Mommy's Helper

This morning Kai and I got busy in the kitchen. I decided to do some baking and cooking to freeze. I know, it may seem early but whatever, I had some energy this morning. Kai helped making the Ponderosa cake by peeling the bananas and adding the chocolate chips. He said he was sprinkling freckles:) I have a roast in the slow cooker for dinner tonight and I'm about to start a curry dish to put in the freezer.

Okay, I know I shouldn't complain as I only have 6 weeks left to go, but boy, I feel like I'm at about 500 weeks or something. I know that the baby should be getting fatter at this point and then won't be able to roll around as much but boy, the movements are insane! I think every single one of my shirts now exposes the bottom part of my belly which is another reason to quit working soon! Last night I weighed myself and I weighed as much as I did when Kai was born. Usually throughout the day I gain about 5lbs but still, to weigh that much already...I'm so ready and so not ready for this baby to be here. I am loving sleeping through the night (well, besides the bathroom breaks and rotating to ease a hip that has fallen asleep). I can't wait to see our little one! I still have no idea what it is. I feel that based on heart rate/length to conceive/difference in pregnancy that it is a girl. However, my heart feels that its a boy, probably because it's what I know. Either way, thinking about the little one makes me cry:)

Well, better fold some laundry and get on that curry dish! `The Office' tonight...woohoo!

Heavenly Sunshine!

(My niece Isabelle who will turn 1 on Saturday! Wow, time flies!)
This morning Maria, Ani and Bbelle came over to play with Kai and the weather was decent (although cold!) enough to go to the park. Poor Kai hasn't been to the park in weeks, I'll blame it on the rain on not my lack of fun-ness.

(Kai and Ani just ran round and round the park climbing the `mountains' (hills))

We had care group at our house last night which is easy because we don't have to find a sitter etc. I just find that it takes me so long to unwind afterwards and I woke up soooooo tired this morning. I only have 6 days of work and 1 pro-D day left. It may not sound like a lot, but its still 3 weeks. I am leaving 2 weeks earlier than I originally planned to give me a whole month off. I love teaching, I wish I didn't have to move at all to do it well. My plan is to return part time next Dec/January but I'll take it one day at a time and see how it goes. People have been commenting on how small I am. How do I feel about this? Hmmmm. I recognize that I am not very large but its really all baby. There's no extra stuff. I don't know how people over eat in pregnancy because where is the room for the food? My stomach is getting so squished. The acid reflux is def. in full force although i think all the chocolate milk (bad for reflux) has helped keep the leg cramps at bay, none so far!!!

(Who knew the sit and stand held 3 kids quite comfortably?)

Kai has been making a lot of references to Diego and Dora lately. Examples: `I hope Swiper doesn't swipe our Pad thai!' `I wonder where my Bubbi went, I should ask the map!'. In regards to the baby, he def. understands what will be happening but is quite indifferent. I think he will be helpful but I think he will also be jealous and not the most gentle with the baby:) Gary and him have so much fun together. The other day they raked all the leaves outside and put them in the compost. Gary takes him shopping and lets him help with the cooking whenever he is making dinner. I love it. Kai loves it. Gary loves it.

Our `check engine' light is on in our new van. I guess we'll have to run a diagnostic test to see what it is, I'm so not in the mood for paying money for that. It seems to be running totally fine so I hope its nothing serious aka expensive:) So far it has been soooooo fun having 2 vehicles. Besides, gas is slightly more affordable these days. Yay!

