Guessing Game! :)

So...at my shower back in December (wow, time flies!)...we had most of the guests write down their guesses for Zoe's height, weight, and birthday! We're down to the final 2 contestants on the date, but I'll go ahead and see who wants to continue playing the game anyway and add a guess! Hey, if we've got to wait, might as well have some fun!

Here's the players so far!

NAME - Height/Weight/Birthday!

ME! - 20 in/7.5 lbs/Mar 20th
Erica - 21 in/7.1 lbs/Mar 27th
Lea - 19 in/7.3 lbs/Mar 19th
Sophie - 22 in/7.2 lbs/Mar 29th
Parisa - 20 in/8.5 lbs/Mar 21st
Octavia - 21 in/8 lbs/Mar 27th
Louise - 21 in/7.9 lbs/Mar 25th
Nancy - 20 in/7 lbs/Mar 22nd
Gail - 18.75 in/6.75 lbs/Mar 15th

And, if you already guessed the date and were wrong, feel free to guess again, but only the first one counts! The prize? Hmmm...I'll think of something! :)

Button, button, he's got the button!

So there I was, taking a shower while Ian was peacefully watching his video. Looking at the clock, I figured I should probably hop out since the episode was probably ending. He'd come looking for me anyway. (Which usually involves pulling the shower curtain out and getting water EVERYWHERE!).

When I left him, he was watching Little Einsteins. I come back, and now Veggie Tales is up on the screen. Ian is jumping up and down squealing with delight behind the coffee table, "Tales! Tales!" and clapping his hands. I rub my eyes, pinch myself, walk back out of the room, and stare at the screen dumbfounded.

HE CHANGED THE DVD ALL BY HIMSELF!?!?!?!?!

Oh yes, he did. Now we're really in for it! I can't believe how smart he's getting!

Of course, since it's actually an XBOX we use as the DVD player, you can't get the movie to play unless you have the remote. I wonder how long it's going to take him to get THAT trick down? Not very long I'm sure. Mommy needs to get with the program and start thinking ahead of him again!!

Another example of his intelligence in action happened the day before yesterday. I'm sprawled out on the couch watching a show with Barb, and Ian really wants me to follow him into the kitchen. (To get another pop I'm sure). I told him that I'd get up in a minute, he'd have to wait. Not stymied in the least, he then grabs at my feet and pushes them onto the floor...THEN pulls my hand leaning backwards with all his might. I don't move. (Ian had to get his stubbornness from somewhere!). He stands there looking at me a minute, and heads directly over to the TV and very deliberately and with a flourish turns it off! Next he turns and looks at me and says, "UP!"

The tables have been turned!

This is such a humorous and humbling time - learning that my little baby is growing up even more into his own little person, and yes, is probably smarter than me already!

Yes, it's all fun and games until he starts pushing MY buttons more than the TV's! :)

Waiting on Miss Zoe! :)

Well, today is the "magical" due date...which means absolutely nothing other than what we already knew...any day now! Of course, with the advanced preparations my body has gone through already, we expected she might be early - but she is reinforcing the concept that there is no "sign" out there that can give you a reasonable idea of a baby's arrival! It's all up to God's timing!

And, wow, am I glad He knows when that will be! Of course, you've noticed the lack of recent posting. This is due to welcoming Barb's arrival to help with last minute preparations (and to be here to watch Ian when the time comes), and then promptly celebrating her arrival with an all out viral fun-fest. I say fun with the most extreme sarcasm the word can evoke...

I do believe every towel, washcloth, sheet, mattress pad, and most of our clothes have been washed at least three to four times in the last week. Now is a good time to express my thankfulness for the amazing invention called the washing machine. I'm telling you, it is not taken for granted, that's for sure!

It definitely appears that we are now coming out from under the cloud of sickness (I definitely feel 100% again!), but please keep praying for us all! Matt was gone in the field at just the right time and missed the fun...I'm hoping it stays that way! Ian is still not back to his full-throttle self yet, but getting there gradually as he's able to eat more.

Even though the past week has not been quite what I would have planned, again I am so thankful for God's provisions - for Barb being able to help at a MUCH needed time, that my run of the sickness was not that long, and most importantly that Zoe is waiting for a HEALTHY time in our family to make her grand entrance!

