Blessingway

I had a wonderful time at my Blessingway this afternoon. For those who don't know, a Blessingway is a celebration for a mom about to have a baby. It is sort of like a baby shower but is more focused on prayers and blessings for the mother-to-be for her labor and the health and safety of her and the baby. It is also for prayers for the siblings and life adjustment for all. (Each bead on the bracelet represents a prayer that will be said for me during the labor.)











Thank you Jenny, Lauren, Sonja, Yara, Courtney, Lorell and Frederike for my special day!

The Best Day Ever!

Yesterday was the most awesomest day!! So I want to write about it before the "glow" completely wears off.

My Dad offered to take both of the monkeys to Disneyland (our code word is "Orange County"). I was hesitant at first, "Are you SURE you want to take Adam? Sure? Positive? You know, he throws a lot of tantrums? He looks cute but, I don't know..." Anyways, my Dad is a brave man and held up to my many warnings of possible meltdowns, and general two-year old stubbornness/crankiness. He said with complete conviction that it would be fine and that they would have a lot of fun. Before I could think about it too much more, I decided to just let go a little and let him take him, which would mean MY FIRST DAY WITHOUT CHILDREN IN FOUR YEARS.

And I started to get excited. Giddy. A whole day by myself. WOW! So Monday came and went, then Tuesday, and finally it was Wednesday. Orange County day.

The morning started off just like any other, dressing the kids, serving up some oatmeal. But now Frannie knew she was going to go see Mickey Mouse and even Adam knew (well as much as he could know about it.) It was a great motivator to get them to hurry along with things "Hey, do you want to go see Mickey Mouse or not?!" At 9 am my dad came and whisked them off.

And I was free.

La la la la la la la la!!!

You know, I have never realized how much daily stress is really involved in caring for the constant needs of kids. Because my children are always with me, I guess there is just a certain level I'm used to at all times. So when they were gone and I didn't have to worry about anyone or anything...it was like a level of relaxation I haven't felt in a long time. Now mind you, I do get some breaks. I go out with my girlfriends in the evening once a month. I have my Bradley classes on Sundays where I'm doing my own thing. But this was different because it was a whole day by myself with no real responsibility.

Anyways, I started my perfect day by making myself two over-medium eggs with sourdough toast, coffee, and OJ. I then headed over to Jennifer E.'s house to lovingly hand over all of my MOMS Club Secretary stuff since she will be taking over the position this next year. I had the chance to sit and talk with her and explain all of the things she has to do with no interruptions. So now I've cleared my hands of my MOMS club duties (all I have left to do is a Friday meeting, and make one last agenda). Wipe, wipe, all done! Ah!

At that point it was about 15 til noon, so I got in the van and began to make my way towards my ONE HOUR MASSAGE APPOINTMENT! Hi Ya! I was smart enough to make the appointment on Monday when I first realized my freedom-status for Wednesday. My beautiful friends got me a gift certificate for my birthday, so this was the perfect opportunity to go enjoy it.

The appointment was for 12:30, and I was there a bit early, so I decided to stop at Stater Bros. first to pick up a few items for dinner. So I'm doing my shopping and such and don't you know that two men at totally different times made the sweetest comments to me about how I looked beautiful and when was the baby due? Now when in the world was the last time that happened?? How's that for just completely making my day? What a way to just make my heart soar.

So on my perfect day, even a simple trip to Stater Bros. turns out to be great. Then I'm off to my massage appointment. One hour of kneading and pulling and all the good stuff. Head to toes. Aaaaaah... Her name was Araceli at the Urban Retreat in Claremont. She did a good job. Good pressure.

After my massage I made my way back home, but first stopped at Wendy's for a frosty and a hamburger.

By the time I got home it was about 2:00. I spent the rest of my day watching a movie, taking a nap on the couch, and just enjoying the peace.

At 5:30 the doorbell "Ding! Donged!" and my magical day came to an end. I peeked through the window, and there was my dad holding a sweaty Adam with only a t-shirt, diaper, and tennis shoes on. (Adam that is. Not Dad. He was fully clothed!)

But you know, what? The magic didn't end. Because I was SO GLAD to see my babies again after a long day without them! And I felt happy and refreshed and I was happy to have them home. I opened the door and Adam took one look at me and his whole face lit up and he started to laugh and squirm like a puppy. My baby boy was home. Next Dad got Frannie from the car. She wasn't quite so happy though. It was a long day for her and she was quite tired and whiney. But it was ok because sometimes a day at Disneyland can be hard work for a little girl with so much to see and do.

So my day ended. Soon after that Jason came home. We had a simple dinner of stuffed baked potatoes and it was back to the normal stuff of cleaning up kitchen dishes and bathing the babes and putting them to bed.

