...And I Wore White Shoes!

Dwayne said he wanted to take the Ranger out and have a little fun.
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I should have known what 'fun' meant when I saw him carry his rubber boots to the truck...







The pink blanket had meant to be for warmth. It ended up being a 'splatter guard' for the baby.

How calm dull would my life be with all girls?!?


The winch worked hard today!




Pregnancy Update

I went to see the obstetrician.

Because of where we live and the complications I've had with my reproductive system and previous deliveries, the obstetrician thinks that I should live in the city (2 hours away) for the last two weeks before my due date.

This is a big deal.

I have three active boys, a husband that works here in town and a million things to do before the baby comes. Also, Kobe was 12 days overdue. If this one is that overdue, that means I'll be there for about a month!

Dwayne asked me how I felt about it and I was trying hard to hold back tears.

I am large, tired and can't physically manage the children on my own for that long. The older two are fine...potty-trained, not too many no temper tantrums, sleep well.

Zane is another story. He is so busy. Really busy. Does not sit still EVER busy.

Dwayne took one look at me and said, "I think I should keep Zane in town. He can go to Mrs. Z's when I'm at work and he and I will hang out after work."

My gut reaction was "NO!" I don't want to be away from him. I love him and want him right there with me. But after thinking it through, I think it's best. The two of them will have some great bonding time and the older children and I will get to enjoy some last-minute-before-baby-comes bonding too.

We will enjoy trips to the library, swimming lessons and some quiet time to prepare for babe.

And, who knows, maybe baby will be a little early.


Siblings Fight...It's Common But Unacceptable

My boys are great friends...mostly.

There are those times of constant bickering, teasing, taunting that makes me sad (and angry).

Today was different. Today Dylan was mean. He said mean things to Kobe and Kobe ended up saying similarly mean things back in retaliation.

We were in the truck when it happened. I talked to the boys about how that might feel, but Dylan was flippant about it. When we got home, I sent Kobe to his room to think and Dylan to Zane's room - it's been cleared of all toys and 'stuff' because of Zane can't be trusted to stay out of trouble - to think.

Dylan's assignment while in there was to think of something he could do that was honouring to Kobe and would make Kobe feel loved.

While thinking, Dylan decided to make Kobe a book to teach him his letters. I liked the idea of a book, but told him he could do a book on how to treat people and a few nice things about Kobe. He wasn't allowed to play until the book was finished.

Here's what he came up with completely on his own...



Translation: Crossed out 'I'll break that' and wrote 'We should not break.'

Translation: 'Kobe, you're a nice brother.'


Translation: 'Kobe, I like how you play cars.'
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I was most impressed with what he came up with, especially when he did it all by himself.
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When Dylan presented the book to Kobe, Kobe just beamed. He said thank you to Dylan and then Dylan said thank you to Kobe for listening while he read the book to him. (All unprompted.)
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I told the boys that my heart felt better about the whole situation.
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What was Dylan's response?
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"My heart feels better about it, too, Mom. Something strange is going on. When I do something nice for Kobe it makes me want to do more nice things for him."
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Wow! Small victories feel so very precious!



Sometimes You Just Need A Hero

He came home from work for a couple of minutes - just long enough to pick something up.

When he entered the house, he saw her crying on the couch.

He went over, gave her a hug and asked what was wrong.

She didn't answer, just cried harder.

He could hear his youngest crying from upstairs and asked where the children were.

Between sobs, she said, "In their rooms. In timeout."He asked what was wrong.Her response? "I'm just so tired. They won't listen. They have too much energy. I can't keep up. And *sob, sniff* the last one's not even here yet." And it was only 9:30am.

Yep...that's the scene that played out in our home yesterday.

It was one of those mornings. You know the ones - where they all seem to get together and plan how to drive Mama crazy. How to make her so very exhausted she can't even think. And they must know that there is a crazy-point that she can't control her pregnancy hormones one second longer and the waterworks will come bursting like a dam.

The sobbing/praying fiasco was soon finished. My Superman got all of us back on track and the rest of the day went well. I guess I just needed a time out and a hero.



School's In!

Today was our first official day of homeschooling in Grade 2.

Did I just say Grade 2? Where does the time go? Yikes!


We had a hectic day. Dwayne's grandparents showed up unexpectedly last night. It was our first school day today. Dwayne came home just before lunch and said that he had to go to out of town for business and would be leaving just around supper.

All the excitement was a little hard on my new Grade 2er. He wanted to be visiting. And he desperately wanted to go with Dwayne - which he would normally be able to do.

But...

The mean ol' schoolmarm laid down the law and said, "We're sticking to the plan."

So instead of partaking in the excitement, Dylan learned a new memory verse, did some copy work, made a map of our town, sang O Canada, read to me, was read to, got his feet wet in grammar and learned a little more phonics than he knew when he woke up this morning.

We ended the day with a trip to the newly renovated playground down the street.

Tomorrow we'll add science and math to the schedule.

'Night. *yawn*



33 Weeks

Just wish I had some 'before the baby dropped' pictures. I was huge!





My Belly Is So, Well...Small

It's been a rough go for me this pregnancy.

I got very large, very quickly.

Worse than the heartburn and the charlie horses were the dizziness, feeling faint and not being able to breathe.

The last month has been particularly challenging, as even climbing the stairs required a short sit after. I don't have time to sit - I have 3 little boys!

I was feeling a bit down. I didn't want to feel like I was wishing away two full months of my life. I want to savour the rest of this pregnancy - it will likely be my last. I want to enjoy this time with my other children. I want to have energy to be the Mom I usually am.

Then it happened on Monday. The baby dropped. Substantially.

My belly looks and measures much smaller, my heartburn is much less and ... drumroll ... I can breathe!

My doctor isn't sure what the baby dropping this early might mean, but for now, I'll take it!

C'mon boys, let's go have some fun!