The Potty Business

I just wanted to make a quick note. This potty thing has gone extremely well. The work and constant peeing with Angelina had me a bit afraid, but Grace has had 2 days, with only 1 pee accident. She was even dry through the night last nigh! This was a feat that Angelina just over came last spring. So Grace is in panties all day, and her accident was today at nap time. She is telling me on occasion, by patting her bum and saying, "Mum, pee pee." I just can't believe the difference in her over all disposition in the last week really. She is communicating more then ever. And if I don't understand what she is saying she gets close to me, and looks me in the eyes, and she will say the word again. Its almost like her little eyes are pleading with me, "Please understand!" Her newest one I think in the last few days has been 'sue sue' for soother. She is just so urgent when she needs it.
We are off to camping tomorrow. Angelina is very excited. We went to buy some groceries today, and she had to have the jelly candies! She was singing through the whole store about the jelly candies, until we found them. Then she was a very happy go lucky girl.

As for me, I'm really just tired. I am starting to feel the tiredness of pregnancy, and just can't seem to catch up on my sleep. Baby is getting quit exaggerated in movements. Angelina was laying against me the other day, and she even felt the BUBOOMB! I know that last 3 months are the most uncomfortable, and its gets more and more so as each week goes by. But I know it is all well worth it in the end.

Hope you have a great weekend, and I will blog again next week with camping pictures!

A Foot!!

The other night (my day with the girls) I was on the couch, and my belly was popping out here and there, as Baby was feeling rather energetic, (that's were all my energy went!) and kicking every which way. I could see one particular spot, close to the top, that baby was aggressively kicking, and seemed to be favoring. So after a few minutes of this, I decided to show Baby who's the boss. Baby kicked, and I pressed my fingers into the spot Baby kicked and said, "Hey you!" Bong! Right back into my fingers, still pressed to my belly. And I could feel Baby's foot!! I was in awe!! Each pregnancy is new. You forget about all these things until it happens again. So instead of being annoyed at my energetic child, we 'played' for a few minutes. Baby kicking, and me pressing down, feeling that wee little foot. And then suddenly Baby decided enough was enough, and limbs 'disappeared' and Baby was still. Tired I suppose and catching a cat-nap. Preparing for his/her 12:00am 'Awake time':)

The last week or so, maybe 2, I've had a hard time relaxing and falling asleep. I'm tired. Oh so tired. But I'm excited. I am actually excited about the birth. Who's all gonna make it here in time? How long will it be? Will I have all the back pain? How am I going to handle it? Will I be able to focus and stay in control? I know that last one depends alot on weather the kids will be able to manage my labor. If I'm in good control, and keep my verbal sounds to a minimum, they will view it all in a much more positive light, then if I'm screaming, and carrying on. So I really want to be able to do that, for both of them. And then the big question, what gender is Baby? Will the first outfit be the blue one, or the pink one? And I'm so excited about cuddling, and holding, and nursing my baby.

So anyways onto the apt. today. Everything is going great. I am still measuring large, in the 90%. But my babies so far have been in the 90% in their own weight so it really makes sense. And its still within normal range, just high, normal. We talked about if the midwives don't make it on time and Goran and I end up delivering on our own (which I think would be very exciting) . In that case the midwives recommend calling the paramedics, and they will assess and monitor Baby and me until the midwives get there. My concern was going to the hospital(which I really really don't want to do). The only reason they would take me in is if there was an emergency situation, such as Baby not breathing, or myself hemorrhaging. But in that kind of situation, I would be very grateful for the help:). Babys heart rate was in the 150's today. This is normal, but the girls always dropped, until about 120 or so, and I think 150 is up from last time (maybe a sign of a boy?). Baby was laying with its bum/back left of my belly button, and Lisa and I were both quit certain baby is head down. Grace didn't do this until 36+ weeks! So Yeah! Baby already knows which way is out! I had a hunch the last few days that Baby was head down, because I have had some extra pelvic presure. So it everything is going really well.

A bit about the girls. One of the other girls I care for, was away last week. This made Angelina very sad, as they are close in age and play together alot. Well this week she came back, and every day this week at circle time I ask Angelina,
"How are you today, Angelina?"
"I am very happy that Alexis is back this week!"has been her reply every day so far.
And for Gracey, the big thing is the potty training. She definitely understands the hold and release part. She can be very stubborn, and will sit for a very long time. I got her up from her nap today and tried to put her on, but she told me, "No Mommy, no."
"Ok," I said, "but no pee pee in your panties,"
And this went on all afternoon. We went to the midwives and I tried her on the toilet there before and after my apt. "No Mommy, no." This didn't surprise me to much, as she is afraid of the big toilet. "No pee pee in your panties," I told her.
"Ok," she said.
We got home at almost 6:00pm. I told her she had to go pee pee, and I had no argument from her. She went to the potty, sat down, and did she ever go!! It had been since about 1:15pm.
So she really is getting the concept, and understands alot. I'm hoping by the end of the week, we are just about done.

