Hey everybody!
It was a nice weekend here. No baby yet - due date was yesterday. I am hoping that maybe he'll come today on Eric's birthday. That would be the best gift to give him...or maybe he'll come in the early morning hours when thunderstorms are expected early tomorrow. Maybe the change in pressure will do it for me!

Swimming felt amazing this weekend. Totally. Just what I needed. We found low energy activities for our family to do so I could rest - we watched 'Annie' and part of 'Up' with Kaylee. We went out and got Kaylee a rainbow of fingernail polish and painted her nails for the first time. She giggles very cute while they're being done out of complete excitement.

Kaylee helped me wash all the baby bottles and nipples. I hand washed them and she rinsed and dried. She would proclaim, "Mommy, I do the dishes!" I never thought she'd want to do them and had her all set up with Playdoh but the sudzy water and the splashing with sponges was too much for her to pass up - she was so engrossed in the activity. We 'did the dishes' but Saturday and Sunday morning. I am starting to get an idea of how Kaylee can help out and be occupied once baby gets here - this is what people mean by try to get the toddler to be a helper I suppose! Very cute!

Suffice it to say, I can't wait until baby boy Smith arrives. We are ready. I finished up with work on Friday and I don't want to be out of work for long before he arrives. It just gets subtracted from my FMLA I believe. Not sure... At my dr appt on Friday, they were concerned about my blood pressure. They took it 5 times! The last one they had me lay down and rest. It lowered the top number but not the bottom one, which is the one they wanted to see go lower I guess. They said it wasn't scary high but just sort of high and my bp's always been great until now. So they did some more blood tests to test for protein in my liver to make sure I don't have any signs up impending preeclampsia. I haven't heard anything so - no news is good news - they're having me go in today to get the bp checked again. They would induce labor if it's too high. Not likely though.

Anyways, everybody do a rain/baby dance for us!

Fantastical stories and Detailed requests

Kaylee has begun telling more dramatic stories, involved and at times, lengthy. It's so fun to get a view into her imaginative little toddler brain. The other day I was driving her to daycare we went over a hill, and she said "A building!" I said to her, "Kaylee when Mommy goes to work I design buildings and then they are built." (oversimplifying but easier to understand). So then she said, "So next time I build a tower, Mommy, I talk to you." Then she paused and launched into one of her stories: "I went to the top of my tower and my hair blew this way and then that way. I saw the tops of the trees. I saw the birds. I got cold. My Daddy climbed the tower with my blanket with the red marker." (It's got a red-marker stain she remembers it by.) Very involved and super cute story. And then when she woke up this morning she seemed to be telling me she had a dream about "playing tennis." She seemed very content with it.

The other day we went to visit a friend with a 10 week old who's super cute! It was fun to see how Kaylee reacted to a very young baby. Kaylee kept going up to the baby and curiously looking at her face and saying, "Hi Baby!" She was then talking about her all weekend. On the way home we got into the hot car, and she said "I need conditiary." I was stumped. "Kaylee what's conditiary?" She said "I'm hot." and then I realized she was saying "I need air-conditioning!" Wow! This morning on the way to daycare she was very distressed because I didn't find or put her sunglasses on her. She said, "Mommy, my eyes they are burning. They hurt so much from the sun." Very descriptive but I still wasn't going to pull over...no matter how much I want to - there's simply not enough time to satisfy her every toddler whim, especially as a full-time worker.

Well, as far as the pregnancy goes. Things are going smoothly. I thought maybe Friday night was the night - had two hours of mild contractions but they never did turn into anything. 6 more days until the due date! Now I'm working hard at trying to get as much "closed out" at work in the next couple of days as possible!

I've continued the nesting. I have never been so on top of the laundry. I actually have searched the house for more laundry ... which normally I have to deal with about 4 loads quick to do on a Sunday night. Every day there's been a load and it's been put away promptly, I didn't know we had such a full linen closet and drawers when all the laundry is in it's place! I think we are ready - I said this to Eric Friday night. It felt like such a feat. I'm ready!

Take care. Hope everyone's summers going great and that you are enjoying it!

Somersaults and Negotiations

Yesterday Kaylee demonstrated that she can do somersaults now! It was so amazing and cute to see her flipping her way across the living room floor - so independent, so flexible, ... such a big girl!

