33 Weeks and 30 Hours

32 weeks

33 weeks pregnant.  Wow.  That means I am days away from "6 weeks til the baby is due."  There is something that changes in me when I go from 7 weeks to 6 weeks left.  Suddenly, I am anxious to see everything ready for the baby.  Nesting, here I come!  Last night I watched TV while quilting the baby's quilt.  Today I was going through Anna-Kate's clothes, figuring out which ones I still liked and which outfits have too much spit up stain to want to reuse.  It's a start toward being ready for baby.

Random pregnancy facts:  

Weight gain has slowed down considerably, back to the expected just one pound per week.  Water has not gone away but luckily it seems to be not adding to itself.  

I have a life-changing announcement.  Life-changing.  Compression hose are miracle workers!  One day after my Tuesday morning Bible study, the ladies started discussing the state of my swollen ankles and puffy feet.  One of them insisted I needed compression hose.  Then she announced she would be buying me some.  A few days later, she brought them by my house.  It was such a sweet (and expensive) gift!  

Oh my!!  These things are literally life-changing.  Before compression hose, I was winded, using the hand rail to help me up one flight of stairs.  After compression hose, I was able to walk up the stairs to the 6th floor at church, barely winded!  I will forever be grateful to Mrs. Mary for her kindness in gifting me these incredibly unattractive, yet wonderfully helpful hose!

Public Service Announcement over.

My reflux is about the same.  Heartburn has started to occasionally rear its ugly head.  Back pain is a permanent addition to my day; minor until the evening when my back begs to be sat down.

The sweetest part:  I love feeling this little one's movements.  They are big.  The movements are at the sweet place where you can guess is it her foot or elbow that moves across.  This is the part I'll miss.  

The too-honest side:  I am absolutely ready to get my body back.  This pregnancy has been the absolute hardest one.  I am not to the place where my face shows "done"  but it is probably around the corner.

Will and I got to have a 30-hour baby moon last week!  My parents came to town.  We left before 8 on Saturday morning, excited to not have to come back to the house until mid-afternoon Sunday.  The kids were so excited about their sleepover with Grandma and Gramps.  Grandma and Gramps took the kids to the museum, Chic-Fil-A, had a movie night, let them sleep in, and played, played,played.

Meanwhile, Will and I headed to New Bern.  With only 30 hours, we didn't want to spend too much time in the car.  New Bern is right at 2 hours away.  Perfect.  As you arrive, you are greeted by all kinds of bears, some more decorated then others.  Quaint town, with cute downtown.  One real attraction in the Tryon Palace (the first governor's mansion, home of the governor until Raleigh became the capital in the late 1700's).

We spent our day eating when we were hungry.  Walking through stores and around downtown.  New Bern was also the birth place of Pepsi.  We shared a float at the old-fashioned soda fountain.  While there, we found out that the Tryon Palace was having its once annual free weekend!  Yes!  We loved the quaintness of the downtown.  We loved getting to just walk around.  But, I think one of my favorite parts was settling in at the hotel by 8, watching a movie in bed, and then waking up to walk barefoot to grab some breakfast and then straight back to bed.  Breakfast in bed while watching the news, followed by half an hour of reading in bed.  Now that is a wonderful way to wake up!  

Then out of the hotel, we walked around one more time, ate brunch, and then headed back home.  30 hours was perfect to feel like a nice refreshing time away with just me and my man! 

Benjamin is 3

Benjamin, how are you already 3?!  

Height:  38in, 63%ile

Weight:  29lbs, 25%ile

This year has been a big year for you!  You have gotten a lot taller recently.  Your vocabulary is incredible.  Your story-telling has really taken off!  Your favorite game is to swap dinosaur stories with mom.  I love when you say, "actually;" it makes you sound so big.  The family's favorite is to hear you say, "cucumber."  It comes out something like, "cu-bong-dons."  Almost all words are really clear now, but cucumbers has alluded you so far, and it makes us all grin!  

You remain our observer and our one who is always ready to figure it out yourself.  I hear, "no, I do it," all day long.  This is both helpful and slowing to our day.  This part of your personality seems to fuel your love of puzzles.  You can do those 24-piece puzzles easily with no help from me.  You are ready to attempt bigger puzzles, but can't complete those with no help.  On the days we spend at home, just me and you, you most often turn to puzzles to occupy yourself while mom does chores.  You amazed us at Christmas time, quickly learning how to do the dinosaur/car transformers you were given.  We love watching your observant, learning, figure-it-out spirit! 

You started preschool this year.  Your teachers have no complaints.  They say you stand back and observe sometimes, rather than joining in.  This can be most true at music times.  But, I know you are learning it, even if you don't show them, because you sing songs that I didn't teach you often at home.  One of your teachers likes to call you, her "engineer," because of the way you observe and entertain yourself.  You get along well with the other kids.  You only go two days a week, but you could easily go more; you love it that much!

We worked on potty training with you starting one month before you turned 3.  You had been going consistently in the potty before bath time and bed time when we started.  You quickly were great with "tee-tee."  But, so far you have zero interest putting your bm's in the potty.  One day you are going to just surprise me and go, on your own terms, and that will be that.  Until then, we keep talking about it and hoping that day comes sooner rather than later.  

You and Anna-Kate have really become full siblings.  There is no one you listen to quicker, or aggravate quicker!  You let her take you to the potty.  You can't wait to pick her up from school and don't leave her side for the first hour she is home.  Then the aggravating begins.  You love mimicking Anna-Kate, which is why you have learned many of your letters.  You want to "do my homework" when Anna-Kate does her.

Team Umizoomi and Bubble Guppies are your favorite TV shows.  You were given the Toy Story trilogy for Christmas and your birthday.  Those might be your favorite right now.  You love books.  You love to be outside; you are ready for the weather to warm up so that I actually take you outside more. You are in a big mommy-only stage right now.  It is really cute when it means you want to help me cook.  It is not really cute when you cry through the parking lot because you are holding daddy's hand instead of mommy's.

You are already telling everyone about your baby sister.  I can't wait to see you transition into the big brother role!  

My absolute favorite is that you are still a cuddler.  You give the best snuggles, especially before bed.  Don't grow up so much that you forget how to give your mom the best hugs!  

We love you, our Benjamin!  

our Benjamite, Benja-mighty, little dude, buddy

You sat by yourself to get a haircut for the first time a week before your birthday.

This.grin.

I love it!  

You adore your daddy.  You watch him constantly when he works outside.  This was at the Valentines with dad party last week.