Night on the Town

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Yesterday afternoon, I brought Kai to my sister's for a sleepover and then I picked up Gary from work and we headed downtown. We have not been away overnight, the two of us without Kai, ever. I had booked a nice hotel room and the plan was to eat good food and walk around and maybe take some pictures. Gary and I have the most fun together when we are active; running, biking, hiking etc. Therefore, me waddling down the street in the rain made me realize that it was not going to be as fun as it could be. The hotel room did have a soaker tub which was highest on my priority list and was very much enjoyed. We had a good evening walking around and eating and then....I had the worst night sleep ever. The mattress was too soft and I awoke at 2am with painful sciatic nerve pain. My entire left hip was numb down to my knee. I was awake with the pain until 4 am when contractions started. I never had Brackston Hicks contractions with Kai so I wasn't sure if that was what it was, or, if I had gone into labour. It felt just like when I went into labour with Kai but I decided to time it and wait and see what happened. I had no other indicators...just the contractions. The contractions came every 8-10 minutes and lasted about 20 seconds long. My entire abdomen would harden and it wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. I was even breathing differently throughout them. This happened for 1.5 hours. Then, I decided to take a shower. I just wanted to go home. I climbed into bed after my shower and had 3 more contractions and then I feel asleep for 2 hours so I guess they stopped on their own. Apparently taking a shower and drinking water can help so good thing that is what I did. I didn't have good ole google with me to tell me to do that! Gary was unaware of what had happened, even though I had talked to him (and he had responded) throughout the night. This morning we walked around gas town (yay, it stopped raining!) and then decided to come home and watch the B.C. Lions game. Kai had a great time without us, except was unable to fall asleep in the same room as Ani. He ended up in the playpen in Maria and Kris' room.

Currently, my left hip is still in pain. I am exhausted. I'm happy to be home. Before I left, our secret santa couple (each of my 4 sisters and their significant other have a secret santa couple in our family) gave us gift #1 which was the book `The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work'. I've just finished principle #1 and it seems good so far! Anyway, it had some good `getting to know you questions' in it that I tried to casually ask Gary so he didn't suspect that it was homework from the book. Reading a book like this is something I enjoy but the only participation done by Gary is me summarizing the good stuff for him. Please know that Gary and I really did enjoy spending time together and hopefully in the summer we will be able to plan some fun day dates that include hiking and biking!!!

January 2nd

This is going to be random so I'll break it into sections...which is a great segue into....

OUR BABY

Today the doctor that is doing my C-section called to say that they have finalized the date of January 2nd. When I hung up the phone, I cried. Why? It just makes it so much more real that we are having a baby in 7 weeks! I can't believe that our family will be forever altered, I will have a newborn, I will have surgery....7 weeks. I had a doctor appt today with my regular doctor and he said that it seems like the baby still has lots of room in there (which seems so CRAZY!). He thinks I will have a 10lb baby but I think that with it being born a week earlier than Kai, it will only be 9lbs 2oz if a boy and 8 lbs 12oz if a girl. That's my guess:) My weight is good so far with 21lbs gain at 31 weeks. Generally you just gain a lb per week from this point on so I should end up with less than a 30lb gain but I doubt it!!! I've had a really bad headache these past two days and I know I can take tylenol but I'm so hesitant to take anything.

(Gary has some crazy facial hair growing cuz its `no shave november' at school)

KAI

We took Kai swimming this weekend and he was a superstar!!! He used to be so afraid of the water but he shocked me. He walked right in to his chest right away and then actually ended up swimming holding onto Gary's neck and another time, holding onto a kick board. I was sooooo proud of him. His favourite part was the shower afterwards, he would've stayed in there for hours! I think I will try to go swimming once a week, I need to get into better shape!!! We had him in Sunday school again this week and he is getting better but boy, I hope its just his age and not him, he has a hard time sitting still. Who am I kidding, he DOESN'T sit still. I took him to story time at the library today and the only time he listened is when they sang and danced to shake their sillies out. I saw all these other boys his age sitting intently in the front row listening. Maybe they were all 3? Maybe boys settle down at some point? If not, we have a very definite hands on learner who is VERY different from me.

I told him the other day that I liked Super Why (Super Readers) because its a show that's good for him by helping him read etc. Yesterday he saw `The Mole Sisters' on tv and he said `Mommy, this show is good for me!'. He thinks the moles are so funny. He has really started filling his sentences out. Before, he might have said `Where's the neighbours?' but now he says `I wonder where the neighbours are?'. He LOVES capital letters and will read anyone's shirt with writing on it or any sign that we pass on a walk. He doesn't know many lower case letters, he saw an `i' and said `Mommy, there's an exclamation mark!'. Not bad. Not bad. He asked how the moon stays in the sky and I was so tempted to launch into gravity and inertia and instead, I gave the Sunday school answer `God keeps it up there!'. He says he will wear underwear after the baby is here. Hmmmmm....he is so aware of all his bodily functions...`Mommy, I'm going to poop!' `Mommy, I'm peeing!'. He is so aware but does not want to leave the comfort of his diaper. I really want to be patient and not push it. Maybe its easier to change diapers than to clean up messes all over the place??