I am doing the opposite of Kaylee, my physical abilities are regressing. I am in the 'beached whale' portion of pregnancy. I feel like I should hibernate and retain as much energy as possible. I feel tired, and hot and crabby. Swimming helps. It is a relief to be weightless and I feel "normal" again. Sometimes I have boughts of energy, those "nesting" urges. Then I feel like I can climb a mountain! I think about doing things I shouldn't do like climbing the counters and cleaning the tops of cabinets, but of course I resist the urge. But I have learned I have to be careful during those boughts of energy to not overdo it and not injure myself. Because afterwards a couple of times, I have paid the price with backaches or just a total and utter loss of all energy (and engagements with the family).

Something I meant to blog about for a while and haven't is Kaylee's way of 'negotiating'. I haven't mentioned that her tantrums have subsided quite a bit from what they were - especially the very embarassing public variety of them. That's not to say that she doesn't still have them from time to time. She does - esp. when tired or frustrated, or right after being told "no" and realizing we really mean it (not all times, but when she really wants something bad). But now a new thing she does is when we say like for example, "No, don't run your fingernails on the couch." She will look at us, gently stroking the couch with her fingertips and smile slyly saying, "Just a little bit???" or "Softly?" or "Gently?"

Quick post - very busy at work -
Yesterday Kaylee showed us that she can climb down ladders now and is praciticing this ability. She also can jump on and off steps now and practiced that with some giggling included for a long time.

She looked like punky Brewster this morning. She wanted to wear this purple and green plaid capris. She couldn't find any shirts to her liking but one with green strips and a pink butterfly. Then she had a treety top (or whatever it's called) on the top of her head. Argilse socks, too big white sneakers and 5 bracelets on one wrist and one on the other finished off her Punky look. Her daycare lady said she was "so cute" at drop off. Quite an eyesight!

Stir-it Up ... little darling

Kaylee has been choosing some favorites for songs lately. In Eric's car, she requests to hear "Stir-it" (stir-it-up by Bob Marley) and "People singing" (No woman no cry by Bob Marley). She's also been requesting that I "sing-along" with songs on the radio. I have to explain that I don't know the words to every song. Sometimes during music I think she's talking to me and turn it down, to realize she is attempting to sing along about 1-2 seconds behind the music repeating the lines of the songs. Then in protest to me turning it down, she says, "Want music. Turn it up!"

Yesterday we had all the neighbor girls over to swim. She is now swimming around independently *always under a watchful eye* with her life jacket on. She pushes away help and says, "I do it myself." She kicks her legs and moves along, but doesn't use her arms yet. She doesn't like to be splashed on purpose or by accident and protests that. She likes to wear goggles too, like her big-girl neighbors. She doesn't like bugs in the pool but has gotten used to them. She loves to migrate over to the ladder and climb in and out. We are always there to supervise this. She climbs up and down the steps in and out the pool by herself. She doesn't "jump-in" to someone without a lot of carrying/assistance going on, which is just fine by me! She continues to be cautious and predictable, both traits I like when dealing with the pool.

I had my 37 week appt last week. I all the sudden had all these question: "If my water broke first with Kaylee, will it do it again." (most likely) "Why did Kaylee get sick after birth?" (too much time between water breaking and delivery, ensuing an infection) "Do you think I'll be better at breastfeeding?" (yes) "Do you think I'll get close to my due date?" (yes) "I forgot how to breathe - what needs to be done?" (she practiced with me) "How long is a typical labor with 2nd child?" (8-9 hours typical.) I was satisfied by the answers but know that there's no guarantee that I can expect similar to what labor was with Kaylee, but she seemed to think it would be somewhat similar. She said I was measuring exactly 37 weeks. We talked about epidurals and pain medications - I said I would try to do natural again (I tried and failed last time) but would be flexible. All I really care about is that I keep my wits about me and that we both come out of it without a lot of side-effects. A common thing I've felt is that flexibility is required in labor, but ultimately I know what I want and I want to be heard. I was so upset last time when I told them to pass the baby to Eric while I was stitched. They wouldn't do it, no matter how hard I implored them to do it! I will be just as insistent and mindful of interventions as I was with Kaylee, but now understand that need to be flexible. Eric is my rock. He was really helpful with Kaylee, my focal point for sure. I take great relief in the fact that he will be there to support us. Just about 2-1/2 weeks to go!

