36 weeks = PANIC.

36 weeks. This means Lucy will be here in anywhere from 1-4 weeks. I'd say more like 2-3, based on when I went into labor with Theo and supposedly, second ones come a bit sooner. I have an appt. on Friday and have to have the GBS test, so I am going to have them check me out and see if I am dilated at all. I'm sure you all wanted to know that. Anywho, this meant that this morning I freaked out over how much is left to be done to prepare for her arrival. Which led to this:

Pulling everything out of the closet that needed to be washed and spiffied up for Lucy. Susan volunteered to clean out the cars (well, she didn't volunteer to do mine, but she didn't say no when I asked) so we could install the infant seat. Which led to this:

At 22 months old, our boy is a forward facing rider for the first time. Susan is excited, I am terrified. As you probably know about me, I am a HUGE stickler for carseat safety. Huge. Rear facing is safer and not by a little, by a lot. It is 500% safer to have your child rear facing to the limits of the seat. The limit on Theo's seat is 35 pounds, which he is nowhere near. So, why did we turn him? Well, in the van, there was no issue. In my Corolla, there was no good way to have both seats rear facing and me be able to drive, unless I was willing to part with a few inches of my legs. I'm pretty short as it is, so that was no good. Both carseats are huge and to have them rear facing, I would have been jammed in the dashboard. So, we had to turn him in my car (he'd been in the middle, so it hasn't been an issue until now) to fit both seats in and I knew he wouldn't want to stay rear facing in the van when he got to ride turned around in mine. I know he has stayed rear facing much longer than most kids, but I wished we could have left him that way longer. I will hold my breath and hope he stays safe and take comfort in the fact that his seat is installed correctly and his harness is always on right (chest clip at armpit level, folks!!). And, Britax does testing above and beyond what is required by the feds, so he is in an extremely safe seat.

We took him on his first ride to the park. We thought he'd be really into it, but he was kind of nonplussed about the whole thing. The kid just rolls with the punches and takes change with a grain of salt. It's amazing (and not like me at all, so thank you, Hank). He looks like an even bigger boy now, with his little feet hanging down in the seat.

So, two carseats, all freshly installed in two clean cars. Crib bedding washed and put back on. Little tiny diapers washed and folded. Little by little, we are getting there.

Early fall reflections.

Today has been one of those days. A day in which Theo had been up for only an hour and I was counting down until nap time. He was just into everything and the grand finale is too gross to post, but let's just say a bath was required. So, as hard as it is for me physically, at 8:30am, we headed to the park. It was 20 degrees cooler than it's been (finally!) and overcast, so I could at least stand to be outside. The park has a big walking trail and after playing on the equipment, Theo decided to take himself on a walk. I joined him and we set off on the tree lined path. While he was walking (well, running, actually) I was thinking back to this time last year. He wasn't even walking yet, still had barely a stitch of hair and that first tooth hadn't quite broken in yet. He was still wearing only Robeez and seemed so much like a baby. A year later, I looked at my baby who looked much more like a little boy, running down the path, hair blowing in the breeze, wearing regular sneakers and socks. I couldn't believe how fast the year had gone and how much different he looked. He climbs up on the big equipment at the park now and flies down the slide all by himself. It amazes me that this time next year, we will have a chubby hairless, toothless, not quite walking baby girl and a boy who will look more like a preschooler than a toddler. Amazing.

I'm so glad fall is here because it's my favorite season and I love decorating for fall. I made these last year and can't wait to get them out on Friday! I am think I am going to add a purple monster and a brown owl this year to the collection. I have lots of jars around from some canning I did earlier, so might as well put them to use. I've been burning fall scented tarts from Yankee and just willing it to cool down outside. Finally it has! October brings "birthday month", the pumpkin patch, a Halloween train ride and the state fair. Bring it on. I can't wait to celebrate the fall with my big boy this year.

Pregnancy and preschool.

Pregnancy

35 weeks on Wednesday! I told Susan today that in some ways, 5 more weeks of pregnancy might as well be the rest of my life and in other ways, I'm like, "HOLY CRAP. In 5 weeks (or less, please be less) we will have TWO kids to take care of." So, yeah. The clothes are washed and put away, the room is done and most of the odds and ends have been purchased. We have a few more things to pick up and we need to drag out the equipment and wash it up, but seeing as how I have no idea where to put half of it, we are waiting until the last minute, or 38 weeks.