(Gary with his serious face...kinda makes me giggle)

MY WORRIES IN LIFE RIGHT NOW

1. I really want the baby in utero to stay safe and healthy.

2. I'm nervous about my marriage once the baby comes.

3. I'm nervous about recovering from the C-section.

4. I really want to bond with the baby right away. Last time with Kai, it took months.

5. Gary's basketball practices have started now...3 nights a week. It is taking a toll on me and I'm nervous about what this will look like when the baby comes. He has a tournament when the baby is just one week old. Gary loves it. He is needed. I support him in it. We just need to figure out some way to make it a bit easier at home during this time:) I think I've just had it too easy in the sense that Gary could be home by 4pm each night and now he's gone through dinner/bed time for Kai etc.

6. My greatest worry is that I will get breast cancer. I feel like it is inevitable. My mom was so healthy in all aspects and I believe that it was mostly genetic. I have 4 sisters. There's a huge probability that one of us will get it. I know I would fight it with all I had but I would never trust that it was gone. I think that in 5 years or so, I will look into testing for the BRAC 1 and 2 genes and consider the various options. It's not that I'm afraid of death but I don't want to leave my babies and I wouldn't want Gary to have to raise them without me. This fear/worry does not affect my day to day but its always there, in the back of my mind.

Well, I better get back to my marking and the never ending pile of it. I have harder to manage classes this year so I give them a lot of work to be collected in hopes that they will stay more on task. SEVEN more weeks folks. January 2nd. He/She should be the oldest in their class which Gary thinks will be good for his/her basketball skills or something.

Family Pictures

This afternoon we took a few pictures downstairs as the weather outside was terrible. Here are some pictures of our baby Chapman in utero...we're at 31.5 weeks now!

Okay, I know I look ridiculous in the picture below but it was a very funny moment. I asked Kai to touch my belly button and he said that it was not a belly button, it looked more like a part of the male anatomy! (I def. have a VERY outtie belly button at this point!)

Hi baby brother or sister!

Good ole timer (Kai, smile at the camera and you get a smartie!) Gary said we should get a remote for the camera and I said for sure...until he told me it cost about $200!

(The weird mark above my weird belly button is from my old belly button ring which shall never be worn again:))

(Kai's saying `Mighty Machines' to make himself smile)

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Oh wow. I'm finding it difficult thinking of things to do to keep Kai active while it is pouring outside. I am unable to chase after/carry him so a lot of places are off limits. This morning at 8am we went to Clayton Park for a `hike' (I always tell him its a hike and he thinks he is so grown up!). It was beautiful with all the leaves and we walked for about half an hour before the rain started up again. We might go swimming this afternoon but I have to wait til Gary comes home because I'm not chasing Kai all over a slippery deck. If I let him, Kai would now watch tv all day. This kind of freaks me out. I have to admit that I have been letting him watch more and more as it has been raining so much and I have been more and more tired. The basement now has a lot more fun stuff like a Foosball and pool table (mini ones, perfect for his size) that we had hidden in a corner. He does like playing them but then we have to (get to?) play with him. Have you ever played foosball with a 2 year old??? So frustrating.

I would say one other downfall of being trapped at home all day is that I notice all the crumbs/dirt/baseboards that need to be dusted etc. A messy house drives me crazy and the longer I'm at home, the messier it seems. Well, Kai is chatting away in his bed so I'm going to sit down and get back to my book, `The Long Walk; the true story of a trek to freedom' about a man who escaped a Soviet labour camp.

30 week belly

I just got back my results from the 3 hour glucose test and it came back that I have totally NORMAL blood sugar levels. I was pretty confident that would be the result (due to the one hour test), sort of a waste of 4 hours if you ask me!

