Getting closer....

Now, I know that the little pregnancy ticker to the left that's tracking my progress says I'm around 35 weeks. I feel like I'm closer to 39 weeks and, developmentally, the baby is a bit further along than 35 weeks. I've been contracting with more intensity the last few days and if I'm on my feet for even two seconds, they swell to the size of pontoon boats. The baby has dropped and feels like if he gets any lower, I'm going to see a little hand waving at the world....That was gross. Sorry! If you've had a baby, you know what I'm sayin', though.

The Hubby has been helpful. Although, I know he's worried and he gets fussy with me if I do the slightest thing that he thinks is "too much for me". If I need help moving laundry hampers or picking things off of the floor, the Bubs is my guy. He hasn't complained about helping me one bit. Thank goodness! I'm grateful that he has a daddy (and a Poppi) to watch and emulate that's not afraid to touch a dirty dish, cook a meal, or tackle a load of laundry if there's a need. I mean, I'm an old-fashined gal at times, but not so old-fashioned that I want a family that expects me to wait on them hand and foot! June Cleaver, I ain't!

So the bags for the hospital trek are out and being packed and we're trying to catch up on laundry and general house straightening. Poppi (the Bub's G-Daddy) is on standby to take care of Bubs when the need arises. Some may think we're jumping the gun a bit, and there is a chance that I've got a couple or so more weeks to go, but I'm feeling that "get ready to go" urge....and not the bathroom kind of "go", either.

So while we're waiting to see what happens, we'll continue to get ready for baby. I hope we have everything.....

A nice visit with the Mother In Law...

Well.....I'm not screamin' in relief that the MIL's visit is over. It was a surprisingly pleasant visit despite some pretty gnarley winter weather. It was the height of irony that she came down to the South hoping to escape the winter blahs and what does she get? She got more snow, ice and frigid winds! There's a silver lining in all that, though. Because of the icy roads, the Bubs had a 3-hour school delay on her last day here so they were able to hang out for that entire morning. They were very happy about that, let me tell you.

My Hubby was relieved that his mom and I had a better visit than we've had recently. She was her more laid back self and I think that I'd had enough time between visits to recover. I was also too tired and super uncomfortable to get tense before she came down. Blessing in disguise, I guess!

Gird your loins, y'all, the In-Laws are comin'...

No one is more surprised than I am that I'm not more tense about our imminent visit from some of my Hubby's family. I know! Shocker!

Maybe it's 'cause I've got so many other things dominating my time and thoughts that, in the scheme of things it's not a biggie. We'll just get the house whipped into shape real quick like and get ready to enjoy them for a couple days. I think that the Hubby needs to see his family right now anyway. He's still struggling with some chronic pain in his neck and shoulders and the diagnostic process is seemingly dragging endlessly on while the military taps impatient fingers with one hand and doles out reprimands for something that can't be helped with the other. *big breath* We're both a bit worn and bedraggled from the whole rigamarole (that's south-speak for "big honkin' mess") and are in need of a distraction. I'll gladly grin and bear it if their visit brings him some sense of comfort. He's done the same for me many times.

We've told the Bubs and he's, of course, very excited. Why shouldn't he be? They shower him with attention and he has a new audience to show his train layouts to. That's an irresistable combo for our lil' engineer!

So, I'll be scrubbing and doing general pick-up around the house for the next couple of days (I'm really slow) with the Hubs, but I don't think I'll be freaking out. Life, m'dears, is simply too dang short!

Student of the Month

Yep, that's our Bubs recieving an award from our school's principal for being the Student of the Month for his class. Every month, the chosen students and their families are invited to a breakfast to celebrate their achievement. Can you feel how delighted his dad and I are from where you are?

Every teacher wrote a short notation on each award about why the student was chosen. The Bub's teacher said that he has a very kind and generous heart, is positive, and is always willing to help someone else in need. It did my mommy heart good to hear those things and was wonderful for the Bubs to see that good character is something worth displaying.

His dad and I have always believed that he should be prepared academically and taught/shown good character traits. In today's world, we feel that both are equally important for his success. Both of those elements are heavily pushed at his school and with good reason. Schools are not just teaching the three r's anymore, they are being challenged (hopefully with parental support) to prepare future productive citizens who know what good character traits and attitudes are and how to put them to use on a daily basis.

We were having a few goofy moments with the camera before the breakfast started...as if you couldn't tell!

The Bubs took this pic and was a little too delighted with the results. Anything for a giggle, right?

Field trip to the local aquarium

This was the Bub's first field trip with his class and I'm not sure what he was more excited about, the bus ride there or seeing the aquarium with his friends. The kid's enthusiasm for seeing the different creatures and displays was refreshing and a hoot to behold! They required some wrangling and redirecting every now and then, but no one minded. It was a fabulous way for the kindergarten classes to kick of their unit on sea life and the ocean.

By the end of the excursion the kids were all asking if I had gotten pictures of this or that. They are always fascinated with my camera whenever I bring it along to the class with me. One or two of the kids have been curious enough that I've held the camera while they take a couple pictures. Shhhhhh! Don't tell the Hubby, he gets a little nervous about how the camera is handled! So we'll just keep that bit of info between us, shall we?

Sick day #124...

Okay, I'm exaggerating a lot, but it sure feels like the Bubs has had a ton of sick days since he started school. We're hanging out at home while he gets over yet another round of a stomach bug. My thanks to all the parents who sent their children to school sick. Nice.

We've developed a bit of a routine since we've had so many of these kinds of days. He knows that the sheet and waterproof pad covered couch in the living room will be his daily hang out and that chicken nuggets are out of the question...no matter how much he might think he can handle them.

He seems to be doing marginally better than he was the last couple of days, thank goodness. The first day (Wednesday) I got a call from his teacher saying that she was concerned about him so I dropped everything and rushed over there. Still in my black yoga pant pajama bottoms, no less. By the time we got back home he was tearful and moaning his way through some hard chills. Poor guy. He was absolutely miserable until he fell asleep a couple hours later. It was odd to see him so still that early in the day.

Like I said, though, he is slightly better today. He's steadily drinking water and has managed to hold down some pretzels. Yay! We'll take progress in any form we can get it in at this point.

The joys of pregnancy....hmmm, maybe not.

Alrighty, folks. I have reached that very fun stage of the prego journey where I've morphed into the annoying child in the back of the van that asks ad nauseam, "Are we there, yet?!" Yes, I could sit here and romanticize the not-so-fun (or pretty) aspects of pregnancy as it's nearing its end but, frankly, I'm too sore to try. Sorry.

The cute baby bump has exploded into something which I have a hard time even getting a loose nightgown around. And it's itchy. Old ladies in the grocery store are always making the comment that I look like I'm gonna pop. *sigh*

I thought my hips were wide enough already, but apparently I thought wrong as they are constantly aching these days from spreading. This, of course, means that I'm looking more and more like a duck with all the waddling I'm havin' to do. Quack!

Bending over for any reason is a thing of the distant past. The Bubs has been such a good helper when it comes to picking up after me when I drop things, which is frequently. Talk about a role reversal, y'all! I get aggravated with having to ask him for help all the time, but I think he's learned about empathy, cooperation and patience in the process. It's also training him to be an awesome big brother.

Well, I think I've moaned long enough...besides, you do NOT want me to talk about all the gas that's been happenin' around here! Yet another fun and thoroughly undignified side effect of being prego. At least it's a side effect that never fails to entertain my two guys. Yep, I live to bring a smile to their faces.....