35 weeks ~ 35 days left to go

and according to the period tracker app on my phone I'm 210 days late....

So my response to this picture was "Holy Crap! Is that how big my belly is!?" 

 Sofia our Rock Star!  She was singing "Tonights Gonna be a Good Night!"

 Maizie after some ice cream dessert.  As soon as she sees a camera she says "Cheese".

Sometimes if she just wants you to take her picture she'll come up and say "Cheese". 

Skating!

Grant had taken the girls skating early this winter in November on one of my first days back at work.  Ever since Sofia has been asking to go again.  We decided to round out my Dads visit here with it!  I am thankful for growing up and learning such life long skills as swimming, skiing, and skating.  Although I may not participate in these activities often it's nice to know that when I want to, I can.  It's also nice to be married to a person who can do all these same activities.  I'm looking forward to the years ahead of us and teaching all the kids the activities that I found so much fun when I was young.  ( I am also thankful that my mother and father are able to participate too.  The last time we were all in skates was when Sofia was 1.5.  That was a fun afternoon! and the picture is happily displayed in my living room.)

Maizie got to trying skating for the first time in some bob-skates.  I wish I had seen her but I'll have to wait until next year.  I was hoping to go but when it came time to get off the couch and strap on the skates I got nervous (and tired!).

Thanks Dad for a wonderful visit.  We all really enjoyed you being here.  Sofia has started keeping a list of the things she wants to do with you when you come back!

Dropped

On Monday night I walked into work one shape and walked out 6.5 hours a completely different shape.  During those hours I felt icky, nothing specific just off.  I was having lots of Braxton Hicks and a few of them were accompanied with cramps.  When I woke up on Tuesday morning (after another very short sleep due to a call back and not the usual teething Maizie) I started to put together what had happened.  When Grants alarm when off I got up and asked him to look at my belly.  "Yep, you've dropped.  You're a different shape."  Not what I wanted to hear at 33.5 weeks.  I've taken a poll of friends and most of them recall dropping 3-4 weeks before their baby arrived although some admitted it happening just days before.  My nervousness seems justified.  I called my midwife who confirmed what I though, I can't work anymore.

Today I had an appointment with her and she's told me that I have to take it easy for the next two weeks, really easy.  She didn't say the dreaded words "Bed rest" but I am treating this with as much seriousness as if she did.  But the next 2 weeks only gets me to 36 weeks.  I'm determined to make it 37 weeks because at 37 the baby isn't considered premature.  My goal for this babies birth day has always been April 2 (I'm due March 31) and that hasn't changed.  At this point I'm thankful for everyday I stay pregnant, I'm not ready yet.  The baby isn't ready yet.  I'm not ready to be the mother of a premie with all that entails, a 17 month old, and a 3.5 year old.

I know that what ever is supposed to happen will happen.  My children were all sent to me to teach me something.  This one, even unborn, is teaching me lessons.  I need to ask for help.  No matter how difficult it is for me.  I can't do everything myself, asking for help doesn't make me weak, and I need to let go of all the guilt I feel for asking for help.  Now I need to get myself to believe and live those words.

Secrets

Maizie:
Whenever you say the word 'fish' Maizie makes a fish face and kisses something (usually the closest person).  This is completely my fault because a couple of months ago Maizie wouldn't give kisses, so one time when we were making 'fish faces' I asked her for a 'fish kiss'.  She must have liked it, because now every 'fish face' comes with a 'fish kiss'!

When you ask Maizie her name she points to her chest and says "Maimie".  I love it.  When I was a little girl I would watch The Young and the Restless with my mother and one of the characters was Aunt Maimie and I liked her name.

When Maizie wakes up in the morning she lies in bed, cuddles with her 'George', and tells him long babbling baby stories.

A week ago I told Maizie that there is a baby in my belly and she is going to be a big sister.  When I ask her about the baby now she hugs or kisses my belly.  Sometimes when we are cuddling and reading a book she puts her hand on my belly.  Although she has felt the baby wriggling many times she has never reacted to it.

Sofia:
Doesn't like having her picture taken.  It's been going on for 6 months or more now.  Whenever someone  (other than me) tries to take her picture she hides her face.  When I take her picture she just makes odd faces.