I had my first appointment with the new midwives last week and it went VERY well. I really liked them a lot and felt very comfortable. It was much like being at the birth center in terms of their philosophies, just a different venue. The only bummer is it looks like I won't be able to avoid staying overnight in the hospital. The state requires a PKU test 24 hours after she first eats and our pediatrician doesn't do them. So, the path of least resistance is to stay the 24 hours in the hospital. :( I am bummed, but my mom will be here to help out and will stay with me overnight so Susan can be home with Theo. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that big a deal, but it was nice to be home with Theo 10 hours after he was born.

She is still quite a mover and has the hiccups ALL the time. Heartbeat sounded good and strong at my appointment, so now it's just a hurry up and wait situation. Lucy is the last of 6 babies that are going to be born in my circle of friends and family between "any day now" and the end of October. I can't wait to see all these babies!!

Preschool

It's going well! By the third drop off, he wasn't crying anymore. He still doesn't excitedly run into the classroom, but he gave his teachers a nervous half smile when he saw them this morning. He hugged me tight, but went to them with no trouble, trusty monkeys in hand. This was the first day of the real 9-12 schedule and unfortunately, he took a tumble out of bed this morning which woke him early. He did fine, though, and they said he didn't have his monkeys in hand as much as he has, so I think he is adjusting quite well. He was talking about "Jack" today, so either he has a friend, or Jack is a trouble maker. :)

He's saying so much and so much fun. When something goes wrong or he's trying to do something and not getting it, he says "try again." This morning when he fell out of bed, after he stopped crying, he told me "try again." I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. So sweet. Susan was coloring with him earlier and drawing letters for him to name and he got 6 of them! We've held steadfast to our no TV rule for him (not even having it on while he is awake), but well, now it's football season. So, the TV is on Saturdays and Sundays when there are college or NFL games we are interested in seeing. As such, he now says "putball!" and "touch down!" and "RUN RUN RUN!!!". I feel like we are doing pretty good, almost 2 years until he saw TV and football is all he ever sees. I do try and distract him during commercials because some of them are just awful, especially for the scary movies coming out for Halloween.

I've also been taking him to the UU church in Raleigh for some socialization and something to do on Sundays (in the bible belt, church is basically your only choice on Sundays!) and he loves going and says "church? church?" several times a week. We stay in the wiggle room, so he hears the service, sings, dances and plays with any other kids that are in there. I wish I could get to know more of the people, but the social hour starts at 11:45 and we have to leave right after service to get home for lunch and a nap. Maybe when he is older.

That's it! Oh, can I just say how excited Susan and I are for the return of good TV?? We don't have cable which makes for a lonnnnnng summer.

Saying his name!

Theo!
Originally uploaded by MelissaandSusan

Susan worked with him on saying his name and now he says it with gusto. It's funny, because he's been able to say a lot harder words for a long time, puts words together, etc. but just wouldn't say his name.

Donna and Tuna are our dogs, whose actual names are Dublin and Keegan. Again, no idea why he calls them this because he CAN say their names, he just doesn't!

Smorgasboard.

It's a slow day at the office (Christie, if you are reading - all's well here and I'm so glad to see the weather looks good for you! I'll be thinking of you Saturday!) so, here are a few random haps.

Funny:

This morning, the following conversation took place between Susan and Theo and was relayed to me when I came down:

(Scene: Keegan is chewing on a bone and Theo is hovering)

Mom: "Theo, come here please. You are too close."
Theo: IGNORE - continue hovering
Mom: "Theo. THEO."
Theo: "Hang on!"

Ha! Think he hears that often? We've been working with him on "wait" and "hang on" and "be patient" as he will probably have to hear that a time or two once Lucy comes. I guess it's sinking in.

Sweet

Now that it's not so blasted hot and humid every waking second of the day, we've been trying to get Theo outside after dinner for a few minutes before his bath. Usually I stay in and clean up and Susan takes him out, but last night we switched. I think the backyard is buggy, so I decided we'd go out front. He wanted to walk, so I said he could but he'd have to hold my hand. He held my hand around the whole block!! He looked for planes, pointed out stop signs and chattered the whole way, walking slow enough for his slow, waddling mama. It was so sweet and I just loved it. And, he slept until 6:40 this morning!! So, fellow early bird moms, get them out in the fresh air before bed, it might help! This is the second day in a row we've noticed this trend. Susan has volunteered to walk him around the entire neighborhood every night if it means he'll sleep in.

Developments

He's so smart, this kid of ours. He rocks out puzzles with no help and LOVES to find shapes. He can spot a triangle or oval anywhere, as those are his favorites. (Did you know the Archer Farms logo is an oval??) He's also getting good with letters and surprised me by pointing out a "K" on his lego bag the other day. He also finds "T" really well. Susan had him naming the pictures in the Kroger circular this morning and he was doing some by saying and signing the object. He's talking a ton and starting to put ideas together to make us laugh. For example, the other day he was being silly and I called him a turkey. He laughed and called me a goofball. This is SUCH a fun age.