I am going camping with the girls and Mark, Kristyn, and Abby this weekend. We have a family re-union at Byng Park, and decided to make a weekend of it.
Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend!

A Beautiful Day with my Girls!

I was a bit disappointed when Goran told me he was going fishing, all day. Home all day by myself, and on top it all off, he needed the van so I couldn't take the girls out anywhere. But its turning out quite pleasant. The girls are both relaxed, and enjoying one on one mommy time. Something they don't get everyday. This is also a great opportunity to work with Grace and her potty skills...which she is doing ok with. (An accident a day's not to bad.) I have some extra time, as well, to get some organizing done, and get my work week planned out.
I was listening to the girls play. Grace was sitting on the potty and Angelina was busy leading her in song, and reading stories. As I listened I realized she was mimicking me at circle time. She was being the teacher, and Grace was her student.
"Do you want to do circle?" she asked.
"Yeah," Grace replied.
"What week is it? Do you know?" Angelina continued.
Grace answered something in toddler gibberish, I couldn't make out.
"Its Monday!" Angelina exclaimed.
"Monday!" Grace copied excitedly.
To which Angelina began singing some version of the 'There are 7 Days of the week', song.
Ok, so she doesn't quit have her weeks and days figured out, but the play was amazing to listen to. They were co operating together, and listening to each other, and waiting for their turn to talk. Angelina does understand weeks and days go together, and she is teaching Grace. And through it all she taught Grace to say a new word, "Monday".
The day is quickly coming to an end. Although the weather has been unpredictable, we did get out for a walk this morning and this evening. The wind was blowing nice warm air from the south, and the tress were swaying in the wind. It was making fall seem along way off yet. Both the girls were pretty quiet. Each busy with their own thoughts, I guess.
We are all looking forward to a fun day with Kristyn and Abby tomorrow!! I am going to buy a few maternity shirts. I was hoping to be able to get a way with extra large t-shits, but they aren't covering my baby belly anymore, and I have 3 months to go. So, it looks like I will have to hit the stores! Yeah for shopping! The girls always enjoy a day at Aunt Kristyn's. Good company, and good food!
So the day turned out to be great. In fact, I'm really glad I had this day with the girls!

Here they are, ending the day with a joyous bubble bath!!




Have a great Sunday!

There is never enough time

Here is Angelina with her Chachie.

Here Angelina is painting with a cotton ball.

Here Grace is painting with a cotton ball.

Here is the big girl sitting on the potty!

And here is #3, growing, growing....

There are so many things I'd like to write. But never enough time. I would like to post all the family happenings in here, but there is so much, it feels like sometimes I am just rambling. And I don't want to seem like I favor one child over the other, by writing more about one then the other. They are at very different stages, both growing and changing so much, really with each passing day.

Well I will write a tid bit about one and then the other, and then Baby.

So Angelina. She has been a bit hesitant about the whole 'home birth'. Not sure if she wants to be there, or upstairs, if she wants to watch, and a few times she even suggested I go to the hospital! (Imagine my dismay! Haven't I taught her anything?) But yesterday we were watching A Birth Story on TLC, and the lady and her husband were getting into the car to go to the hospital. It was dark. She mentioned that is wasn't very nice that they had to go in the dark. I agreed. A few moments passed and she says, "Its good we're having the baby at home and you won't have to go anywhere in the dark." Maybe its just some unknown fear of the dark, but my heart filled with pride and I thought, 'I have taught you something.' I thought maybe giving her a job would make her feel more useful, like she is doing something to help. A few weeks ago I hurt my back and Goran was rubbing it alot, trying to get the knot out. Angelina picked up on this and one day got the stool, (while I was doing dishes) got up behind me and started rubbing my back. She said, "Does that feel better, Mommy?" (my heart melts again. I have, somewhere along the line, taught her empathy!) This is where the idea of giving her a job come into mind, so I asked her, "When Mommy is in the pool, in labor would you like to come in and rub my back?" She agreed this was a great idea, and she wants to do that. I really want her to be part of the birth, and witness it. It is our families that we learn the concept of family, and the importance of the bonds that we share. This put my mind at ease, for now.

