Mommy dates

William is at his Nanna and Grandpa's house this weekend, and I miss him. It was certainly nice to go out to dinner toddler-free last night, and to sleep in this morning, but it still made me sad to walk by his room and see it empty.

I've been trying to do fun things with him lately as every day we are closer to the end of his stint as an only child.

A sure favorite is always taking some bread to the "duck park" (Letort Park) followed by playtime at the fort, which is a really neat big wooden playground.

One morning last week, he was having a ball jumping on our bed, rolling around, hiding under the covers. Admittedly, bed-jumping is probably NOT an ideal behavior, but just for something special, why not? I couldn't resist the shrieks and giggle outbursts.

Even though he was under the weather, I love these snaps of my PJ-ed buddy playing happily with a new toy. He does lots of "big boy" things now, but every once in a while are glimpses of the little baby William: his hands are still tiny and learning to do more complex tasks, he sits cross-legged and concentrates on the very important act of playtime.

Here is a video complete with William's 34-month-old commentary (click): Sick Day Play

After pulling one of the couches out for better football game-viewing last weekend, we left it that way for a most of the week because it turned out to be the perfect spot for a fort (which was also referred to as his "rescue center" where he helped animals, and "book club" a la his favorite cartoon, "Super Why" (ask William to sing the theme song for you - he loves it - "He's got the power, the power to read!").

While I'm uploading things, here are 2 other recent videos, this time of WW in the backyard. First is a little sandbox discussion about why the sun and the moon are both in the sky at the same time (get ready for his long-winded thoughts on this matter) and second is some silly playtime with Daddy:

The Sun and the Moon

Racing Dad

39 weeks!

Well, I've never been "this" pregnant before. We're past the point when William had arrived - the due date is one week from today. I had an appointment this morning and apparently there are some signs that things are happening, so that's great - but of course it could also still be a week plus (which is NOT great - I am ready!).

And another profile shot because I for some reason feel compelled to document the end of the pregnancy. This was 2 days ago at 38 weeks 5 days:

We had a pretty long week - William was very sick this past weekend with what turned out to be cold-induced asthma - we went to the Dr. and the poor guy got a prescription for an inhaler and the whole kit and caboodle. It is NOT the type of asthma that will require him to sit out of sports, etc. - it's only when he has a bad cold and settles into his chest. He was very lethargic, wheezing... it was pretty scary. He fell asleep in the middle of the day on the dining room floor... something he NEVER, ever does. He was pretty miserable, and we were worried. Apparently 75% of kids with egg allergies have asthma symptoms. Wonderful. Hope he grows out of it for his sake!

In any case, after a few days of medicine and treatments he is back to his cute little (rambunctious) self. Gula was here earlier in the week visiting and helping us, and this afternoon Nanna is picking him up to spend the weekend with she and Grandpa - lucky guy! He is VERY excited about this.

I'm trying not to get too excited about the update from the Dr.'s office this morning but I can't help but think that this would be a perfect time for baby to arrive - a weekend, so Esch is not in school... William would be having fun with his grandparents and we wouldn't have to worry about calling anyone in the middle of the night to come stay with him, etc. Plus - my 30th birthday is on Monday! It would be exciting to have the baby as a little early gift, or even on that day.

So here we are - September 21st. Tomorrow is the first day of fall. It's gorgeous out today - it was nice and cool in the morning - jeans and long-sleeves weather - but is now sunny and almost 80. A perfect football and tailgating weekend... poor Esch is staying home from State College to be with me. I know that if we tried to make the trip, sure enough I'd go into labor, stuck somewhere on 322 in football traffic... and of course, most likely, since we are staying home, nothing will happen. Oh well. We don't want to chance it.

Every night I go to bed thinking, "This could be it! I'll wake up in the middle of the night and it will be time to grab the hospital bag!" but alas, I wake up every morning still very large and very pregnant.

