37 Weeks (DOC MARTENS BOOT??) - 3.0: March 23-29

 

• Feeling more alive to start this week! I'm at term, which means baby can come any time as his/her lungs are developed! I think I'd like to keep them in until April, but we will see!
• At 37 weeks exactly, my mom offered to take the kids for me since she's on Spring Break. I dropped them off at 9, and then went to visit Ashleigh. We went for a walk to Starbucks (trying to get her baby going!) and then afterwards I picked up Emilia from Mom's to bring her home for naptime. I was able to take a short nap myself, and then do some things around the house I'd been meaning to get to, before getting her up from her nap and having some Mother/Daughter time painting her toes for the first time! We went back to Mom's for dinner and to pick up Dom, and I must say, just those few hours alone in the morning refreshed me and got me back to feeling like me again. Whew!
• Baby still flips side to side occasionally, but favours my left side or posterior position
• My sleep is much more disrupted now with pee breaks and general discomfort, but I probably still sleep better than the average person. Pretty sure it's a Gerber gift. We just fall asleep the moment our heads hit the pillow!
• My heart is sooo full watching my siblings become parents! I look forward to joining their 3am text and video chats!
• TMI - my body has been clearing itself out. Typically I am constipated, especially with the iron supplements I take, but that has definitely not been a problem this week. This happened with both other pregnancies around this time. It can be a sign that labour is just around the corner, and I guess it is. I don't take it as a sign of "impending" labour though. 
• I spent a full week baking all of a sudden. I don't know what has gotten into me. I made a dozen banana muffins, 2 dozen blueberry bran muffins, 6 loaves of sourdough, and 2 dozen cinnamon buns. Every time I think I'm done I have another burst of sweet tooth energy. The sunshine helps keep me energized during the day, and I like that I'm on my feet, keeping busy and distracted, but boy do I crash at night! Not great company for Dave haha. 
• I had some gas cramps one evening all around my abdomen. My intestines have moved, so while you may usually get your gas cramps down low, mine were way up where my stomach usually is. Anyway, they were keeping me awake and I kept thinking about Katrina's labour with Sam. She almost didn't make it to the hospital because she thought the first stages of labour were just "aspara-gas"! I wasn't too worried about it, but it did get me thinking haha. 
• I've been feeling anxious about the transition to life with two kids and a newborn, with little tangible support due to COVID restrictions and David's work entering busy season. I re-read Emilia's 1 week post and felt SO encouraged though! My first week Emilia was smoother and I felt better than I did in my last week of pregnancy. That gives me so much hope that when this baby comes out I may actually feel better instead of horrible and stressed! This is why I blog! :)
• I started wondering if I should try sleeping on the couch because it's firmer than our bed and easier to get off for pee breaks. I was also reading back at my old posts from the previous pregnancies at 37/38 weeks, and found this in Dominic's 38 week post: 
• "I have considered starting to sleep on the couch in the night time because it is firmer than our bed, and easier to get off of when I have to go pee. Our bed is very comfortable memory foam, but it is becoming much to difficult to finagle my way out every 1.5-2 hours to pee in the middle of the night!"
• Apparently I am consistent with my pregnancy symptoms!
• I feel SO HEAVY! I've gained like 27lb or so, but everything just feels excessively heavy. I hate that it's so hard to get up. 
• Heartburn is making a comeback despite a few people commenting that I look like baby has dropped. 
• I am increasingly grateful my due date was a solid month after Ashleigh & Aly's! Of course they both went late, and MAYBE I'll go early, but it has given me some time to soak up these two beautiful little ones before I have my own sucking the life out of me :)
• People keep asking me if I'm ready to have baby, or how I'm feeling. Honestly I am ready for this belly to be gone. I'm past the point of cute, I walk like an 85 year old woman, I can't play with the kids, I can't hug or cuddle David properly, I can't sit in my work chair, I can't go for good walks, etc. etc. HOWEVER! I also don't think I'm quite ready for the newborn life just yet, so I'm okay to stick it out a little bit longer :) Just not too long! 

Weekend - Baby Spam! (Not mine!)

I am soooo excited to write this post! Two of my siblings officially joined this parenting thing in the last week. Hard to believe!

Please welcome...

Myles Jeffrey Gerber
Born March 20, 2021 @ 6:36 am (7 days overdue) 
8 lbs 11 oz

This looks a lot like Adam as a baby - same skeptical face.