(A belly picture from today. I know it doesn't look like my belly is growing but boy, the baby inside sure is! It should be about 3 lbs right now, I'd say its prob. 3.5:) By the way, I got this shirt at Costco last night, it fits nice and long....although sneaking up in the picture. They are only $10.99 and VERY comfy)

Kai is very 2. The other day Kai pointed out all the diggers. I said `Awesome dude!'. He replied with `Mommy, don't call me dude please'. At least he is polite? He will also say things like `Daddy, no singing please', `Mommy, I don't want to talk about it to you' (after I asked him what he did at Ani's house). He also is very particular about doing things himself; opening the van door (really, I push the button to open it as he's trying), no more booster seat at the table, putting toys away when he feels like he is done with them and not when he's just played with them--he might need them again! I would say he really enjoys cleaning up though. He listens well and ususally I only have to count to 2 and he has altered his behaviour. He hasn't had a time out in about 3 days which is VERY good for him:)

He is very affectionate and will hug anyone...even my dad in a scary mask at Halloween. He didn't even know it was my dad and hugged him anyway. Last night Matthew and Ayden were over for a few hours and Kai asked them if he could have a kiss goodnight before going to sleep. Matthew said yes. Ayden settled for a hug:) If he is going out with Gary, he will run up to me and say `Mommy, wanna big hug 'fore I go?'. Do I ever!

My favourite time of day is having a shower. Ten minutes to myself. Anyway, I usually leave Kai in front of the tv when I shower. Today when I came down, he had a Diego bandaid on. He said he had an owie on his cheek. Ya right. Maybe its those top molars coming in?

The other day I said `Kai, I forgot to do up your shoes.' He said `Oh ya! Don't worry about it mommy. It's okay'. I'm trying to convince Kai that it would be fun to go for a walk in the rain with all of our gear but he is perfectly content staying in the house. I hope there is some end in sight to all of this rain, it makes the days quite long!

My husband

(taken last month...we will get a better one of the two of us on our weekend getaway!)

This is just a short blog to focus on another important person in my life...Gary:) Gary is so busy these days with work, basketball, photography, and stuff at home. Yesterday, he came home from work and picked up Kai to take him to Costco for 1.5 hours to get our flat tire fixed. Then, once Kai was in bed, he spent several hours burning photos onto DVD's etc. Gary makes so many meals at home, I have only made 2 of the dinners in the last week. He said last night that he was ready for me not to be pregnant anymore but I think he forgets that it doesn't get easier once the baby is here! Gary is an amazing daddy and I love watching him and Kai together. He treats Kai like such a big boy and gives him so many opportunities to show what he can do and to try new things. He is so patient, with Kai and myself:) So, when you see Gary, give him a pat on the back and say `Good job Gary!'.

Baby update

I met with the gynecologist this morning that delivered Kai via C-section. She is a great doctor and I really appreciate her knowledge and efficiency. She also did a fantastic job stitching me up last time. We have tried to book a C-section date of January 2nd and she should be around to do it (although it is the first day of her holidays). I'll know the date for sure, next time I visit her on December 11th. We went over Kai's birth and she read through all of her notes on it and again I realized how we did everything we could. She apologized for all she put me through with the manual internal rotation and all:) We have decided that if I go into labour before the C-section date, I will try to deliver it naturally. However, she `reacquainted' herself with my pelvis (which was quite uncomfortable!) and said that I could deliver a 7 lb baby but due to the narrowness/structure of it there would be no way a 9lb+ baby could make it through. So far, this baby is measuring normal size (30 cm uterus at 30 weeks) but Kai was too until the last few weeks!

Because Kai was early and 9lbs 11oz, she really wants to rule out diabetes so I am scheduled for the 3 hour glucose test tomorrow. I am almost 100% positive that I do not have gestational diabetes, I let her know that Gary was a huge baby too. Whatever, I'll do it. I think the reason why all these tests and appt's are frustrating is because its really hard to find someone to watch Kai each time. Besides, I will be so hungry as you have to fast for 10 hours before and then can't have anything for the 3 hours that you have to sit in the office for. Grrrrrr. I should be very thankful for all the prenatal care I am receiving, and I am. I also had to book another ultrasound but couldn't get into the Langley office til Christmas Eve so I am going to Abbotsford instead. I was really excited because then we could possibly find out the sex of our baby. However, my sister reminded me that Abbotsford does not do sex determination. Is this still the case? I believe the ultrasound is again to determine the size in case I go into labour early. So, I came home from my appt and had to make 4 more appt's; ultrasound, 3 hour glucose test, Dr. app't, and gynecologist app't.

