Beary Nice

Some months back, my visiting teacher passed down a few toys to Kiddo. He really loves this set of little plastic counting bears, which look just like the set used for math lessons in the Kindergarten room at Meeker. His current favorite bear-related activity is to arrange them in families, with the Daddy, the Baby, and the Mother Bear. They come in 3 sizes, so generally there is one of each size in each family. Today he told me what each bear in each family was doing. For the most part, all the families are participating in the exact same activities.

• Father Bear is doing dishes.

• Baby Bear is singing a song.

• Mother Bear is eating.

And perhaps it is not a coincidence that Mother Bear is also the largest of the three bears. Do you think he's trying to tell me something? :)

Another Blessed Event

A few weeks ago, I commented to Kiddo that my back really hurt. He responded that his back really hurt, too.

I said, "Well, my back hurts because I am pregnant. Why does your back hurt?"

"I'm pwegnant, too!" he cheerfully replied.

I got a good laugh out of that but didn't think too much more about it, until a few days later. I guess I made some other remark about being pregnant, and Kiddo insisted, "You're not pwegnant; I'M pwegnant!"

"Really?" I asked. "You know that 'pregnant' means that you have a baby in your belly, right? Do you have a baby in your belly?"

"Yes. I do!"

"Really? But boys can't be pregnant. Only girls can be pregnant and have babies in their bellies."

Looking highly incensed, he replied, "Boys can too have babies in their bellies!" (Because, you know, anything girls can do, boys can do, too! :))

"Okay, so is your baby a boy baby or a girl baby?"

"A giwl baby."

"Oh, wow! What are you going to name her? Sarah? Anna? Elliana?"

He thought about it a few seconds, and decided, "Ewwiana."

"That's a pretty name. When is her due date?"

"November!"

So, it looks like we'll be having 2 new babies in our home this year. I think Kiddo may share some of my ambivalence about the whole pregnancy thing, because while he's still insistent that he is having a baby, he sometimes moves up the due date to June or September. But mostly he's sticking to November. At any rate, he's not "showing" yet, although he says he's going to get a belly as big as Mommy's. Good luck with that, Kiddo! :)

On a somewhat related note, out of nowhere last night he told me that my baby is coming in eight days. While that would probably be nice, I'm certainly not counting on it. After all, he predicted Michigan State over UNC, and is still insisting that MSU won. (In his defense, he doesn't really know what he's talking about-- we don't even get CBS here. I think he just likes the state of Michigan because his aunt and uncle live there!)

Large and in Charge

So, this is how much I've grown in just 3 weeks. And sadly, I still have about a month to go. I've already gained 39 pounds, which if you add to the 9 extra pounds I was still carrying from the first pregnancy, means I already have about 50 pounds to lose once the baby is born. How is that for discouraging?!?!?! Looks like I'll be wearing my annoying maternity pants for several more months this time. With Kiddo, it was obvious from my swollen ankles and legs that I was retaining large amounts of water, and I did lose a lot of that fast. This time it looks like it's all just me-- unless of course I have a 20 pound baby. HAHAHA.

You often hear of celebrity Moms, who-- let's face it-- were probably underweight to begin with, gaining something crazy like 70 pounds, but then rapidly managing to lose it all. I always wonder how that is possible. But I guess maybe if I had a personal trainer, a nanny, and a cook, I could do it too.

I have been trying to tell myself that the main thing is just for the baby to come healthy, and for me to be healthy, and all the numerous nurses and residents I've had to see this time seem to think that we are. They're watching for spikes in blood pressure, and last time thought he might be breech, but today he seems to be head-down, although still in a kooky position--instead of head-down, face-up, and in fetal position, something more like this-- sideways, with his bum up near my ribs, and his legs all stretched out.

Baby "Rerun" continues to stretch out as much as possible, and move a lot. But I have to say, I am seriously uncomfortable. It's hard to carry this belly around! Finding a comfortable sleeping position is almost impossible, which means I'm more tired than I should be...which means I've had some migraines... which means I feel like doing very little... which makes me feel like eating to console myself... which makes me gain weight and gives me heartburn... which makes it hard to take a nap... which means... you get the picture.

So actually, while I am large, but I'm not really in charge. I'm praying the baby comes 2 or 3 weeks early, but it seems highly unlikely that a girl who made her mother wait an extra 3 weeks would ever be blessed with an early birth!! Honestly, I think the marsupials do reproduction much better than we humans. Wouldn't you rather give birth to something exceedingly tiny, and then carry it around in a pouch while it grows and matures, or is it just me? It sounds so much more comfortable. Think of all the things you could get done!! And, I could be wrong, but it sounds like nursing, for a koala, is really a cinch.

On a positive note, I am getting really excited to meet this new little guy! I am so curious to see what he will look like, and what kind of personality he'll have. Kiddo is going through what I hope is just a phase of being picky about whether or not he wants to be hugged or kissed, so I can't wait for a little snuggle puppy who I can kiss and cuddle as much as I want!

I am so thankful that I have been able to be medicated through this pregnancy, and will be able to continue with it to nurse, assuming that works out. My first pregnancy, and ESPECIALLY the recovery period were so difficult for me emotionally and I am really praying for a much smoother transition this time... especially because the dear friends who were so incredibly helpful to us are now so far away. If you get a chance, say a little prayer that we'll have an easier delivery and post-partum period. I would really appreciate it!!!

I really want to know...

Where does all of Kiddo's energy come from? And why don't Daddy-O and I get to have just a little of it? So not fair!