Mr. Sociable

Our kid is the total opposite of us. He talks to everyone, isn't shy, and loves attention. He's most definitely an extrovert because he doesn't like staying home, rarely to never asks to go home when we are out, and seems to really thrive on being around people.

This is not a bad thing of course, it's just funny how even though two introverts are raising him, he is still inherently who he is meant to be. We were at the Farmer's Market the other day, and instead of picnicking with momie, he kept wandering off and talking to people. Somehow, he was even able to have a lengthy conversation with one nice man on the park bench by us in his broken toddler English. I overheard them introducing themselves to each other, and talking about ice cream and cell phones and bugs. Then when his new friend left, he shimmied up to the father and daughter at the other end of the bench and smiled warmly at them. 

He cracks me up! At the grocery store yesterday, he told the cashier proudly that, "Noah make a poo and a pee in the potty". Then he proceeded to tell her that the train he was holding was named Mavis and that she was a diesel engine. I'm just in shock by how much he's talking and even more so by how much he knows. I often (like ten thousand times a day) get so frazzled and frustrated with his boundary testing, and obnoxious behaviour, and changing sleep habits, that it's nice to just be able to laugh and enjoy the funny parts of being a mom to a talkative toddler. 

Before I sign off for the weekend, I thought I'd share one of our funnier conversations of the week:

Momie: What did you learn about babies this week?

Small Human: Not hurt babies. Not kick babies. Not push babies.

M: Good boy, that's right.

SH: And not eat babies, mumum.

M: No, definitely don't eat babies, my love.

(I think he meant, don't hit babies!)

Have a great weekend!

I Think He Knows

I'm pretty sure now that Small Human knows something is up, and that life is about to change drastically forever. When we are out and about (or oot and aboot), he's still quite independent and sociable with both friends and strangers, but when we are at home he is a clingy snugglepotamus. He follows me around to every single room, likes to sit on me, hug me, talk to me, and all around just lavishes me with attention.

I also got my wish and he has started asking to sleep on me again. The only thing is that this makes his baby brother kick up a storm in what may possibly be protest. He kicks so hard that sometimes big brother gets woken up! Then there are the other hazards to consider, such as not being able to get up again with a 30 pound toddler on one's chest, but I'm managing. I should mention that I'm also getting a prenatal massage this morning to help with that, and with my super glamorous sciatic nerve pain.

I feel like a jerk complaining about being pregnant, because at the end of it all I get this super cute new member of the family whom I had a big hand in bringing into this world. How cool and what a huge honour is that? I'm just hoping that I can fully enjoy this time as a family of three and really make the most of it for the little boy who first made me a mommy. A couple extra date nights with my husband would be nice too! No matter what though, I'm also super excited to meet my new son in less than three months.

We Had a Good Sleeper

For a couple of glorious months we had a toddler who slept like a big boy. He would fall asleep in his bed on his own, without too much effort on our parts. It was so wonderful and welcome because for what felt like a million years, he was waking up in the middle of the night wanting to sleep in the big bed with us. However, for the last few days, bedtime has been a huge song and dance that culminates in 10pm bedtimes.

Last night, he only wanted to sleep on mommy. I was so worn out that I took him into the big bed to sleep. What have I done?! We just reverted back to the old way that we were trying to get away from and that we had actually succeeded in overcoming! Then I started feeling guilty about it, which woke me up, and then I got hungry because pregnant, so I ended up writing a blog post about it while stuffing my face with veggie straws and cherries at 11pm.

I just want that good sleeper back. I want some evening downtime before bed. I don't want to fight anyone for my pregnancy pillow while I'm enormously pregnant. But I guess the Rolling Stones were right, you can't always get what you want.

Momie signing off.

Day Out With Thomas

I have never been so tired in my life. I managed to procure exactly three tickets to The Northwest Railway Museum's "Day Out With Thomas", a sold out event. Small Human is currently completely obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine and all his buddies and nemeses, so I knew this would be a major hit. Well, he definitely enjoyed himself and there were lots of cool activities to partake in, but holy bananas on trees, was it a hot day. It was 97 degrees over in Snoqualmie, and in case you haven't already deduced: being 7 months pregnant in nearly 100 degree heat and blazing hot sun with a toddler, equals the recipe for exhaustion, irritability, and potentially heat stroke.

We survived though, and much fun was had despite the extreme weather and the tantrum-y toddler. Who can throw a tantrum while eating a delicious ice cream and waiting to board the Thomas the train himself, you may ask? Our little man. In all fairness, no one likes waiting in line, and I probably would've thrown a tantrum too if I was two and a half. He loved riding the train though, and playing with the elaborate Thomas train sets, getting a special Thomas tattoo (that he was talking about getting all morning), meeting Sir Topham Hat, and a particularly special treat from mumum and dada at the end of the day: a brand new Spencer toy.