I think I am just ready for January 2nd to be here. Now. Thank goodness I only work part time. Time to do some marking.

Wowzers!

Thanks for all the baby name advise. It gave me a few new ideas and maybe confused me a bit more:) I really do appreciate all of the comments. Talking about comments, I feel like I have been getting a lot that are so polar. At a wedding this weekend, one person asked when I was due and I said in about 8 weeks. She said, `You are so tiny!'. I'm tiny? Okay lady. Then, an hour later, another woman commented, `You're like a torpedo! How much longer?' I told her 2 months and she was shocked. So ya, I'm big. I'm small. Whatever. I have just realized that people like to comment on size. That's fine. However, I wish I had more people saying things like `How is it going working while pregnant? How is it with Kai right now? How are you sleeping? How is your pelvis?'. Hello people, I'm not just a belly, I am a person who wants to be cared for!!! That's what mom's are for I guess...

I have booked an expensive hotel for Gary and I in a couple of weeks. I was so indecisive and then just decided to go for the good one because really, its the only hotel we will be staying at in the next year and its just one night. We wanted a good night away to eat yummy food, walk around, take pictures at Stanley Park and downtown, AND it had to have a soaker tub because I think that could provide some sweet relief:) So, I am really looking forward to spending some quality time with Gary before the craziness ensues. Having kids def. puts a huge stress on marriage, well, ours anyway!

How am I feeling you ask? Hmmm...not sleeping so well. My pelvis feels like it is very battered and bruised. Fortunately my back is okay this time, I hope that this continues. Baby is stretched out as far as it can go so now he/she just needs to fatten up a bit:) I seriously need to lie on my side as it feels so good. I am def. not exercising these days (besides regular housework and teaching) as it feels like my pelvis is broken. I know, i should swim. Should. Too bad. I checked out the picture of me at this stage with Kai and I guess I'm about the same. I just have to add that being so pregnant in the winter is WAY better than in the summer. I'm not as sweaty and swollen. Huge bonus.

We had our last wedding on Saturday (until June). The weather behaved. Phew. Pictures at Granville Island were fun.

Kai did a great job getting us candy while trick or treating. We just went around the block. He skipped two houses because he said `That one is too scary!'. I noticed that there was only one kid with a homemade costume. I can't believe how much things have changed. I had a homemade one every single year of my life growing up (old man, clown, punk, drink box). I think I will have to make one for Kai next year. Maybe. I should.

Kai is funny. Gary used to joke that he took a helicopter to school. When Kai was first learning to talk, he would say `Daddy takes a hekida to schoozle'. He can now say it perfectly fine but he loves driving me nuts every time we drive by the Langley airport, `Mommy, there's a hekida!!!'. The other day, Gary was driving him by the airport and Kai said with a mischevious smile, `I'm going to tell mommy that I saw a hekida!'. His vocab and sentence structure is amazing me. I brought him to Sunday school again this week. Although his understanding and his ability to contribute is good, he is not good at sitting still. I had to stay with him the whole time to make sure he was staying focussed. I just sat across the room and sometimes I held him on my lap. Maybe if I wasn't there he would do better? It's a bit early to start him in there but the nursery was driving him nuts.

I just read a good book. It is a memoir called `Prisoner of Tehran'. Recommend it.

We went to the marble slab creamery because they had a 2 for 1 coupon!

15 more teaching days:)

Gary is so good about cooking with Kai. Kai is so involved in the process and is Daddy's big helper. I am so glad that Gary enjoys cooking, especially after I've taught for the day. I know that in this area, I am truly blessed!

I should find out tomorrow when we are having our baby!!!! I'm so excited. I'm hoping for Jan.2nd but could be the 7th.