26 Weeks

I'm 26 weeks, only 14 more to go. That sounds like a lot but I know how quickly they fly by. The nursery is redecorated for the third time, Isla and Leo's room is ready, and I'm slowly getting everything else in order. The month of April is going to be a busy one and with the baby due May 4th, I'm getting nervous on how I'm going to accomplish everything. John's 30th Birthday is April 21st, Easter is the 24th, and Isla's 4th Birthday is the 26th. Isla was born on her due date and Leo was 10 days early so I'm preparing myself for another April birthday. As I type this, the little boy is moving all around and I'm loving it. He is definitely growing by the day as is my tummy. He had hiccups that I felt for the first time last night and Braxton Hicks contractions already have started nightly too. This is nothing new for me as they started with Isla and Leo by 30 weeks as well. All these signs are letting me know that his birth day will be here soon so I am soaking up being pregnant for the third time. The third trimester is always painful but I don't care because this could be my last baby and I'm going to love each and every ache. Here are some week 26 pics...

The in-between

I write a lot about all the wonderful days, memories, and moments that our family has together but rarely do I talk about the time in-between. Mainly because it's not so glorious...but I really want to remember it because it's a part of my life right now and although it drives me crazy some days, I know one day I'll miss the craziness. For instance, we went to the park the other day and it was great fun and my angels loved swinging and playing pirate ship and troll on the bridge....and I could leave it at that, but let's not and talk about what it took to get there....they woke up from their naps, Isla always before Leo. Isla wasn't so chipper, she whined until I turned on a program for her, got her a snack, and some milk. After attending to her I heard another soft cry coming from Leo's room. I went in to pick him up out of his crib and he fell backwards crying even louder. I'm thinking to myself, aren't you supposed to be happy after naps? So there I was trying to soothe a 15 month old baby on the couch while my 3 year old continued to whine about how she wanted another snack. Meanwhile there are blocks, balls, 100 crayons, chalk pieces, paper scraps, cheese puff crumbs, sippy cups, pacifiers, and once folded laundry piles thrown all over the living room. About 5 hours prior, it had been a spotless room. I wondered why I even bothered straightening up earlier and decided we needed to get out of the house! So I gathered up two coats, a pacifier, some water, and string cheese for the stroller ride while Isla tackled Leo on the kitchen tile, Ellie cat was meowing to be fed, and I was having sciatic pain from whatever position our little baby was in. It's in these times I almost lose it but I somehow laugh it off and we finally make our way to the park. And then it's fabulous!

Last weekend we decided to go to the circus for the first time. We chose the 11:30 show even though naptime is at 12 :30 in our house. "It'll be fine," I thought, "the circus will keep them happy." Well turns out my kids want their nap when they want it no matter what they are watching or where they are. The 11:30-12:30 hour was fine. They watched the pre-show, ate cotton candy, and enjoyed the circus performers but then after intermission, when the cotton candy was gone, and the tigers' cage was empty, they made it known that it was time to go. So off we went and away they drifted to sleep on the car ride home. At least I learned my lesson, never attempt to schedule anything during naptime.

All ready to go

Isla playing dress-up during the pre-show

Leo in awe of all that what happening around him

And during weekdays between the time we drop Isla off at school and lunch/nap time Leo and I get to enjoy each other's company. We read books, play toys, play silly lap games, and just have fun but sometimes Mommy needs to accomplish some things around the house...like laundry, dishes, vacuming, checking email, etc. Well this is VERY hard to do with a baby going through separation anxiety. He needs to be by my side constantly, which I love but sometimes just need a break. In order to jump on the computer he needs to be on the countertop next to me. He proceeds to clear out jars of pens, scissors, batteries and other treasures while I type away. Yesterday he found an old (and still positive) pregnancy test.

I was making myself a blanket the other morning and had it perfectly laid out, ready to go when after naptime Leo came charging in, grabbing it immediately, and started playing peek-a-boo.

My point is, our days aren't always pefect in every way, it's pretty impossible to get anything done around the house, and I loose my patience occasionally, but I can't complain because I get to stay home with these two (and a half) and I wouldn't want it any other way. The in-between times may get stressful but it's the rest of the time that I love and cherish.

