The other day at the store I made a return and when the transaction was finished I turned to walk away...right into a puddle of soda on the floor. I slipped but I caught myself. As I walked away I realized how much I hurt below my belly (and yes, there were witnesses; employees and shoppers alike. I know they cleaned it up after I left). The next day at my pregnancy check up my doctor said I could have torn a ligament in my pelvic area but there's not much I can do about it.
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Preschool at Robin's house Donny, Sam, Kallie, Emma |
The other night I asked Brad to start praying with me that this baby will arrive before my due date because everything gets so hard for me (walking, getting up, rolling over in bed...) and I have constant pain in certain areas of my body. Taking care of two little kids makes me yearn for the end!
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Fresh out of the bath
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Kallie finally figured out how to open her bedroom door even with the child proof knob cover and I'm happy because I no longer have to get up just to let her out for the bathroom. She's old enough now to know to go back in her room and wait for me to come get her. And I'm glad I can still keep on the doorknob cover so Jayda can't get out.
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| Free Bloomin' Onion at Outback Steakhouse. Had to hit that up. |
| One night, after the kids had been sleeping for a couple hours but I was still awake, Kallie came out and went to the bathroom. I helped her since she was so sleepy. Before she went back in her room I pulled her to me and held her above my belly so she could lay her head on my shoulder like when she was really small. The only reason I don't do it much now is because I'm pregnant and she's heavy. But I know we both miss it. I rubbed her back and cuddled her and as she walked into her bedroom I heard Jayda whimpering and saying "Mommy" so I went in, picked her up and put her on my shoulder the same way. When I laid her back down in bed she whimpered again so I stroked her hair and held her hand. I asked if she had a bad dream and she said, "*Sniff* yeah". I stayed there until she fell asleep. I can't believe how big Jayda is getting. Her personality is sprouting and showing how different she is than Kallie but she's still young enough that I can't imagine what she'll be like at three and four years old when she can really talk. I can't imagine her being Kallie's age and being a big sister to a different two year old. |
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35 Weeks
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Kallie was born in Idaho but Jayda was born here in Florida, in this home and it's surreal to think Jayda is not a baby anymore. She's gonna be a big sister in a couple weeks. I will have had two babies in this home. My friend brought up the fact that Jayda will soon be a middle child and there are commonly issues that arise. I hadn't even considered that yet. When I think of Jayda I think of how she tries new things more willingly than Kallie does. She's sassy. My friend also thinks Jayda is more needy and I had never thought of her that way before either but it's true. She's more needy and whiny. The whiny part has to do with my laziness in teaching her sign language like I did Kallie so we have more communication problems. I always assumed Jayda would adjust to a new sibling even easier than Kallie did (and Kallie adjusted quite well) because they have each other. If Jayda is feeling a lack of attention at least Kallie is too and vice versa. But I really have no idea how it'll go.
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| Preschool at our house |
This will be my third child but I'm just as curious as I was with Kallie what her personality will be. Now that I have two chunky, strawberry blonds I'm expecting her looks to blend into the family. But ya never know for sure. I know Kallie and Jayda (though I'm constantly mystified to see two human beings sprout from infants into actual people). Who will this person be? I'm also insanely curious how the birth will go because there are so many possibilities. Will she come before or after my mom-in-law arrives? Who will watch Kallie and Jayda? (That's right, we still don't have a solid plan). How long will labor be? Will this birth be drug free or will I get an epidural? I hope it doesn't end up being a C-section. As excited as I am to not be pregnant anymore, to sleep on my back and bend over to paint my toenails, I'm so grateful I still feel this little one kicking away inside me.
The first half of this month my mind was constantly preoccupied with planning things like my friend's baby shower, teaching preschool, teaching sharing time, and Kallie's birthday party the following week. Here are pictures from the shower:
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Britton, Kipin, me, Molly, Steph, Daxton
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I need a lot of practice planning parties. I had an easy contribution to the baby shower because it wasn't at my house. But obviously Kallie's birthday was here and it's very interesting to me how I imagine the party will go compared to how it actually turns out. There are always certain things I over-plan that end up not being necessary and other things I don't even think of. No matter how clean I have the house right before it starts, it looks like tornado wreckage within 15 minutes of toddlers running around. Kallie didn't wear the little princess crown I bought her. I served chocolate milk to the kids but forgot about drinks for the adults. The kids didn't really care about the game I prepared. For me it feels like chaos the whole time. I'm usually running around hot and sweating. And oh mylanta I am DONE buying Little Ceasar's pizza. I have discovered the pizza is different at each location and the one near us tastes like cardboard.
Kallie's birthday interview
The day after Kallie's birthday Brad and I left the kids with some friends and drove to Orlando for a short getaway weekend and alone time before this baby comes. First on our agenda was a visit to the temple. I was really nervous that I'd have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the session but instead I was dying of thirst the whole time. But it was a wonderful temple date with my hubby. After checking into our hotel we headed to Downtown Disney and Brad informed me he had dinner and activities planned for the night but I wouldn't know what until we arrived. |
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| Nativity at the back of the temple |
We ate dinner at a Cuban restaurant with live dancing and torches near the tables on the patio. Afterward we walked around Downtown Disney (crawling like turtles may be a better way to put it). I had to take about eight breaks that consisted of Brad giving me back massages because walking was so hard and painful. At one point I guessed that we were going to a movie and as we walked by the theater Brad said not to look at the times because he didn't want me to guess which one. A few minutes before we were supposed to be there Brad left to put our leftovers in the car and I went into the theater to use the bathroom. I sat on a bench in the lobby to wait for him. When he got back I saw him through the door gesturing for me to come out. I thought he wanted to let me choose between a few different movies but he said, "We're not going to a movie, we're going to Cirque du Soleil!" and I was shocked. We had talked on our way to Orlando about how we had never been there and I really wanted to go. He had been all, "I don't know, tickets are like $100. I don't think it's worth it". But I said I still wanted to try it at least once in my lifetime. We also talked about Blue Man Group and any other shows/concerts we want to see.