I've heard an old wives' tale about eggplant parmesan being a natural labor inducer... so tonight for a date night while William is out of town, Esch and I are going out for Italian. My confession is that I don't even like eggplant, but I am willing to eat it - can't hurt, right?

This won't be my only food-based attempt at getting this show on the road - today Johanna was visiting (!) and I had some nice spicy Thai food for lunch. Spicy things, walking... I'm willing to try anything within reason! Can't wait, and of course baby will come on his or her own time, but am just very, very excited.

Hope everyone has a great weekend - and I also hope that maybe, just maybe, the next update will be able to begin with, "It's a...."

My Boys

As we get closer and closer to finally meeting our new baby and finding out if it's going to be a son or daughter, I can't help but wonder how the dynamics in our family will change. Will I be outnumbered 3 to 1? I absolutely love having a boy, and would be so excited for William to have a brother. Some recent (past two weeks or so) pictures of what is probably W's favorite time of the day... "Daddy's home!"

Lately we've been outside in the backyard in the late afternoons/early evenings because the weather is gorgeous - and you've never seen a happier little guy than when Dad walks out, drops his backpack, and asks if William would like to play. You can guess the answer, and I listen through the screen door to his giggles and screams as I make dinner in the kitchen. I love this time of year.

After dinner is also Daddy time - depending on how "nicely" William ate his dinner, there is usually a bit of time before bath, book, and bed, and this is often wild-boys-running-around-play. W loves to play "chase" (tag), hide and seek, "rescue," and "fire." Our downstairs is all connected, so the three of them - William, Esch, and tagalong Georgia, run in circles from the living room, through the foyer and kitchen, through the dining room, and around again.

There are tickle battles and periods of time when William says, "I'm Fireman Sam," or "I'm Diego" - both cartoons that he loves - this involves bossing Dad around, telling him to "let me know if you need help," or "tell me when you're in trouble and I'll save you."

A flash and a high shutter speed freeze motion in these pictures, but believe me - it is a constant blur of activity with the three musketeers tearing around corners, hiding under tables and blankets, and jumping out and saying, "BOO!" Something we hear very often is William's slightly mixed-up, but still cute, proclamation of, "Get set, on your mark, GO!"

Did you notice that most of these pictures were taken from the exact same spot? I am not especially agile lately and am very content at the end of the day to have Dad take over play duty and sit on a couch with my camera!

What a crew. I really wonder what this crew+1 will look like in a year, or 2, 3 years from now. We'll find out soon enough!

2 weeks until due date!

I didn't take any pictures after 37 weeks last time, so I am trying to remember to do is this time around. From Wednesday at 37 weeks 5 days:

Someone was watching and asked for "my picture, too" - his pose cracks me up. I can't tell if he is trying to hold his belly like I was, or if he had to use the restroom. He claimed it was NOT the latter. :)

I have an appointment this afternoon and am anxious to see if anything's happening, but it doesn't feel like it. Baby is moving a TON, but no signs yet.

I am also laughing at myself, because ALL this time I thought that William was born at 38 weeks, 2 or 3 days (this is because I remember having my 38 week appointment on a Friday - like today - and that he was born on Monday). Well - I was just looking back at the blog entries from November 2009 and apparently that WAS my 38 week appointment on that Friday, but Friday was not the day I turned 38. I was 38 and 4 days or so. SO - William was in fact not born at 38 weeks 2 or 3 days, but more like 38 weeks 6 days. Of course these few days don't really mean anything, but they kind of do to me, mentally! Instead of saying that he was born almost 2 weeks early, he was really born only a week and one day early. Oh well!

It might be for the best - Esch has a midterm on Monday, so if the little one would at least wait for late that night, or afterwards, that would be best. I will be a nervous wreck during the hours of his exam - what if I have to call him out of it?!

I have a lot of pictures from this past week - with no work to do, I've been taking William on lots of little outings, and of course, taking photos. Will come back later to share those. 