The Best Day

It was a great weekend with the best day being Sunday. Friday night we had a family dinner at Carrabbas where Leo and Isla chowed down on mozzarella sticks, salad, and cheese pizza. Saturday we spent the day repainting Isla's bedroom. Out with the pink, in with bunny gray. Since she and Leo will be bunking up together I chose a neutral color and will brighten it up with sunny yellow curtain sheers...pics to come. Oh, and the nursery is being redecorated too...think owls. Papa made a visit Saturday afternoon which allowed John and I to finish up the last touches. I absolutely love their new room. We won't move Leo into it until the baby is 4 months old, so he'll be 23 months. Hopefully that's not too soon for the crib/bed transition.
Since we were inside all day Saturday we woke up Sunday yearning for a fun activity to do. "Let's go to the zoo!" Daddy suggested. So glad he did because it was such a fun time. This was Leo's first real trip to the zoo and Isla hadn't seen the animals in a long time so it was new to her again as well. They were in awe. Isla loved the ostrich and Leo's favorite was the anteater. :) Isla fed the giraffes celery, they both rode the carousel, they brushed goats, and even rode the train. Isla was so funny asking if every animal we came upon was a mommy or a daddy and where the babies were. She had to know that the family was together and happy because that's when she is happiest. Leo held out his little finger in the point position constantly, smiling and laughing at all the animals we passed by. Of course he was making his animal noises too when the appropriate animal caught his eye. It was a wonderful morning our family shared together and here are the pictures to prove it.

All bundled up and ready to go

Look at that smile

Isla loves striking her model pose for pics

Me and my boy

Me and my babies

Love them so!

Just so my family knows, "I had the best day with you today!"

Right Now

Right now Isla is 3 1/2 and Leo is 15 months old. Right now they are both napping peacefully as the rain pitter patters outside their windows. Leo takes one nap a day now and Isla still does too. In fact Isla still wants me to rock her to sleep and when I lay her in bed I have to pat her back till I hear her breathing heavily and know she is fast asleep before I dare leave her side. I love the fact that my baby girl still needs me to lull her to sleep. Right now Leo needs his donkey, Bashful, and me rocking him to fall asleep and I hope he continues to need me for a long time. I love my sleeping angels and our rituals at naptime.

Right now John is at work and I realize how lucky I am to be able to stay home and be apart of my children's daily activities. I am so appreciative of John for all he does to support our family and make it so that I can be a stay at home mom. We are so very fortunate and I love him so much. Thank you, Babe, for working so hard to make this dream of mine come true.

Right now this is what my babies' silhouettes look like:
And they greet us as we walk in our front door. I'm so in love with this artwork.

Right now they love each other. I mean LOVE each other. They make each other laugh, chase each other around, follow one another from room to room, and carry on conversations only they know the meaning to. They are brother and sister and I love that they have each other.

Right now Isla is such a little lady but still so much a baby girl too. She has times of outright independence and other times of crying and reaching out for me not to leave her side. But I know that it is only a matter of time where the independence thing is going to take over full force and it makes me so sad. Someone told me the other day that motherhood is just a slow process of letting go. We raise our babies the best we can and have them in such a tight grip from day one but come the day they flee our nest they are completely out of our hands and all we have is the hope that we did a good job. Letting her and Leo grow up is hard, I want to keep them my babies for always, but I know that's not possible and I need to enjoy each and every second of every day I'm blessed with being by their sides. We never know what could happen so instead of worrying and being sad about what the future holds, I'm going to be happy and enjoy right now! And right now means playing sidewalk chalk, hopscotch, and hulahoops.
Right now, this little guy is the sweetest thing in the world. He walks up to me and John at random times and bends his head in front of us and makes the mmmmmm sound because he wants a kiss. Oh, it melts my heart. He is talking up a storm too and does something new each day. His growing vocabulary includes: Iya (Isla), Gege (Gigi), Bubu (B.B.), shoes, hat, hot, done - he signs it too, bou (book) and the list goes on. I know every mom thinks their babies are the smartest, but I really think he is. :)
Right now our one-on-the-way is kicking and rolling around my belly and I'm smiling because I realize that right now is all that matters. Right now I'm happy!