult's newest book The Storyteller, which I thought was very well-written and quite compelling but really affected me emotionally. It was a very difficult read.
- I can't believe it's already the end of the month. The 4th is next week, and that feels like mid-summer to me (it's not really, by the calendar and by our school schedule here in MN). I look back at last summer and our bucket list of activities that we accomplished and I feel a little guilty that it's not all fun-fun-fun around here this year. The kids don't seem to notice/mind but I'm not ready for summer to stop being a free-for-all. I'm glad the baby will be nearly a year by next summer so we can return to our usual crazy pace. And until then, the weeks can feel free to continue flying by til July 22.
Ok, picture dump and that's all the time I have. Brighton is playing me "pretty music" on the piano while I type and Pacey has asked me approximately 475612983 times if he can play the iPad (no he can't)(he had the privilege removed as a result of hitting me) so my concentration is shot.
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| Hedgehogs! This was taken at the hell that is IKEA on a rainy summer Sunday. God it was awful. |
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| Her summer goal is to complete the monkey bars. |
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| Yes, Thor totally wears silver pumps (we are really into dressing up around here right now) |
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| Little Miss Attitude at daddy's rugby tournament |
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| This one is turning into a fish |
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| Trying out baby brother's new bed. I am having a hard time keeping them OUT of it. |
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| With his medal from the All Stars game |
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| Stop. Growing. Now. |
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| Playing kings and princesses with their surrogate cousin, D |
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| Mr. Gap-Tooth |
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| The brought the Twins mascot to the game, so fun for the kids |
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| With his buddy |
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| She was genuinely so excited for him. I am proud of how well she coped with all the focus on him (i.e. none on her) |
1 comment:
So glad you posted! I assumed all was well, but I was getting ready to email you to see where you were hiding.
How is it that you're LESS THEN 4 weeks away from being a mom to 3?!?!?! That boggles my mind.
So glad you've settled in well and that the kids are doing well. LOVE that last picture of the kids hugging at P's game- such a sweet moment. And I know that attitude filled look on B's face well. The Bean actually told me "Duh!" the other day when I asked her a question. Again, 4 going on 14.
As for books, check out "Eleanor & Park." It's YA, but oh is it charming. You can read my Goodread's review for more details, but I inhaled it in under 12 hours.
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