AND

Phoebe Renee Gerber
Born March 24, 2021 @ 4:36am (8 days overdue)
9 lbs 2 oz

Just putting up these pictures made me tear up again. It's been such a joy-filled, overwhelming week in our family, and these two babies being born now officially means I'm next! Also, how adorable are these babies, and how perfect are their names?! Pressure is on for Dave and I to also get it right! 

Side note, you never know what sorts of nicknames will come up for your baby! Emilia couldn't say Phoebe the first couple days, and kept calling her Joebe. Then her and Dom put together "Phoebe Jeebies" and I love it so much haha. What an apt nickname for the rollercoaster this newborn is going to bring to Scott & Ashleigh's life! <3

I have been able to meet little Miss Phoebe a couple times already this week, and met Myles over this weekend. I haven't been able to visit with Phoebe while she's awake just yet, but those sleepy newborn snuggles are also the best! I am in a good place for newbie snuggles too because my belly is a built-in support pillow and I can hold them forever without getting a sore arm! Haha. The one pro to this giant belly!

First visit! I got there and Mel was snuggling Phoebe in their living room so Scott and Ashleigh could get some rest. She graciously offered to share the bundle, and it was fun to hear about the birth story from her perspective as well. If you know me, you know I LOOOOOOOOOVE to hear birth stories!

Dave and I came to visit with just the two of us on Saturday morning, and as has been discussed for years, the first time Dave met one of Scott's babies, there would be a ceremonial whiskey toast. Dave brought over his special Maple Whiskey and the boys committed!

I made Dave hold my belly to acknowledge that the cousins are meeting each other <3

"Is someone cutting onions in here?!" Dave got a little emotional meeting/holding her for the first time. I mean it's not all that abnormal, but it surprised me! I think the reality of the fact that our best friends are entering this phase of life, the beauty of this precious little girl, and me being due in less than 3 weeks all compiled at once. 
*I was going to crop my crazy face out of this photo, but I'm just going to embrace the fact that my genuine happiness might just look crazy haha*

Phoebe is quite often a serious little baby, but after I put her down in the swing to leave they sent this picture and she finally looked quite content! I take credit! Haha

Today while I was at work Phoebe and Benny called Dom & Emilia to have a little chat. D&E first saw Phoebe in real life yesterday when Scott and Ash swung by to pick up a loaf of bread. Just through the car window, but oh my goodness Dom's face when he saw her. The definition of the heart-eyes emoji. He couldn't stop smiling, and just loved her so much immediately. He then initiated the sweetest congratulatory hug with Uncle Scott and Aunty Ashleigh. It was a randomly emotionally mature moment for a 4-year old. Emilia was a little less thrilled to meet and acknowledge Phoebe. I think it's been a lot for her to process - she'll get there!

I spent much of the last week baking, both prepping my own freezer supply of snacks and bread, but also to bring/send to the new parents. Totally drained my own tank, but no regrets! I made 2 dozen bran muffins, a dozen cinnamon buns, 6 loaves of sourdough... a dozen banana muffins, and I still plan to make a bunch of pesto pizzas and some chocolate zucchini loaves (maybe I'll just keep those though :)). 

I have also been receiving some questions from the new parents, and I have been absolutely tickled to be able to share my experience, answer some questions, and offer support. I've been through this before, and have very vivid memories of these first few weeks, and what was helpful to me. I try not to give advice unless it's specifically asked for because nobody likes unsolicited advice, and what worked for me/my babies may not work for them and theirs. I can only speak based on my own experience, but I'm really touched that I'm considered a resource worth reaching out to! It's been 4 years of being the only ones with kids on this side of the family, and I'm so excited to feel a bit more "understood" by my siblings! (If that makes sense... you don't really get what comes with being a parent until you are one)

Anywho, maybe it was all the goodies I sent Adam & Aly, or sharing my experiences/struggles/plans with breastfeeding, etc., but I got the text on Saturday morning asking if I'd like to go out with my Dad and meet baby Myles. Drop everything! I'll be there! Dad and I drove out together (which was nice on its own because we rarely spend time with just the two of us), and hung out for over an hour with Adam, Aly and Myles. I anticipated I wouldn't be able to meet Myles until my own baby came, or at LEAST another week, so this was a great surprise. 