She is growing leaps and bounds in other ways as well. We are doing crafts almost daily, and she is getting super good at painting, and gluing, and cutting with scissors. She asks daily what friend are coming to play, and voices disapproval, or approval, depending on my answer. She is always disappointed when its the weekend, and no friends are coming, unless we have plans to visit cousins or grandparents. She loves her dad! She luves Sunday mornings, because Daddy is home! Mondays and Thursdays are great evenings as well because I go swimming and she gets special Daddy time when Grace goes to bed. She calls him, Chachie, and gets jealous when Grace is on his lap and there isn't room for her. She shares her bed with Grace now. It usually doesn't work to put them to bed together, but most mornings they come groggy eyed, and messy haired together to me. Most times she luves her little sister. She gritters her teeth together and tells me, "I luv my big sister!" To which I reply, "You luv your little sister. You're the big sister." Then she nods and says "Yep." and off she runs.

And then we have Grace, our soon to be middle child. 19 months is such a time of extreme mental growth for them! I luv to sit and watch her thinking and working things out. She can be very demanding, and stubborn. But I realize that is a developmental phase she is going through too. The last few days she has been following me to the bathroom and wants to sit on the potty with me. So I oblige. Yesterday I suggest she wear big girl undies. She thought that was great. She's been dry since then, (except night time)and she can hold it for hours! Like 2-3 hours at a time. She did have a BM after her nap, which I wasn't too happy about. But her concept of it seems to be there, and I'll just keep rewarding her. She gets quit excited when I tell her, "You go pee pee and Mommy will give you chocolate." "YEAH!" she replies. She still takes her soother to bed, but knows it should stay there. She will often leave it in her bed, or bring it to me in the morning. If she is having a bad time of something during the day, she will go to her bed herself, and suck on her soother for a bit and lay down. She sleeps through most night. If she does wake up, I get up, give her the soother, and she's quiet again. But those nights that she's up 4-5 times, I'm not happy by the 4 time, and I can be pretty crabby. She has a real thing for shoes. She wore the soft soled Robeez for along time, but this summer, she kept swiping Angelina's sandals, so I thought it was time for her own. And since she has started wearing them her feet have grown! Her first pair were a size 3, and now in the last 2 months, she has gone up to a size 5. (I should mention here, Angelina wears a size, 6-7)She brings her shoes/sandals to us many times through the day to go outside. I like to go on my super walks in the evening, but she doesn't like to sit anymore. She wants out, and cries and cries! At 19 and 1/2 months she has loads of words. No thank-you, juice, crackers, more, all done, mommy, daddy, Bobby, Callie, Duke, are a few. We do a circle in the morning, and sing songs. So she is picking up tunes, and words from that, and will often 'sing' away during the day, on the potty, or while they are sitting in the wagon together. We are still nursing on demand. Its been a few days since she last asked. Every time she does this, I wonder, is that it, is she done? And then suddenly she has a 'catch up' day, and she will nurse 10 times to build the supply back up. When she wants to nurse, she climbs up onto my lap and points to a breast(usually the left), and says something that sounds like milk. I say to her, "Show me with you hands." She will then use sign language, and 'show' me what she wants. I never thought I would nurse at all. Before I had Angelina I thought I would bottle feed. But my mom convinced my to try, and it was amazing. Gazing into their little eyes, watching them fall asleep so peacefully... and after doing research, I've learned, this is one of the best things I can do for my children. For their health, and even their emotional well-being. The bonds and security they learn from breastfeeding can not be mimicked by anything else. And it turns out to be very good for myself as well. It cuts my chance of breast cancer way down, and after a birth, it helps your hormones regulate quicker, and your body get back to shape.

Well onto #3. We are 26 weeks now. Baby is 2-3 pounds, and about 15inches long. Movement are becoming more pronounced, and maybe a wee bit uncomfortable. When I'm laying down, I can see Baby kick. My side will pop out, or baby will be sitting a certain way, and we can see a bum sticking out to one side. As far as I can tell, baby is still turning and moving all over the place. My Internet info says many babies begin resuming the head down position already, but as Grace didn't do that until 36 weeks, I'm not to worried, yet. Many of the ladies at my swimming class are quit concerned that I'm showing large, and I'm going to deliver early. I remember with Grace I was HUGE! It looked like a beach ball at the end. But I went 2 days before my due date. So I reassure them telling them, "It gets much bigger." And I know it will. But for the most part, I can't complain about pain, or discomfort. By the end of the day I'm tired, but I'm very busy as well. A few weeks ago, I was feeling really good, not tired at all. I thought to myself, "Why are women in such a hurry to give birth, really, its great!" But I remember now, from the two girls, the tiredness I feel in the evening now starts to catch up with you, and you feel that way all the time. But in the mean time I will enjoy it as much as possible. All to soon its over.

I see Lisa, my 3rd midwife next week and will post after that.

Thank you so much for reading!

I Ate Way Too Much!!