All in all, the day was a great success. I really wanted to do this with just the three of us, while he still loves Thomas and it might even be part of his first memories of childhood. Maybe he will remember this and maybe he won't, but I'm glad we were able to attend and have a good time. I'm also really glad I didn't pass out and die. Have a great week, everyone!

Clutching his Diesel 10

Diesel 10 is his favourite even though he's the bad guy

Enjoying the super cool Tidmouth Sheds

Meeting Sir Topham Hat

Throwing a tantrum in line

Happy boy riding Thomas up to Snoqualmie Falls

The real life, talking "big Thomas" that we rode

Admiring his cool new tattoo :)

Teaching Your Kid Social Niceties

Small Human and I are pretty much always together. Summer camp is the first time I have consistently dropped him off and left him somewhere. It hasn't been a problem so far, but I have noticed that he doesn't acknowledge the fact that I'm leaving him. I get no goodbye, no kiss, no hug, in fact I get absolutely nothing. That's when I realized that I never properly taught him how to say goodbye to me. He doesn't know what he's supposed to do, because I never showed him, duh.

I explained to him that when I take him to camp and I leave him there, the appropriate way to behave is to say the words, "goodbye mumum" and give me a hug, or a hug and a kiss. And you know what? He remembered on Monday! I can't believe it never occurred to me that this was one of the things I had to show him, and I think that's because when he does it with other people, I'm there to coach him on what to do.

Parenthood is such a funny thing, it's a learn-as-you-go type of job. Happy Wednesday!

We had a proper "Bye bye mumum!" today too

Trying So Hard

It's mid July, and I am finally entering my third trimester. Being the stay at home mom of a very rambunctious two and a half year old boy is incredibly draining, and I am so freaking tired. Every day, my family eats well and we don't ever run out of food or necessities. No one wears dirty clothes (well ok, except for me sometimes, cause someone thinks I'm a human napkin), everyone smells good and clean, and no one is bored. I like making sure the ship of our life is in good working order.

I'm really starting to have a tough time with it though because I'm not sleeping well, despite always feeling drowsy and going to bed early. I'm suffering from restless leg syndrome and leg and foot cramps, and my groin pain is unreal, plus I have to pee 7000 times a day. Walking around is taxing, let alone running after my son. I'm not sure how I'm going to get through the next three months.

Honestly, I feel as though sleeping for 24 hours straight wouldn't make a dent in making my exhaustion subside. I know I just have to hang in there, but it's not like I'm going to get more rest with a toddler and a newborn. I realize that I am not the only woman to have ever done this, but it's certainly the first time I'm doing it, and I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed.

So many fun things are happening too though! Small Human is talking so much more now, and he is just the funniest, most sunshiny kid. As tired as I am, he makes me feel like I won the kid lottery every single day. Also, the baby is extra wiggly and tickly in my tummy, which makes me laugh several times a day as well. I do always feel like life is really wonderful and worth living, I just wish I had the energy to rise to the occasion on the daily.

Happiest of Tuesdays to you all, friends.

He loves the panoramic moonroof of the new car

Tough Night and Big Birthdays

Sunday night was a rough one for us. Small Human kept waking up and strangely, asking for me and not his daddy. No matter how many times I tried though, he just would not stay asleep, so I had to grab my arsenal of pregnancy pillows and sleep on the floor of his room with him. This finally did the trick, but I woke up at 4am with my usual full bladder and an ache in my ribs. I moved back into my bed, but we were all up two hours later anyway, and I was treated to a very painfully intense Charley horse, which I only get during pregnancy.

Then after that drama, we ended up sleeping in! On a summer camp day, no less, so the morning was a super rushed 15 minutes of fast diaper and pajama changes while downing a smoothie and rushing out the door. I'm so glad it's barely a ten minute drive from our house (downhill too). Hopefully, little man will still have a good day. I warned his teachers about our night, but he seemed really happy on our drive and when I dropped him off, so I guess I'm not too worried. I did however, forget to apply his sunscreen, but it's kind of an overcast day, so I'm hoping he'll be fine. He's got my easily tanning skin and not his dad's easily burning skin, at least. Of course, as soon as I write that, the sun comes out! Ugh, what a Monday.

Today is a special day though, nonetheless, because it's my daddy's birthday. Happy birthday daddy, we will Skype you later after nap! xoxo

Yeah, Yeah, Every Pregnancy Is Different

Alright, I am well aware that every pregnancy is different, and that women tend to show a lot sooner with each subsequent pregnancy. I am also aware that symptoms and cravings vary wildly with each woman. And I am aware that I am positively humongous. I GET IT, SHUT UP ALREADY.