Myles also developed a nickname in utero. Adam is working on a structural engineering project on the island for this great big accessible tower walk with treetop walkways. It's quite amazing! Every so often he'd send us updates with pictures of the project's process. One day (right around their due date), he sent us all a message. What I saw on my phone, was that Adam sent a photo with the words, "Crane is out!" I 100% thought they had their baby and had named it Crane, but really it was just a picture of the project and Adam's excitement about the crane. Haha! Myles was called Baby Crane until he was born. 

I then sent a joke message nobody responded to calling him Myles Crane. It was likely poor timing, but I felt the joke had to be made at some point by someone at least the one time! Haha. *I know it's Niles Crane, but couldn't pass up the opportunity*. 

Myles was awake almost the entire time we were there, but hardly made a peep! I could hardly believe it! Even when he was fussy, he calmed quickly. 

I have to brag for a moment, as I may go down in family history as the poop whisperer after one moment at our visit. Adam messaged earlier in the week and casually mentioned he had changed 3 diapers in 20 minutes, so I messaged him privately to tell him about the "pooping position" I used to use for my kids to get that second blast out to hopefully avoid these situations. While we were visiting, Myles was happy as can be, and Adam asked me to show him my special positions I was talking about. First I showed them what helps a gassy/fussy baby sometimes, by laying Myles on my lap and bicycling his legs, and all that stuff. Then I picked him up, brought my legs up, and put him in the super squat pooping position I always did. I said, "This is the magic pooping position, and he's already making a face..." and literally within 5 seconds he unloaded and filled his diaper to the top with a noisy, wet poop. Oh my gosh!!! I told you it was magic!!! Hahaha nobody even knew Myles had to poop, and here this magic pooping position causes a full unleashing within 5 seconds! Oh man we laughed til we had tears in our eyes. Sooo hilarious. 

Later on Myles was fussing a little, but I wanted one more snuggle before we left, so I picked him up and just did the newborn soothing thing. Walked around, shushed, bounced, swayed, etc. He calmed pretty quickly which may have been a coincidence, but it re-instilled some confidence that I haven't completely lost my baby parenting abilities! 

Opa & his second grandson <3

This wasn't from our visit, but I love seeing my gifts be put to use! Adam has a thing about textures, so I crocheted them a blanket that wouldn't be "creebly", and it looks like he and Myles like it! I made a matching one for Phoebe and my baby-to be (same pattern, different colours) too!

Aly's mom and sister made some beautiful sugar cookies and packaged them up all cute. This is the only time I've ever gone to meet a newborn baby and received a little goodie bag! I guess it's sort of like a sip & see, COVID-style haha.

I want to squeeze in as much time with these little families as I can before my baby comes! Which is most likely any time in the next two weeks! (Please don't be longer than two weeks... Aly and Ashleigh have reminded me that a due date is just a guess, but if my history proves true I shouldn't go overdue! Fingers crossed!)

Here are some more random out of order pics from the weekend (and a few from last week as well)

Gramma came by last week for a long overdue coffee and read to the kids. She'd been on spring break for 12 days, so we were comfortable meeting up briefly. Hopefully things settle down and we can see each other lots this spring with new baby! 

After tasting these, Scott & Ash have ordered a tray and said they would pay handsomely haha. I just have to find time to make them, but made me wonder what people would pay for a tray of fresh homemade cinnamon buns... 

Muchos baby spam over the weekend! Myles

Real new-Dad life <3

The room share with Dom & Emilia could not be going more perfectly! What a blessing these good sleepers are <3

Another new dad real life shot! Scott & his daughter Phoebe

I caught this freakishly sweet moment. We were in the kitchen and I saw Emilia doing something sneaky behind the table. I crept over, and found she had brought a pillow and her blankets to make a bed for her tiny bear. She tucked in the bear, and was sitting beside it, EVERY SO QUIETLY singing our bedtime "May the Lord" song. Processing her emotions/new things through play! <3

While we were both out meeting Phoebe Saturday morning my mom came to play with the kids and we came home to Emilia with her hair styled I am the worst with her hair, so it was an adorable surprise!

"Mommy, me look like Princess Leia!" (of course while wearing her Lego Star Wars t-shirt)

Emilia helped me fold all my kitchen cloths and towels yesterday. She actually did a great job, and I will definitely be using her services in the future!