So, the waiting continues, but the excitement is always tempered with a reminder that God really does know best, and the PERFECT time is still yet to come! (But, hopefully very SOON!) :)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Glasses!

This morning, I woke up with some irritation in my eyes. Time to put the contacts away for now and pull out the glasses!

Ian notices (of course) that I have something new on my face and keeps trying to reach for them. I'm not even going to experiment and see if he would be nice with them! Instead, I chose to go into his room and pull out his "sunglasses" as a substitute for curiousity. After all, mine cost over $100 and his are most definitely under $10 (and probably even under $5!).

The most surprising thing to me is that after almost an hour, he's still wearing them! I guess he really does want to be just like mommy. I'm glad I gave him his own pair, or I'd be blind!!! :)

From 03.2009 - MISC

Another doctor's visit closer...

...to no more doctor's visits! (For me, for a while anyway). I might actually have to admit I like this particular doctor though! You'll see why...

He greets me with, "Isn't it just a beautiful day outside, the sun is nice and warm, and it's just wonderful!" I must say, I am very easily won over by positivity (and sunshine). We went through the usual progression of listening to the heart beat (which is located a lot lower now), and measurements (right on again!). I mentioned that I have been having some very productive feeling contractions, and unlike my pregnancy with Ian - I am at a point where I really feel like she could just fall out.

He says he knows that I would like a birth without interventions, so we won't talk about any induction scenarios, or do anything invasive...he has faith that beginning labor spontaneously, I'll have another uncomplicated birth. I really do trust God that His hand will be on me again through the process, but it is SO VERY NICE to have a doctor that also has faith that everything will go smoothly. This may seem like something obvious, but from most of the other encounters I have had, doctors are always on the lookout for abnormalities and that infamous "err on the side of caution." Their job is to prepare for the worst case scenario. I'm sure he's prepared, but it's nice to get the positive side for once! :)

A quick check indicates in his words, "Well, you're definitely ready for the wind to blow the right way...the barometric pressure to drop...the full moon...or whatever other mysterious trigger happens to cause labor!" Did I mention I might actually like this doctor? :)

So there you have it - Zoe is ready to go! Now, just to wait on that wind to blow the right way. It still could be a couple of weeks off, but we're most definitely in the home stretch!

I'm definitely very excited, but probably not as excited as Matt. He demands I go into labor tonight so he can avoid officer drill this week. Ha! I guess he figures since he installed the car seats, he can call the shots. (For those of you who may not know or remember...I took a nap after Matt installed the car seats when I was pregnant with Ian, and when I woke up my water broke!). Maybe I shouldn't start laughing at him until tomorrow...wind is so unpredictable you know!

The exciting time of anticipation continues, and I'll definitely keep you updated on any more developments! My next appointment is Monday, and this week will definitely be busy! It remains to be seen if I will make the appointment...

:)

Stinky Dog and Determined Toddler

We shall visit a time I like to call "the other day"...(For you time-sticklers, that was last Thursday).

The house had been cleaned, and all of the bad smells banished (for now). Or so I thought...

Now that everything else was smelling so lovely, something distinctly odiferous caught my attention. Five minutes later, Stinky Dog had an appointment with De-Stinkying Lady at Petsmart.

I must say, I love our trips to Petsmart! It's not just the fact that I will return home without Stinky Dog, but Petsmart has the wonderful distinction of serving as a FREE zoo! Where else can you go to see such a wide assortment of scurrying, swimming, and fluttering little critters for no cost? (Besides a book, smartie pants!).

At Petsmart, Ian gets plopped into a cart immediately. It's enough work for a Pregnant Mommy to drag a very stubborn 50+ pound Stinky Dog to grooming section (conveniently located at the very back of the store), without having a very stubborn 25+ pound Determined Toddler pulling a different way towards the fish.

When we get to the grooming section (did I mention it's at the very back of the store...and my arm hurts), Stinky Dog turns into Stinky Freaked Out Dog. She's only been here once before, but has an excellent memory. She begins doing her best imitation of dog-running-on-a-treadmill (without the treadmill) on the slick floor. Determined Toddler turns into Terrible Two Toddler and continues to become louder demanding to see fish.