Happy Friday! 

Sunday Morning

Yesterday we had all of William's grandparents here - it was so fun! Nanna and Grandpa came down in the morning, Grandpa helped Daddy paint, and William, Nanna and myself had coffee (or water out of a sippy cup) at the Carlisle Bakery and shopped. When we came home for lunch, the boys watched the PSU game (which we will not mention again) and later that afternoon Gula and Pop-Pop stopped on their way home from Hilton Head. Everyone stayed for dinner (which Daddy made on the grill - shrimp and veggie kebabs - yum!) and we had a great time.

This morning it was back to usual, Daddy was off to the library, and William and I had a nice morning just relaxing. Matchboxes were played with, a few cartoons were watched, and then little feet first got wet in the dewy backyard and next covered in dust in the sandbox. It really felt like fall - clear and sunny but cooler and SO comfortable out. 

 A new favorite.

I couldn't help thinking something along the lines of "this is the life" while I alternated between reading a book on my Kindle, listening to stories about William's construction site, and answered questions about why the sun and the moon were in the sky at the same time. Georgia lazed in the grass, William had a snack, and we had a grand old time. 

Airplane!

(Winter melon) - Baby has reached full term. He or she likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. Baby's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day.

37 weeks and 2 days along now. Had an OB appointment on Friday and everything is fine - nothing to report. Hoping maybe to only have one more weekly appointment, but we'll see! All day today I kept thinking that this felt like the Sunday the day before William was born. We were just at home, doing little projects, it was sunny and pretty out. I remember that I made a lasagne to freeze for after he arrived, but later that night I woke up and knew it was time to head to the hospital. I also remember coming home with a new baby a few days and finding the house just as we left it - lasagne in the fridge and ready to eat. I don't think tonight will be the night, but it's crazy to think that you never know, and it could be. (This is prompting me to tidy up every night juuuust in case we end up with a few-weeks-early surprise. )

Now Daddy's home from the school, and it's time to make dinner. I think we'll be having pesto pasta with Nanna's apple pie for dessert. Perfect Sunday!

First Day of School

Today was a big day for us. William had his first day of school - ever. He's in a 2.5 year old class with 9 kids, and 2 teachers, Ms. Nichelle (yes, with an N) and Ms. Stacey.

I lost some sleep this weekend over how today would go - would he cry? Would he be nice to his new little friends? Would he (gulp) listen to his teachers?

Everything went about as well as it could, I think.

Here he is, posing before we walked out the door. Unfortunately it was a drizzly, gray morning, so we did these inside. The school doesn't have kids use backpacks - on their orientation day, they decorated their special buckets which they bring each day.

In those last two he's giving me his version of "smile and say 'SCHOOL!'"... interesting interpretation! As you can tell, he was excited.

Waiting outside his room, ready to go in...

When his teacher opened the door, he RAN inside. First one in! That made me feel so much better - he was really, really excited. He started to float around the room, tentatively checking things out:

This one does make me tear up a little. He was smiling, but tugging on his little shorts and peeking around.

After I gave him a quick hug goodbye, this is how I left him: playing Play-Doh with his friend Sarah. 

When I picked him up 2.5 hours later and asked him what he did, he said "Played wif kids." It took some coaxing (and I appreciate the note from the teachers about what they had planned that day so I knew what to ask!) but he did eventually elaborate to say that he played in the kitchen, wore a fireman's helmet, sat and learned how to cross his legs, listened to a book about a cat, was asked to sit back down (ha!), and had a snack. 

I'd call it a success! He seemed exhausted when we got home, but is now currently yelling down from his room (where he's supposed to be napping) that he wants me to "come open this door."

I can't believe that he's had his first day of school. First of so many more firsts! First of 15 years or so until high school graduation. I will always remember him holding my hand, and then RUNNING excitedly into that   room. Our little guy really, really isn't so little any more.