I gave Dom a haircut last week and accidentally put the 4 instead of the 6 on before doing the top and now he has a buzz cut. It triggers me haha! Brings something up from my childhood when I was surrounded by kids with buzz cuts! I see him and just want to sing, "Will the real Slim Shady please stand up!" Haha He doesn't seem to mind it, and I know it will grow back, and at least it'll be a while before he needs another haircut haha!

Mom & Dad sent this pic from their Phoebe visit where her eyes are actually open! She looks more like her Daddy when her eyes are open :)

Benny and Phoebe - no doubt in my mind that he will be an amazing big fur-brother

These babes are changing so fast already! 

I am feeling more excited and less (but still a little) anxious for us to welcome our new little one. I was reminded this week how profound it is to meet your baby you've been carrying/growing for the last 9 months, but also reminded how much easier it is to care for a baby when it's still in your belly haha. Everything pretty much takes care of itself as long as you manage to take care of yourself. 

Thankful Thursday - 257

1. Well it doesn't get much better than this! This week I am super duper extra thankful for a brand new nephew and niece born this week! I'm going to let the parents share the details on their social medias before I share on here, but I'm very excited! Now I'm next! 

I'm feeling a bit less of a rush to get this baby out now though haha. I think my baby fever is satiated for a bit. And I'm very nervous about adjusting to parenting two children and the baby at the same time, and having David enter his busy season and all our parents working full-time. Nevermind labour and delivery... I have to survive the first 6 weeks! I know people do it and we'll survive, bla bla bla. I just need to be acknowledged/validated haha. 

This week has had me reminiscing about the first few days when I became I Mom. Lots of going back through old blog posts and photos of Dom those first days. So many emotions, so much uncertainty, such a crazy change!

This photo makes me smile every time. Bo Bo Moma holding her great grandson for the first time. He was 3 days old. I was a mess (the classic 3-day crash) haha. 

2. Lunch Date. Mom invited me for lunch at Cactus yesterday after work so we could celebrate the new baby! This was a great treat, and so delicious! Man I can't wait for a glass of wine!! So close! 

We also had lunch at Cactus Club one week before I had Emilia. Maybe this is a tradition! (Although I could go another week and a half I think... haha)

3. Spring Break. While all our parents are still working full-time, both our moms work for the schools so get Spring Break, summer and Christmas off. Mom has been super helpful, and then helped me out with the kids this past Tuesday. I dropped them off at 9, went for a walk with Ashleigh and got some Starbucks, picked up Emilia for her nap, had some Mommy-Daughter time with Emilia (which has been a great need for her lately), and then we went back to her place for dinner with her and Dom! That day I felt more like myself than I have in a long time. So refreshing! Today David's mom came over for coffee and played with the kids for a while as well. It's been so long! I can't wait for things to open up a bit more this summer so that we can stop being anxious and awkward and just live normally!

4. I'm past 37 weeks. I was on "rest" orders until 37 weeks because there was a concern I could go into early labour. I'm sure because someone said that I'll be jinxed and go overdue like my sister-in-laws, but regardless, I followed the rules. Now that I'm "term", I can start doing things again. Of course I have no boundaries for myself and totally overdid it today, but hey... wouldn't be me if I wasn't an over-achieving, overly critical (of myself) perfectionist who can't relax until everything is done... Anyway, today I prepped to make some sourdough loaves over the weekend, made 2 dozen blueberry bran muffins, made a dozen cinnamon buns, visited a baby(!!!!), cleaned the kitchen multiple times, aaaaaand then I crashed. Crashed and burned! Luckily we didn't have to make dinner tonight or else I might have fallen apart. I feel this need to prep so many things to make my postpartum life easier for myself. Thinking "future Renee will thank me". Maybe the "3-weeks-from-now" Renee, but maybe I forget about the "3-hours-from-now" Renee haha. At least Dave is around this afternoon to play outside with the kids for a bit!

Some fruits of my labour today

5. Room transition is going well. Emilia is taking to the idea of sharing a room much better now, and it's not a struggle at all for her to sleep in her big girl bed. They still chat for 45 minutes or so every evening, and need a few reminders that it's time to quiet down, but we've just been putting them to bed a bit earlier and allowing it. They're definitely more tired during the day (especially Dom because he doesn't/won't nap), but I couldn't ask for a much better transition so far! 

