finding JOY in the last month of pregnancy…

Here are some quick photos of my last few weeks with a baby belly! 

   
These were taken at the office by my co-worker.  This is my last week of work before a short(?) break and baby decides to come out, then my maternity leave begins…  I’m still enjoying the challenge and pace (slow-fast-slow) of work.  I continue to co-chair a working mom’s affinity group (CityMamas) that provides a good forum for all kinds of discussion regarding home/work balance, and these days I’m beginning to feel like a poster child. 

The funniest thing about being pregnant with my third is I’m often a “confessional” for both men and women on family… “My husband would never go for three.  I had to fight for two.”  “If only we had started sooner, we definitely would have had three.  I don’t want to be 40 and pregnant.”  “I’m going to miss the baby times, but my wife is insistent that we’re done.”  “It’s so expensive, I don’t know how we’d afford it.”  And then there’s a lot of proclamations that are just silly, like “You’re brave.”  “You’re going for it.”  “Three is the new one.”  PLUS, I still get all the questions: what are we going to do about house, daycare, car, etc. etc. 

This has been quite a different experience from either previous pregnancies.  Which is why, this year, I decided to focus my mind on JOY.  Lately, I’m taking it all in stride.  Someone recently said (after I mentioned a possible cross-country trip in my future), “but then you’d have to get a big old van!” to which I responded “I have a big old van!  I’m jumping in with both feet!” 

I am glad that nine months has given me some time to breathe into my new reality and get comfortable and even(!) excited about it.  Early on, I happened upon a website that has a hilarious perspective on having three kids.  It’s called, appropriately, “having three kids”.

And what of all those pesky questions?  My plan is to continue working part-time and start that adventure of three kids in daycare for two to three days a week before Dean heads to kindergarten.  At last, a plan!

The Subaru has sold, the house is slowly coming together for our new baby brother, and even the kids are getting into all the moments of pregnancy:  sympathy pains on the couch as my feet keep cramping, lots of baby belly hugs and kisses…  some of us are even dressing alike

Life is slowing down though; my sew, mama days are dwindling.  A small glimmer of hope exists that I can finish some kitchen curtains during my short break from work before the baby is born, but I’m certainly not counting on it.

Baby continues to move and kick in my body – my little starfish likes to jab several points at the same time.  He’s getting bigger and lower.  So stay tuned… it’s about to get more exciting in our little house!

February Album: Staying warm!

This February, we were preoccupied with keeping warm.  Though it didn’t rain for much of the month, brrrrr!!!  We had lots of ideas for staying warm.  Nani and Gramps also came to see us this month!

Valentine’s card-making!

Nani and Gramps visit!  We head to Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – Egypt exhibit.

Fiona’s favorite: the earthquake generator.  I stayed out.

We took Nani and Gramps to the Smith and Bybee Wetland Recreation area.  It was chilly!

  
After Nani and Gramps left, Dean and Fiona pretended they were also on a long road trip…

It snowed!

   
Curious George exhibit at the Portland Children’s Museum!

   
Keeping busy with floor puzzles! 

waiting for baby

The sweetest development in our life is Fiona’s joyful anticipation of baby.  Her favorite spot is on my lap or near it, staring, rubbing, patting, or kissing “mama’s beh-wee” (many, many times a day). 

She likes to talk about her baby brother, repeating all the words we’ve told her: “baby’s growing” “not come out yet.. in a wittle bit”, “gentle mama’s beh-wee”, “bruh-der, like Dean”, “that’s a baby in there”.

Precious times.

   

Fiona’s baby doll gives her lots of practice at nurturing – strolling, rocking, wearing in a sling.  Being a big sister is going to come naturally! 

     

     

January Album: This is joy

When I look over my photos this month, I see lots of joy – my children playing and being silly with each other and their Daddy,

   

   

keeping us active and laughing (and exhausted!).