Dad, I am very grateful to you for giving me this special day! The day is over, but I still have a little spring in my step :)

A moment at Target...

It's really weird trying on swimsuits, attempting to guess what your figure will look like in one month.

If I wait, all the sizes will be gone.

Pregnancy Update 37 weeks

Well, here I am in all my glory. :)

I'm not feeling particularly eloquent right now. But still, I want to update, so here are my thoughts.

I have my home visit with Lori on Monday. I always look forward to that. Jason will be here and, for us, it makes the whole "we are going to have a baby!" seem very official. There's something about getting that tub in the house...

I remember the first time Lori brought the tub and I couldn't stop staring at it sitting in our bedroom. It is a large Rubbermaid tub made for equestrian use. (I believe it is for equestrian baths or something. Not sure exactly how they use it.) Either which way, seeing this horse tub in my room made me feel like Mary in the stable. Or maybe it just made me feel like a horse. I definitely felt less of a refined-human and got the realization that I really am just an animal afterall. For some weird reason that stupid tub gave me confidence, like "Well, if a horse can do it, so can I!" Anyways, the last time I didn't use the tub of course, and I'm not sure that I will this time, but we are having it delivered anyways. Here's a pic of the tub since I've mentioned it.


It looks better when it is all filled up with water and has the plastic sheeting and everything. Underneath it is just gray fiberglass.

So, we've got that going on on Monday.






Overall I'm feeling really good. I've gained about 35lbs so far. Some people think I look ginormous ("You look like you are practically tripping over that thing!" ~remark courtesy of a nice lady at church) and others, like Jason and a few more who remember me the last time, think I look smaller. Who the heck knows? Whatever.

We are getting really excited to have a new baby in the house. I am really looking forward to knowing if I have a son or daughter. Occasionally I have moments of panic when I'm having a hard day with Adam. "How am I going to handle you and a new baby!! AGGGGH!" And I just know that I have my share of hard days ahead. But I really miss nursing a baby and just enjoying all of their precious ways. I am looking forward to sharing this with Frannie since she is now old enough that she will remember all of it.

That's it for now.

Kissy Boy

Warning- Do not leave your purse in the car!

I am writing this post less for myself than for the handful of blogger friends and readers I have out there.

I went to San Dimas Canyon Park today after taking the kids to the library storytime. I was there less than ten minutes when another mom came to the park and approached me asking if I had a Toyota Sienna van. I told her yes, why? She said that the window was smashed in and that there was glass everywhere. I was confused and told her "What? I just got here." Like, it can't possibly be my car you are talking about. She asked if my van was champagne colored and I told her yes. So I went over to my van and sure enough the passenger-side window where Adam sits was smashed in and my purse had been stolen. There was shattered glass all over the inside of the car, on the carseat, and still hanging from the window.

I didn't hear anything, or see anyone. I had been sitting on the bench facing the playground when it happened and there were at least three other mothers at the park playground as well. It happened so fast.

Good news is that I was able to use another woman's cell phone to call the police. The sheriff was very nice and she called Sander's Towing who cleaned everything up (as best they could) for free. They popped out the rest of the window glass, and shook out the carseat and got as much of it out of the car to make it safe to drive home. I was very thankful for that. And thankful that the sheriff let me use her personal cell phone to call my bank and cancel my cards right away. That created the most emotional panic for me because I know how quickly your name and information can be used to create and charge accounts.

So we are all fine and ok, and my purse was the only item taken. Which had all of FOUR DOLLARS inside. The rest of my day has been in doing the legwork to file a fraud alert, cancel my bank accounts and establish new ones. I have to make an appt. for the DMV and get the car fixed. It's more of a hassel than anything. And it will cost us money of course. I do hope that this is the end of it and that the person who has all of my information is not particularly saavy.

So lesson learned: Never leave your purse in the car. Especially now, people are more desperate.

I also think it is a good idea to have a purse with a long enough strap so that you can hang it across your chest. This way you have both hands free to handle your children w/o your purse slipping off your shoulder or ever needing to set it down. That was how my purse got stolen the last time. I was helping Frannie onto the potty in a Stater Bros. bathroom and set my purse down by the toilet to help her. As I later went to pay for my groceries I realized I had left my purse in there. And in that short time it had been stolen. When I got home a new account had already been opened in Wal-Mart and a $1000 charged.

Happiness!

Today for the first time EVER, Adam played w/ the toys at the preschool class (the one I take both Frannie and Adam to on Thursdays) without grabbing my finger and insisting that I stand right next to him the entire time! I am shocked!! He is finally starting to outgrow his super separation anxiety. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! He was actually a whole room-length away from me and playing! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! At one point he even went to play outside without me! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! My little boy is learning to be a little more independent at just the right time. High five Adam!