6. Mommy-Daughter time. On Tuesday when Mom still had Dom, but I brought Emilia home for her nap, after naptime we had some time to kill. I suggested we paint Emilia's nails, and she wanted to make muffins. So we did both! First, she picked out the pinkest nail polish she could find in my basket, and then was a perfect client for her first nail-painting experience! She wanted her fingers done as well, but I opted not to do that since her hands are in her mouth so often. Then when her toes had dried a little we made some chocolate chip banana muffins! 

36 Weeks (TICKLE ME ELMO) - 3.0: Mar 16-22

• I look tired haha. I am tired. (This photo was taken when I turned 36 weeks). By the time 36 weeks had ended, I seem to have had a bit of an energy burst. I have a new nephew/niece, and another one is expected literally any day. I think this triggered my nesting, and we spent all weekend prepping to have this baby. I don't feel as worn down. Maybe that's because instead of parenting I spent more time organizing, tidying, cleaning, and feeling productive. The things that should make me tired actually energize me more. The things that drain me most are: problem solving for children, making snacks and meals ALL DAY LONG, the constant noise that comes with children, but the fear to sit down when they're playing nicely because then they're immediately on my lap demanding books be read, constant talking/responding. It's the most fulfilling thing I'll ever do, but also whew... this introvert just needs a break sometimes!! 
• I had a midwife appointment this week at 36W+1D. My last one with Nargess *cry face* since she has a family emergency to attend to and will be away for all of April. I should be able to see her with my baby for an appointment or two though, and she's very excited! 
• Weight: 145lb (+26lb), but up 4lb from my last appointment which is a lot for me. Proof that I'm not exercising, eating for two, and having some swelling I suppose haha. I gained a lot the last couple weeks with Dom too. Probably for some of the same reasons. 
• Blood Pressure: 80/60. This is the lowest it's been at any appointment so far. Not sure what that's about... I was well hydrated and had eaten lots that morning already. 
• Fundus height: 36 cm. Right on track
• Baby HR: 146 BPM. 
• We talked lots about prepping for labour and what I can do. She suggested starting to eat dates, and drinking the labour prep tea to ripen my cervix. The doula isn't sure I need to do much to ripen it and I mostly agree haha. What it would do is potentially induce labour and make the first stage of early labour quicker. 
• The other thing(s) I can do are exercises to get/keep baby into position. Squatting, semi-squats, hands and knees, cat-cow, etc. 
• Nargess used a portable ultrasound machine to confirm baby's position. I didn't get to see anything, but baby is head down, back is along my left, and that's all good news! Baby's head is awkwardly crammed into my left hip which absolutely checks out. I can feel it jammed in there - can't be comfortable! Most likely baby will continue to move/shift until I'm well into labour because I'm a third time mom and there's just more space down there because the muscles are weaker. 
• The plan right now is to go get a chiropractic adjustment just before my 38 week appointment, and they'll check baby's position again. If all looks good then I may get a sweep around 39 weeks if I'm super uncomfortable. Otherwise I'll wait until 40 weeks. 
• If I go into labour before my next appointment I have to get to the hospital quicker so they can confirm baby's position before labour progresses too far. 
• She asked if I struggled with breastfeeding at all and I mentioned that with both I had supply issues early on, and the persisted with Emilia. I told Nargess I have the Rumina Milk Aplenty breastfeeding tincture, so I'll start taking that right away, and then the day after baby I can use a pump to hopefully stimulate my milk production. Who knows, maybe I'll have a super good nurser and won't have to worry about it, but I am prepared this time around! I was NOT prepared with Dom.
• I am so excited for Adam & Aly and Scott & Ashleigh to enter this stage of life. I think I freaked them out a little when I got excited on a Zoom call the other day and talked about how much they don't realize their lives are going to change in an instant. One of them has had their baby and now understands what I was trying to say haha. It's impossible to explain until you're living it. It's been such a long time since we've had a newborn, I'll definitely be going to them with questions and all that fun newborn stuff! I just hope that they feel like they can come to me to vent, ask questions, hear my personal experience or what I've heard from friends, and feel understood. It's crazy, and it's hard, and it's tiring/stressful, and there's a lot of unsureness, but it's amazing and fulfilling too. 
• TMI - my boobs are feeling fuller and producing more colostrum. I haven't tried the pump at all, but maybe this week I'll make sure I still have all the parts and see if it's working properly and give it a quick go. *I just have a Medela manual single pump at home, but may borrow an electric pump if that's something I need to do after baby*. 
• At the end of the week I started doing some of the exercises (rolling hips on exercise ball, cat cow, walking, etc.) that are recommended for baby's positioning. The FIRST day that I try these exercises, baby moves out of the optimal positioning it was in and switches over to my right side. Really?! He/she has been along my left for over a month, and NOW switches sides? Haha. Still lots of time to switch back and I'm not nervous about it, but it is funny. 
• At the end of the week I also walked the dog for the first time in a long time. No longer being nervous about preterm labour (before 37 weeks), I am ready to get back at em! We walked about 3km or so, and the next day I went for a walk as well. Come on spring weather, get me outside! After this walk my feet swelled up a bit. Probably nobody would notice except for me because my swollen feet still look boney haha. 
• Our neighbours are also expecting, and are due on April 4th. It's their first, and the poor girl has been sick every day the entire pregnancy. She's also a softball player and worked out a lot before getting pregnant, so is very fit. Therefore, she has almost no belly, which means this baby is just all infringing on her organ space. She's super uncomfortable and is ready to get this thing out! We've talked a lot more with our neighbours since COVID started, and we look forward to pulling out the firepit this summer and sitting around it in the complex with some of them! Our unit is a good spot for it. 