Oh the things we forget about!! Last night we all went to a friends house for dinner. And it was a really great dinner. Roast, seasoned potato's, broccoli, cauliflower salad, corn, and some great chocolate dessert. I don't usually eat a big dinner, but I did last night. 2 helpings of everything. I'm eating for 2 right?I payed for it. Sometime after I ate, I start to notice my tummy was hurting. I could remember it from somewhere, but couldn't put my finger on it. I ignored it. But as the minutes ticked by, it was getting, worse. Ouch, Baby gave a kick. Then, suddenly the light goes on. I've had this before. There just isn't enough room in there for all that food, and baby. I could really feel my skin stretching, and all my organs squashing together. Well after some digesting, the whole situation feels much better. But even this morning I still feel uncomfortable. So, I've learned my lesson. I will not be stuffing myself for the next 14 weeks just because the food tastes good. (And that will be really hard with Thanksgiving!) Its much more pleasant to enjoy a bit, and have some leftovers the next day. But I stop to think, Baby is only 1/2 as big as it is going to be in 14 weeks. So the room in there is only going to get smaller, and smaller. That means eating less and less, and I guess move often. I remember it with the other 2, now. But, I had forgotten. I know in the long run, its all worth it!

Thanks for reading, I will post again in the next day or so with pics too! I just thought this was too funny, and wanted a record to remember for the future!

An Anniversary a Wedding, and 15 weeks left!!

On the 9th, Goran and I celebrated our 5th year anniversary! It turned out to be a very busy day, but we had planned to spend an hour or 2 over a quiet dinner together, after the kids went to bed. We did get a very nice dinner, and a wonderful chocolate dessert :) and I was pleasantly surprised with some very thoughtful gifts. We always do exchange gifts, but Goran is very good at really thinking about hobbies and interests that I have and getting me something amazing, but at the same time, something I would never have bought myself. I do home daycare, which I luv and take great pride in. I plan menus, weekly crafts, outings, and field trips with the kids. Well, Goran knows my luv for it and thoughtfully had a t-shirt made that says "Kathryn's Daycare" across the front!! I have also taken a liking to the 'Willow Tree' figures, and included in the gift was one of them. There was the traditional card, which Goran included his own romantic text in, and lots of yummy chocolate. It was a lovely evening together, in which we were able to remind each other of the vows we took, and the last 5 years we've spent together!

The 9th was followed by a wedding on the 10th! Laura is one of my oldest friends! We have known each other for 14 years +. A few years ago she told me she was seeing someone new and we had the privilege of meeting Tim last year. (Just after we had moved into our new house.) At the time, my thought was that they suited each other very well. I also got the impression that Laura was quit determined to snag this one:). Just before Christmas I got the email, announcing the pending wedding for sometime in the summer. So my mom came to watch the girls around 2:00 and off we went. It was beautiful wedding followed by a great party afterwards. We got to see some old friends we haven't seen for along time, and enjoy some really great food! My congratulations goes out to the newly weds, and I wish them luck in all that the future holds for them!


Now, like I said in the title, 15 weeks to go! I am 25 weeks, on August 14th. I'm sure that in the pictures you can definitely see that the baby is growing, and my belly is full prof of that! My back has been giving me grief, but I am stretching daily on my exercise ball, and continuing to swim. At this point with Grace I had an ultra sound which showed she was about 2.2lbs. So figuring that both my girls were about the same size, and that I likely grow babies the same way, this baby too is likely about that size, and from info online, the baby could be anywhere from 9-13 inches long. The baby is moving, and tumbling around alot now. I like to lay in bed in the morning and wait for Baby to move before I get up. Just a little "Hello, I'm still here!" I've noticed if Baby is overly active, making me a bit uncomfortable, getting up and walking around usually settles Baby down very nicely, giving me some peace again. I remember after my girls were born, walking was a favorite for both of them.

Well, I will finish with a few pictures.

Goran and I before leaving for the wedding

The happy couple exchanging vows.

Grace and Angelina helping pick tomato's!

Spoke to Soon

Well, isn't that the way it usually goes? I'll explain.

Last night Goran comes home from work at 2:00am(afternoons) gets into bed, and cuddles up. I'm pretty groggy, and mumble "I love you hunny," and begin to drift off back to sleep. Suddenly he says, "Did you feel that? The baby is kicking!" I pull myself out of slumper, and wait. Sure enough Baby gives a kick, or a punch, either way making him/herself known. All women know this is a special moment, when your spouse can actually feel the baby moving. At that moment, the baby suddenly becomes truly alive for them. I smile, "Yes," I said. "That's the baby." We cuddled for a few minutes, enjoying the moment, each of us feeling the baby move, turn, and kick. Then Goran says, "Yep, definitely kicks like a little man!"

So there you have it. Baby's movements have not been felt by just me alone. And Goran's conclusion is still the same; it must be a boy!