FINALLY, the leash is taken and now Stinky Nervous Breakdown Dog is being scraped across the floor to the kennels to await her torture. She is a crazed maniacal sight, pulling backwards, thrashing her head around, and overall acting like she's facing imminent death.

I will interrupt this story to point out that Ian really loves his dog. He demonstrates this love on a regular basis by jumping on her, pulling her tail, taking her food away, and occassionally attempting to poke her eyes out when labeling body parts. His only redeeming quality in her eyes is that he is a messy eater and always drops food on the floor for her to clean up. That was, until this moment.

Back to our narrative...Ian's care and concern for his beloved dog stops his demands for fish in mid-yell and creates a new tantrum of epic proportions. Terrible Two Toddler now transforms into THAT Toddler and screams, "No go! Sera! Sera! Back! Back!" while trying to claw his way out of the cart. The demonstration is quite convincing...his face was even streaming with tears. Don't ask me how, but he managed to grab the leash and attempted to help On the Brink of Heart Attack Dog escape her fate.

I have to admit, I am touched that Ian senses the dog's emotional state of distress, and I do feel bad that Sera is so traumatized by the groomer...but forgive me for laughing hysterically. Ian has now added to his worth in the dog's eyes I'm sure. I must now watch all of their interactions closely, as I am sure they are plotting against me.

We left the grooming area with Ian still carrying on about Sera. It didn't take very long for him to calm down though. It is a scientific fact that watching fish lowers your blood pressure, you know. :)

It takes anywhere from 2-3 hours for the process that leads to Clean Dog, and we don't hang out at the FREE zoo for all that time. After all, since it's free, no need to worry about getting our money's worth!

There are more errands to be run, and Ian does not cease to remind me every once in a while that we are indeed going back to get Sera. "Sera back. Want back. Want Sera home."

I wish I could write of a wonderful reunion of Joyous Toddler and Clean Dog once we finally did pick her up. But, Determined Toddlers being what they are, he merely looked her way and turned back to me saying, "All done. Fish."

Thank goodness for Lollipop Ladies at checkouts. We waved goodbye to all of the animals at the "zoo" and headed back to our own little circus.

Ringmaster Mommy over and out. :)

He pulled a fast one over on me!

A year ago today, Ian took his first tentative step from coffee table to couch. Tonight, I find myself faced with a little boy who not only can RUN, but has also developed into a force to be reckoned with...

There I was, sitting at the table eating my ice cream pie while Ian finished his sherbet. (Matt brought us all home treats from Bruster's...to show his excitement, mine was oreo emblazoned with, "Zoe wants OUT!"). Ian obviously enjoyed the little treat immensely, as he even tipped the bowl to get the last few drops of sugary goodness. I still had a few bites left.

Ian of course asks for more, but it's too close to bed time! Then he gets a little more agressive with his technique and asks, "Hand." This is his new technique for getting us to follow him (usually into the kitchen for food). I obligingly follow him, only to find he is now pushing me away toward the kitchen!

What follows next is enough to find me laughing incredulously at his little impish mind (CAN ANYONE SAY, MATT?!)...he pushes me again, turns and RUNS back over to my chair and climbs it frantically, then pulls my plate of pie close to his chest. He had a mischeivous plan to steal my pie! What a stinker!

I can't believe my little baby is plotting against me! Forgive me for my tears of joy after I get over laughing so hard. They grow up so fast!! :)

37 Week Check-Up

Had one of my last check-ups today...woohoo let's celebrate! LOL.

I'm measuring right on, and starting to dilate/efface a little just as to be expected! She is still head down, and dropped slightly, but hasn't engaged yet. None of this means anything until after she's out when you can figure out the process in reverse, but interesting I guess! At the very least it means progress has begun, and that is definitely a good thing!

The doctor gave another brief on signs of labor and when to head to the hospital, and now the waiting game truly begins. Another short and sweet visit, and another week closer to Zoe!

I'm very excited to meet our little girl, but I know she'll come out when God is done "cooking" her! We still have the countdown to the end of Matt's training cycle, so we'll definitely be keeping busy until the big day arrives. I'm going to enjoy these last weeks as just Ian and I and make the most of the opportunity! :)