Weekend

 Big weekend in the Kimber Household!

First of all, I have a new nephew/niece! The announcement has not been made public, but with two due dates come and gone, I figure it's fair to say a baby has been born! I can't wait to share info like name, etc. with everyone!

Secondly, I am almost 37 weeks pregnant now, which puts us in striking range of a new baby ourselves! With this, I seem to have acquired a minor energy burst, which I can only attribute to nesting energy, likely triggered by this new Gerber baby. We have officially made the move and put Emilia into Dominic's room. We set up her big girl bed with her new bedding, and have moved everything "Emilia" into their new shared room from the nursery. This meant I could get all the nursery stuff out of my bedroom! Hooray! I spent some time putting blankets in drawers, setting up the change table, getting the car seat ready, etc. 

So the big room move... It's gone pretty well all things considered. We're 3 nights in, and all 3 nights both kids have slept through the night. The first night Emilia got really nervous at bedtime, so we had to stick to our boundaries. She kept saying, "When you leave, me just going to come out." We'd then say, "Okay, then we will bring you back to bed." This went on for a while until she gave up. She actually did come out twice the first night, and we calmly brought her back to bed and stayed for a few minutes. She fell asleep around 8:30. 

The second day she tried this again before bedtime, "When you leave, me just going to come out!" "Okay, then we will bring you back to bed." "Then me just going to come out!" "Okay, then we will bring you back to bed." She did this about 7-10 times, and then switched it up, "... When you leave, me just going to dance around in the room." "Okay, then we will bring you back to bed." "..........When you leave, me just going to dance in my bed." "Okay, that sounds like a good way to relax before bed!" Everybody wins! Haha! We are learning to be "cool, confident leaders" of our home, thanks to the Big Little Feelings parenting course. Boy do the tools they teach every help!! Anyway, we let the kids chat and giggle that night til about 8:00, at which time Dave went up, turned off the lamp and said, "Okay you two, it's time for sleep now." and we didn't hear another peep the whole night. 

By the third night, both kids were quiet by 7:15, and slept til 6:50, at which point Dom woke up Emilia by teaching her to count, and then saying...
D: Emilia, did you know pigs have 4 feet and walk like dogs?
E: Ohhhhh, noooo!!!
D: Ya... I never seen a pig. 

I expect some nights to be a struggle, but Dom has been SUCH a great big brother and has done everything in his power every night to make sure Emilia is comfortable and happy. The first night we explained to him that she was feeling a bit nervous, and maybe he could make her feel happy, so after we left the room he started with his 4 year old potty humour and got them both giggling. He fell asleep before her that night, which is why she came out of the room the second time. 

The other part that complicates this transition, is that we still have her napping in her old crib in the nursery. This is enough to confuse her and make her think there's an option about where she sleeps when. We're working on it, but I feel really bad about her brain trying to keep up with all the change. On top of this, I think seeing pictures and videos of the new Gerber baby has allowed her to connect what's happening with my baby in my tummy. When she saw new sheets in the crib, she ran over to me, put her hand on my belly, and with great concern looked straight into my eyes and said, "Oh mommy! Is your baby coming now?!" I love her haha. 