It is hot here and I am so glad to be working in an air-conditioned environment! We have had our AC on the last couple of days and the pool has been really nice to have. I don't "plan" when to be pregnant but if I did, I would NOT plan to be pregnant in the summer. Being 9 months in March was so much better than being 9 months in August!

Someone at work today told me "You must be giving birth to a bungalow. You're as big as a house." One of many such comments from the same individual. Other comments, "You look like a weeble-wobble." "Man, are you pregnant!" "Wow you are going to pop!" I just laugh it off. This guy is known for these comments so I don't take offense. He consistently passes me at work saying "Hi Mama."

To end with, a cute thing Kaylee said: Eric and I were leaving a restuarant we had dinner at. Eric said she had to hold someone's hand in the parking lot since it's not safe. She said, "I hold my own hand Daddy" and then clasped her hands together.

Some photos from vacation

Our vacation

We are back from vacation! It was a fun trip up to Mille Lacs to share a cabin for a few days with Eric’s parents and Kaylee’s two cousins. It was hectic with three kids around – challenging with two two year olds who don’t know how to share yet. But still I have to say my niece and nephew are absolutely a delight! My niece is affectionate/cuddly, full of energy and laughs, generous with her artwork and an absolute beauty inside and out. My nephew always has a smile from ear to ear, is charming, athletic, and also has an endless supply of energy. It was fun to see how Kaylee reacted to the dynamic of two other kids. She was quieter than them during conflicts (i.e. sharing battles) but equally as insistent/feisty. We have a family full of cute, smart, energetic and fun kids! She worked hard at copying everything my nephew was doing. If they were doing chasing games, she would fall down when he would. If he stood up and brushed off his knee she would do the exact same thing. By the way, Kaylee is starting to become a heck of an actress. She can imitate any sound, facial expression and movement (it seems). I watched her fake a fall backward very convincingly. It made me realize how adept and able to do this she is, and to watch out for fake crying vs. real crying. Eric says it’s about tuning your ears to listen for the distinction. All in all, she came away idolizing her little cousins!

I cannot wait to introduce soon the new little guy into the mix! It was fun to observe how the older daughter, younger son (around the age as ours will be) dynamic worked as well. My niece is very protective of my nephew which is so cute. She would at times interpret his behavior for us or relay his message to us. My nephew looks to her for approval and for reassurance. When she disappeared from sight, he’d run around shouting her name. It was really sweet to see how much they love each other. Thank you to their Mom and Dad for letting us spend so much time with their beloved babes! I can’t wait for Kaylee to have a little brother!

The place we stayed was so gorgeous! It has a panoramic view of lake Mille Lacs. You could see the beach out one of fully-glazed walls. There was a balcony overlooking Mille Lacs from upstairs where the kids liked to catch a beach ball thrown from below. There was a pool and volleyball court (i.e. fun sand for pails/shovels when not used by players for the kids) . Everything was close and no one expected much walking from me. Very nice. My mother-in-law was an angel and cooked everything! It felt good to get away for a few days and to see Eric for a longer period of time (without his job requirements or mine in the mix).

Well I’ve got 4 weeks to go. The baby looks like it has dropped already, this does cause more pressure and the heat outside is a factor for sure in my energy level. I am not as flexible or willing to move without good reason. The swimming pool is a welcome amenity this summer. I’ve enjoyed having that during times of overheating. The weightlessness of swimming feels great! I’ve begun working on the details for my maternity leave with work and am thankful to work at such a nice, semi-flexible place! It is hard to arrange part-time work as an architect – there is not a lot of precedent for it. So I am staying “full-time” at 30 hours (my firm’s cut-off), which is 6 less than I am now – so I feel some relief about that!

One of the struggles I am dealing with as a working mother is getting dinners ready. It seems by the time I get home (I have a very long commute on top of my schedule) it’s like 6. Kaylee and Eric are so hungry that I just pop in whatever instant meal I can drum up and of course it’s gotta be toddler friendly – mac and cheese, nuggets, grilled cheese, bertolli pasta dinners and on a good night I might make some waffles from scratch. I feel like a real failure in this department lately. Esp. with being this pregnant /hot I don’t want to turn on the stove either. When I find a moment, I am going to be researching websites that specialize in recipes that can be frozen or cooked in the crock pot. I’ll let you know when I do that and what I find out. Would appreciate insights others have gotten or favorite family-friendly, expeditious recipes you may have under your belt!