So we went to Cirque du Soleil and first of all, tickets were half as much as he said they were and all the seats in the house are great so I'm glad he got the cheapest tickets. There was even a whole empty section near us so after the lights dimmed we got to move over and have our own little area of seats to put up our feet and spread out. It was so fun! We had a great time. Brownie points to Brad for successfully surprising me.
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| I guess we could have taken a picture while the performers were actually on stage... |
Our hotel was great and the next day we headed to the mall for some Christmas shopping. I had to walk so slow from the car to the doorway, I realized we weren't gonna get anything done. Until Brad said we should rent a wheelchair! I was really hesitant at first. I knew I'd feel super weird riding in one but Brad convinced me it would be fun and the only way to get shopping done. So yeah. Brad pushed me around the mall in a wheelchair. It was an interesting day. I absolutely love that mall. It was my first time there and it was decked out with Christmas decorations but I love the design of the building because there's SO much natural light with all the windows on the ceilings.
Brad traveled to Georgia for work so I was a single mom for another week but the kids kept me pretty busy. The day Brad got home he took Kallie and Jayda to the Father/son campout while I had a girls night. We went to dinner at a place called BB's. It was my first time eating there and it was awesome. I'm pretty sure every single person (there were 10 of us?) LOVED their food. They had a display of desserts at the front so we crowded around trying to decide what to try. I was one of the last ones to order my dessert and when I turned to go back to my chair it was covered with gifts! My dear friends surprised me with mountains of diapers and wipes for the baby and I had no clue they were planning that. I still don't know how they did it because I didn't spot anyone with a gift coming into the restaurant. I have such great friends here in Florida; I'm so grateful for them. After dinner a few of us went to see Mockingjay and when the movie ended I could not put my shoes back on. My feet were so swollen I had to walk barefoot to the car. I always figured my feet swelled with Kallie because I worked on my feet full time during that whole pregnancy. It didn't happen with Jayda but it's back with full force this time around. My feet and ankles have literally been three times their size. It's awesome.
I hate when this happens but Jill and Steph left before we took pictures:
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| Kipin, Erin, Jennifer, Heather |
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| Lacey, Britton, Molly, me |
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| Camping with Daddy |
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| I love Kallie's hand on her face. Reminds me of a teenager. |
The kids and I went with Brad to a Thanksgiving "lunch" with his coworkers at the office. It felt so good to eat Thanksgiving food (pumpkin pie: nom nom nom) and then everyone there gave us diapers and wipes too! I didn't expect anything since it's my third baby girl but so many people in our life have reached out and celebrated with us. We are really touched.
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| 37 Weeks |
Our friends Ian and Heather hosted Thanksgiving dinner for a bunch of friends (most of us don't have a lot of family nearby) and it was great fun. My brother's family lives here but his kids have been sick so they stayed home this year. Big thanks to the Lovelands for hosting because it's hard work that I've still never had to do. I have yet to cook a turkey (Brad did last year though) or make certain parts of the meal from scratch. I've usually been in charge of deviled eggs, stuffing, mashed potatoes and basically all the easy stuff. One of these times, about halfway through the year I'll practice turkey, candied yams and homemade pies. I don't think I'll ever do stuffing from scratch because I honestly like the taste of Stovetop better. It's the kind I grew up on.
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| The only picture captured on Thanksgiving was of the men cleaning the kitchen |
I think when it comes to Black Thursday shopping our family has decided to only participate under strict conditions. We'll never go before 8pm because that's when the kids go to bed so it doesn't impede on family time or traditions. We stopped at a couple stores on our way home from dinner. We let the kids stay up late and come with us to make it a fun family activity. We planned on doing more casual shopping for clothes and stuff the next day but we ended up relaxing at home the whole first part of the day. We put up our Christmas decorations, got some cleaning and organizing done (I'm even a nesting procrastinator. I put off preparing for a new baby until a couple weeks before my due date) and just hung out as a family. To top off the night we got a sitter and went to Cheesecake Factory with friends. Thanksgiving weekend is crazy awesome. It felt so weird to have a third day with Daddy home before our regular Sunday routine. So we took the kids to the mall and Brad took Kallie on a date to see Big Hero 6.
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| Creepy, I know. |
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| Kallie obviously thinks it's funny. |
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| Kallie's wearing red sparkly heels and underpants to help Daddy make dinner. |
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| While Brad and I cleaned out the closet and played Christmas music... |
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| Jayda with our friend Lacey |
Kid Quotes:
K: When I was a grown up and Daddy was a baby, I threw him up in the air.
K at the mall: Can I stand far away from Santa and ask for presents?
K on her birthday: I'm still four.
Me: You'll be four for a whole year.
K: And then I'll turn back to three.
At a clothing store Brad and I chatted with a young male employee with a long beard. As we walked away to leave Kallie asked, "Was that Jesus Christ"?
J: Onay! (Okay)
According to Jayda "lots of stickers" = honk.
Me (while the kids are bathing): Jayda, don't put toys in your bum.