She's been obsessed with these picture and video updates of new baby, and watches them over and over. "*GASP!* Mommy, baby has eyes!" She has also taken on a new level of playing Mommy. She has again started saying she has a baby in her tummy, but this time it's named Lucy (she always picks the names of friends' babies), and she has been putting her Minnie Mouse in the baby swing, and her doll in the car seat. She connected suddenly that the baby is going to be using the swing, car seat and bassinet. The then asked if she used the swing, car seat and bassinet when she was a baby, and if Dom did too. I said yes, and showed her pictures. She's slowly putting the pieces together - maybe it's a good thing I'm the third one due in this situation! Easy to prep her for baby when other babies are coming into the family ahead of time! 

Emilia thinks she's just being silly, but I'm here genuinely trying to refresh myself on newborn car seat safety. I totally forgot about the infant insert and head cushion thing haha. Glad we tracked them down!

Dom is much quicker to adjust and understand at the age he is. He's been a great helper, and is feeling confident about things so far. He knows better what to expect because he's 16 months older, and has gone through the sibling transition before. It will obviously still be a major adjustment for everyone in the family, but it's easier to prep him so far. Emilia is having some attachment/abandonment concerns regarding me. She's super clingly, often comes up just for a hug (she never used to be so affectionate), and needs constant reassurance that I'm there for her. She strongly prefers me to help her with things like eating, bath, bedtime routine, naptime, etc. I'll allow it :) To an extent haha.

Okay, aside from all that excitement, we still had the rest of our weekend between the big moments! On Saturday morning, Aunty Sonya Zoomed with the kids and read some stories to them over snack/lunch time. This was perfect because it was after their first night together, and everyone was a little extra irritable and we were just trying to get through to naptime. Dom didn't want to say goodbye, and kept making excuses, including trying to read Aunty Sonya a book at the end :) After the kids went to bed, I spent some time doing painting and lettering which was super refreshing, and hopped on a Zoom call where Juanita, Tom & baby Ruben joined in from Holland! oh man. He's so squishy and adorable <3.

Our neighbours brought over some toys they no longer use, and of course those have been the hit of the weekend! First off, we have this chainsaw. It's been a fun lesson in sharing, and it will very soon (like today) become an outside-only toy haha! It is fun though. 

"Mommy, me Mark!" - as in Mark Ledenko from our church, but who also happens to be one of the landscapers who does our complex every Monday!

We also were gifted this electric train. Right when Dom saw the box he said, "Mommy! This train goes by itself!" Surprised, I asked, "How do you know?" He said, "Because the train is going and that boy is just watching! He doesn't have to use his hands!" Very intuitive of him! I thought this train would be frustrating and a pain in the butt, but Dom totally gets it. Emilia is a bit of a Godzilla with it, but Dom understands how it works, and what its limitations are. It's been set up all weekend. It's also noisy, but a constant drone-y noise instead of the "rev rev rev rev rev rev rev rev" of the chainsaw. 

I cried the other day because I can't believe how grown up he is <3 Who is this sentimental woman? Haha!

Yesterday I wanted to tire the kids out a bit more before bed, so we hopped into the muddy buddies, and took a family walk to the playground. When we got home it was already past dinner time and we had zero plan. We turned on Finding Nemo for the kids, and made them a picnic platter to eat while they watched, and then Dave and I ordered Keg takeout with the remainder of a gift card, and had a nice dinner together after bedtime while we watched Robin Hood Men in Tights in the theatre. Gosh that movie is hilarious. 

Looks so pretty! Everything except the veggies went, but I guess that's fair haha. They both started with the random chocolate bar I found in the pantry. Slowly trying to ease into taking desserts off the pedestal and serving them with dinner. It's tough when we rarely do dessert though (not for any reason... just haven't eve really done it).

We had $50 left on our gift card, so we split the 12oz Top Sirloin with mashed potatoes, and ordered a Cesar Salad and a side twice baked potato. Our total came to $49.xx. Dang we're good!

"OVER THAT HAND BOY!" - if you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend. Classic comedy. Filmed in 1993, Mel Brooks, pure satire.

It was an exciting, energizing weekend, and this week will be exciting again, with the certain birth of a second niece or nephew! 

Classic me... I forgot to actually post this yesterday when I wrote it haha. 

This morning mom offered to take the kids for the day! I dropped them off at 9, and will go get just Emilia for naptime, and then go back there for dinner! Woo hoo! I am excited for preschool to start again next week!! :)