Pregnancy

Still here. 33 weeks yesterday, so rounding the corner to home, thank goodness. I have a million Braxton Hicks and am uncomfortable all the time, so I'll be glad to be done. We got a good laugh last night listening to Lucy hiccup through the doppler. She moves around all the time and seems to be hanging in there. Weight gain is fine (although, more than I'd like) and still no stretch marks! I have my first appt. with the new practice on Monday and will probably go to weekly appts. in two weeks. Yay!

1st day of school!

We all survived Theo's first day of preschool! He slept in, I fixed him a big breakfast (which he didn't eat) and he was in a great mood before we left. We talked about school all morning and told him he was going today, to which he would reply, "no" in a very matter of fact way. Eventually, he would say "school" and smile, though I don't think he really knew what it meant. We've been reading Llama Llama Misses Mama incessantly, which is all about going to preschool, so we've been saying he's "going to school like llama." He had a new polo and new pair of shoes for the first day. The preschool said to send them in socks and sneakers as opposed to sandals, which are safer for the playground. Well, Theo hasn't had socks on his feet probably since March, so he was totally distracted by his socks when he got dressed, which made us laugh. I brushed his teeth and hair and tried to swallow the lump in my throat. We took the requisite pictures and headed out.

When we got there, it was something of controlled chaos and he clung on a little tighter while I carried him in. We both reassured him and tried to be really upbeat at the door of his class. We kissed him and wished him a good day and promised we'd be back and handed him over. And then he cried. And then I cried. I HATE when he is upset - not like crying because he can't sit in the fireplace or something, but when he cries because he is scared or sad, I just can't take it. I dutifully stepped away from the door and walked away as they had said to do and his teacher poked her head out and told me not to worry and to call if I wanted. She also promised she'd call us if they couldn't calm him down. I hated it, I hated leaving him, but I tried to remember if he could feel ok there, he'd really have a good time.

We went out to breakfast which took no time at all and then we kind of looked at each other like "now what?" We only have the "time off" until Lucy arrives and hadn't given much thought as to what to do with ourselves. And, the first two weeks they only go from 9-11, which isn't a lot of time to do much. Just as we were getting ready to call the grandmas, his kind teacher called to give us an update. I was ready to grab keys thinking we'd be on our way to go get him, but she said he was doing GREAT! They'd given him his monkeys (thank you, thank you, preschool for understanding and encouraging transitional objects) and he'd calmed down and then they had turned on the bubble machine and she said he was stomping around and singing, which Susan and I know is his happy dance. She totally validated how I was feeling and said she remembered what it was like for her. I can't ever say enough about how much that meant that she took time to call and seemed genuinely interested in it being a positive experience for all of us. We left the breakfast place and did a little shopping and then went back to get him.

He looked tired and unsure when we got there, but I think it was because parents were starting to pick up their kids, so it was a little chaotic. One of the teachers was holding him and they had just come in from outside - they'd even remembered to put on his sun hat for us! He was quiet and clinging in my arms for a minute, then Susan took him and we was talkative and happy. They said he'd done great, was able to follow directions, was one of the only kids to sit at the table for snack and was a good cleaner upper. He laughed with them before we left and waved and blew kisses. I think in time we will all be tear free at drop off and it's going to be a very special place for our family. I'm so happy we found it.

I signed up to be on the craft committee (I know, you are all shocked) and am excited! As long as I am primarily at home, I really want to be involved with the kids' school activities and I think it's a good way to get to know other parents and for other parents to get to know us and see we are just a regular family like they are.

All in all, a good day. We feel confident in how we have done things thus far by encouraging his attachment to us as his parents and feel like his bond with us is strong and now he's ready to dip his toes outside the nest just a little. Granted, Susan feels this way more than I do, but I am getting there. :)

A date with my favorite boy.

Theo and I went on a date today. It's something I've wanted to do before he starts preschool next week and his baby sister arrives next month (!!). A day just for us, as never again will it just be he and I. I decided to take him to the New Hope Valley Railway, which I learned about from another mom at a birthday party recently. It was so much fun! It was a bigger production than I thought it was going to be, honestly. They had some large model trains going, picnic tables, shaded areas, popcorn and other junk food to buy and the train itself is huge. The cars were open air and the weather was absolutely perfect. The ride is about 55 minutes long and he never once got bored. Afterwards, I situated us in the shade by the model trains for a picnic lunch. He had a great time eating and watching the trains go around. I got just a few pictures and only took the little point and shoot, so they aren't great. I will work on getting them on Flickr.