Not a single day goes by that someone doesn't ask me when I'm due. I can understand this coming from friends I haven't seen since becoming pregnant, but I'm talking about strangers here, like every cashier in the city and people in the street. My theory is that they are asking me because I physically look like I'm going to give birth any second. I'm waddling, and my belly comes out so far that I have to move my seat back first before I get out of my car or I will get stuck behind the steering wheel. Seriously.

I went to have my blood draw for my glucose tolerance test yesterday, a test usually done between 24 and 28 weeks, and at 26 and a half weeks, I was the only one who looked enormously pregnant. In fact, I was kind of confused when people arrived and announced to the receptionist that they were there for their glucose test. Where were everyone else's big, round tummies?!

Ugh, this is just something that I needed to get off my chest. It's not really a big deal, just a bit of a thorn in my hugely pregnant side. Thank you Internet, for letting me bitch and moan sans judgement (for the most part). My big tummy is full of a happy, healthy, super kicky little man that I can't wait to meet, so I'm still really, really happy. It's just one of the many differences between this pregnancy and my first.

Differences Between My Pregnancies:

• My wedding rings don't fit me this time around, even though I gained much more weight with Small Human. They even fit me when I was swollen with various fluids after delivery!
• Strangers ask me when I'm due, every damn day.
• Nobody has been speaking to me in Spanish this time, for some reason. Everyone did last time.
• I was a much more flamboyant dresser last time, now I prefer neutrals and plain stripes. With Small Human I was sporting big, bright florals and leopard prints.
• I could still get around town on foot the first time. This is nearly impossible now with a stroller AND my pregnant body. The random Seattle 90 degree summer isn't helping with that either.
• I craved junk food so much more last time, and just regular good food this time with occasional treats. 
• I can't eat much at meals with this baby before I start to feel full to the point of exploding.

Things are very different, but even with all my belly aching, I would totally do it again. Have a happy Thursday!

Freedom?

So far, I've had two days of kid-free mornings, and so far, I haven't done anything fabulous. Like, at all. I have to admit that it was super fun to vacuum the whole apartment on Monday without anyone riding the vacuum rodeo style; and washing the kitchen floor without an audience and play-by-play commentary was nice; all the family appointments have been made, quickly and quietly too. Today was even more banal: I filled the car's gas tank up and went to get my blood drawn at the lab for my glucose tolerance test. I'm really living it up.

Now I am enjoying my (hot) cup of coffee, with my feet up, on our balcony, enjoying the peace, and enjoying not having to be a mountainous railroad track for my toddler. Although who am I kidding? I actually love when he does that.

Small Human woke up ready and raring to go to summer camp at the crack of dawn, it was very sweet. I should count myself lucky that drop off is a breeze, and that he makes himself right at home as soon as we go in. He takes off his sunglasses and his shoes, smiles at everyone, and makes a beeline for the trains. Then he kinda sorta maybe gives me a wave goodbye. It makes me feel a little useless and lazy, but my job is done for the morning!

I vowed to do something relaxing for myself before the first week was through, so I booked a prenatal massage for this Friday. It's the last week of my second trimester and the aches and pains are starting to catch up to me, so I am sure it will be glorious.

Happy Hump day friends and family!

First Day of Summer Camp

Monday morning started off as the usual potential gong show. Small Human made a huge mess of Tidbit's rabbit pellets all over the living room because he tried to help out by feeding her, but got most of the food all over the floor. The good news is, Brendan woke up first and served as damage control, if it were me I probably would've lost it. He also got into the rain boots, my wallet, his daddy's glasses and got his favourite trains stuck in my ironing board and the big Kitchen Aid mixer bowl. Oh and he broke my laptop, which is now completely off its hinge on one side. Still works fine though. Good times.

Today was also the first day of drop off summer camp. We got there mostly on time and with everything we were supposed to bring, so I totally feel like I'm winning and it's barely 10am. I thought at least one of us would be a blubbering mess (most likely me), but neither of us felt very emotional. There was a bit of a tantrum getting out of the car because we couldn't bring a toy onto the premises, but that quickly changed when we got inside. 

This place is like toddler heaven. There was a little slide, cool crafts, teeny tiny cubbies for all their teeny tiny backpacks, a reading nook, kitchen, big yard, and most importantly for our little guy: Thomas trains and train tracks! This kid is nothing like Momie, he is so independent and good in new places. It makes things like this absolutely more easy for me and his dad, that's for sure. We said goodbye and he didn't care, he had a huge smile on his face and was acting like we dropped him off at Disney World with his friends!

I can't believe we just dropped our first born off at summer camp, he isn't even two and a half yet. My heart is both aching a little, but soaring thinking about how much fun he's having and how free I will be three times a week. My big belly and I are looking forward to it.

My poor laptop

Ecstatic!

Happy man, dressed in yellow, of course

With his little bestie, Carmen