Sofia is trying to toilet train herself at night, sort of.  She now understands that there is an option but she isn't fully committed to the idea of "holding up her pee" all night.  Some nights if she wakes up in the middle of the night she asks to go pee.  I think it's more to spend time being awake but it's a step.  Most mornings she is excited that her diaper is dry (although it almost never is) so I encourage her to try again.

Sofia is excited to be a big sister again although she has grown tired of hearing about the baby in Mummies belly.  She is tired of not being able to climb on me and just wants "me" back.  She still curls up with me and puts her head or her hand on my belly.  In the last couple of weeks she's been having fun "interacting" with the baby.  She'll push on my belly with her hand or her head and it will 'kick' her.  I love asking her what she wants to name the baby.  If it's a boy, "Enrico" (which has been the whole time) although last time I asked her she said "Jeremiah" because she just went fishing with Grants friend Jeremiah.  If it's a girl her latest response is "Mango" although it has been "Enrica" in the past.

Sofia has 2 cats that my brother gave her when she arrived home.  The jaguar is known as "Cat" and the snow tiger is known as "Other Cat".  That is until Panda Bear entered a couple of weeks ago.  I'm not entirely sure what changed... Panda Bear is now known as "Uncle Andrew" and Other Cat is now Tracy.

Aquarium 2011

I can't believe it's been almost 2 years since we went to the Vancouver Aquarium but it's true.  My Dad was able to join us again this time too! (and we were all glad that this time he didn't have a migraine).

Both girls really seemed to enjoy themselves.  Sofia got a lot more out of it this time then she did last time.  I'm looking forward to many more years of exploring there.

Skiing 2011

For Sofias Christmas present again this year my brother took her skiing at Mount Seymour.  This time we were joined by my Dad, who was visiting from Ontario!  

All geared up!

Sofia and Uncle Ben headed to the tow rope.

Maizie catching a ride down the hill with Daddy.
(She loved it!  She was pretty choked that she didn't have skis on, next year she'll get to try.)

Sofia the airplane.

Skiing coincided with nap time.

Sofia had an amazing time.  After spending the morning on the rope tow the boys and Sofia decided that she could handle a chair lift.  They took her up to the top and with a couple of exceptions (where Ben carried her) Sofia skied down blue and green runs by herself!  Although I saw none of it, it's my understanding that Ben carried her through the first steep pitch and then again at then end because the poor childs leg were jello. Grant took her on the chair lift, even though he was on a snowboard, incase she was nervous or scared.  I'm told that she loved it and she has asked since to go on a "chair lifter" again.  The lifty slowed the lift down and was on his way to help Sofia off when she jumped by herself.  I think it caught Grant off guard and I wish I could have seen how they managed to tangle themselves off the lift!
Skiing, or "skeeting" as Sofia has been calling it, is a big hit with her and she is eager to get back out again.  Too bad we live so far away from a hill.

8 months

Brutal picture, but it's what I had.

How far along: 32 weeks

Weight:  (not sure I forgot to weigh myself this morning)

Sleep: Not too shabby actually.  Aside from Maizie teething and being on call I'm doing great.  I have found that I sleep best with no "extras", just me and a pillow under my head.  Rolling over is a challenge but I have figured out that if I sit fully upright, shifts my hips, and lay back down on the other side it works better than just trying to roll.  

Energy:  I am slowing down, there's no mistaking it.  For the last 3 weeks I have been blessed by my Dad visiting and have checked a great many projects off my 'to-do' list as result.  With him to entertain the girls it's allowed me to use my energy for getting stuff done.  

Movement:  Oh this baby is a fidgety one. (Maizie was too)  The Braxton-Hicks are in full swings in the evening (and occasionally through out the day).  

Feeling:  I'm really enjoying being a mother of 3 in the configuration we've got right now :)  but I'm also excited to introduce the girls to their new sibling and figure out how it's going to work.  I'm trying not to wish time away because both Sofia and Maizie are in such fun phases right now.  I'm starting to think about ways I can spend some alone time with each of them.

What I miss:  Lots and nothing.  There are lots of things I am missing but at the same time I know that this is my last pregnancy and I only have a few weeks left. 

Food cravings: Still none.  

Food aversions:  None.