If you are a local, I highly recommend this activity. Kids under 2 are free, otherwise they are $7 and adults are $10. The website said to get there at least 30 minutes early and I was really, really glad I heeded that advice. The place was packed and if you weren't there early, you risked having to split up your party or sit in the caboose, which is enclosed. It was a little hard keeping him entertained while we just sat and waited to leave, so if you have more than one adult, I'd send one right away to get the tickets (you have to do this even if you buy ahead online) and gets seats picked out and then have the other adult board at the last minute with the little ones. They have train cars around to tour and plenty to do off the train while you wait. They are doing a Halloween train next month and we are definitely going to do it, assuming Lucy isn't here yet.

While I love when our family is all together, I really loved a date with my boy. He is so incredibly special to me and I am really going to miss it just being he and I on the weekends (when Susan is working/sleeping). I know Lucy will be special too, but Theo is the only one of our kids that I will ever get to experience parenting as an "only." I know he won't remember today, but I will - forever.

Crazy little thing called "nesting."

Nesting - wherein a pregnant woman goes totally crazy cleaning, organizing and becoming completely focused on eradicating every single dust bunny and piece of dog hair before her baby arrives. You know, the baby that won't even be able to see more than 6 inches in front of its face. Yeah, that one.

When we bought this house, it was said to have a half bath. Well, it did, only it didn't have a toilet or a sink in it. Had the plumbing, just not the fixtures. And oddly, it was directly across the hall from one of the two full baths. Like, you could reach out and touch someone in the other bathroom. Seemed unnecessary to finish it, so we made it into Otis' room. This was perfect because we could keep the litter box, his food and water and all the other random dog and cat food and supplies out of sight (and smell). Susan installed a little cat door so we could keep the door closed and he could go in and out. I installed a night light and a little plaque that says "A house without a cat is not a home." Tried to make it homey for him. This room served us really well for 4 years and it was just a perfect solution for a cat owner.

Well, obviously, we no longer need the room as a cat room. So, it was decided that we would clean it out and make it into a large storage closet that we desperately need. Susan put herself in charge of throwing away Otis' stuff, little by little (thankfully, it would have been hard for me) and finding a place in the garage for the dog stuff. Today I decided I was ready to clean it. I vacuumed it all out and then set to work washing the walls. Well, after 4 years of it being closed up with a litter box, the dust from the litter had really made the walls dirty. I scrubbed one wall and decided it just didn't seem clean, so what's a crazy, pregnant nesting lady to do? Paint the walls, of course. Yes, it's a closet and no one will see it, but to my hormonal brain, it made perfect sense. I went to the garage and rooted through all the cans of leftover paint we have out there. The heaviest can was the one that our whole downstairs is painted, nice and neutral. We had everything but a roller, so I set out doing the cutting in while Susan went off to buy a roller (she's learned not to argue with a nesting woman).

It didn't take long and wasn't too bad. I only needed the step stool and had just enough of the leftover paint and now it looks much cleaner and nicer in there. I picked one wall and cleaned up Otis' plaque and hung it back up. I have ordered a nice 8x10 of him which I will hang on the same wall with his collar/tag. It's always been his room, so I thought we should keep his memory in there. Tomorrow, I will start organizing it as a closet and Susan is going to install some new shelves. And then, I will be able to rest - until the next project. :)

And, after some thought - I put the night light back in there where it's always been. That crazy night light has been on for 4 years and has never burned out. True story. Susan thought we didn't need it in there anymore. I put it back because if Otis decides to come visit, well, I just want him to know we left the light on for him.

Meet the teachers!

This morning Susan and I took Theo to his preschool orientation to meet his teachers and let him see his classroom. We also got to meet the other kids in his class and his parents. I dressed him cute and made sure his hair was brushed so we could make a good first impression. I was nervous, mostly about the other parents figuring out we are a two mom family and maybe not accepting us. That part went fine - either they didn't notice or they didn't care, either way, they were all nice. The teachers were great too. They interacted with the kids, answered all our questions and set our mids at ease that Theo will be in good hands. Theo enjoyed playing with new toys and being around other kids. He did check in with us from time to time or look to see that we were there, but he didn't cling to us. I'm hopeful it's going to go well, though I am sure there will be an adjustment period (for all of us!).

It's just a play based class and their only focus is socialization. No worksheets or flashcards or anything crazy like that. Just a chance to make friends and learn to be in a group and in the care of people other than us. And, we've decided that if we give it a few weeks and he just isn't warming up, we'll just try again next year. We don't "have" to do this, we just thought it might be good for him. Hopefully it will be good for Lucy, too, so that she will get a little undivided attention while he's there. He'll go Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9-12. His first day is September 8th. Wish us luck!!