First Day of Maternity Leave!!

The best part of maternity leave (aka easiest) is probably right now. Just a 2 year old to take care of and my very pregnant self. I will be making sure that I take a lot of time to just sit down and read a book but I went a bit nuts this morning; baking, cooking, cleaning, groceries, marking labs etc. I would say the hardest thing at this point is running errands with Kai. I have to take him with me because Gary is way too busy these days so I can't wait til Gary gets home or everything will be closed! It's just tough heaving Kai in and out of the van/grocery cart and making sure he doesn't run away from me or throw a fit. The other day, it was the first time I was unable to follow through with a time out because he physically would not go and it was not worth it for my back to make him.

I cut Kai's hair this morning. It looks wild I know, it will look better after a bath. This is his `I can't believe you are not giving me any candy' face. Sorry bud but 8am is a bit too early for candy!

For about half an hour this morning, Kai read stories to the baby monkey and even gave it one of his Bubi's! It was really funny listening to him reading and talking the way I do to him. `This is a lion, do you know what a lion says? Do you know what letter this is? Point to the `D'!' At one point he yelled downstairs to me, `Mommy, I farted!' I said, `Kai, what do you say?' He said, `Excuse me!' . Then, he went back to monkey and I heard him say `Monkey, you have to say `scuse me after you fart'. When it was time for his nap this afternoon he started whispering and said we have to be quiet because the monkey is sleeping. Hmmmm...sounds like a pretty good big brother to me!

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I've decided to make fudge for my Christmas cookie exchange. I never make it and I never buy it because its so pricey so why not? So far, I've made 3 dozen...just go to make 2.5 more! I made a creamy maple/vanilla one and a rocky road one. I learned that Gary does not like marshmallows. Interesting. After 3.5 years of marriage, this never came up. Guess there's always more to learn! I just finished my marriage book and I'd like to do a separate post on that. I'd say that Gary and I are a pretty strong team based on what I read...woohoo!! Def. room for improvement but still, good to see all the areas we excel in!

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One last thing...Kai and I were able to go to Gary's first bball game of the year. They are in a tourney so the game was at 4:15pm. They won!!! Kai only made it to the half but I think they've got a pretty decent team this year so that's good. Room for lotsa growth, but still, not bad! Kai was cute, he danced when they pumped the music during a time out, he was trying to dribble during the half, and he cheered `Defense!' and `Go Justin!' without me asking him too. So cute.

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Okay, one MORE thing. I signed Kai up for a community sports class where a bunch of 2 year olds learn how to play several different sports. It starts in January and is just once a week. I'm hoping that he'll be able to run around a ton. He loves racing and playing sports but I'm not the best companion for that right now! I also signed him up for preschool in September and he got in. Although, he got into the afternoon class which was NOT my first choice. I guess he won't be napping anymore though, once he's three. I never thought I would be a person to sign my kid up for stuff because growing up, we could never afford it (my sister Maria and I took `painting and sketching' one year and that was it). However, our yard is not the tree farm that I grew up on so there's def. less to do at our house!

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Okay, time for the next batch of fudge...

Our lil baby

I just need to post quickly...I saw our baby. It is so cute. Seriously, it looked so chubby and adorable and looked like it could be in my arms right now. I cried when I saw his/her face. It looked like a girl face (as if you can tell!) but she said something like `Oh, you have another boy at home too?' or something like that. The ultrasound technician was soooo nice (Katie, I must've got the good one!) and she let me see the screen almost the entire time. She chatted with me throughout and laughed when the baby kept kicking her the entire time. Big, big kicks. The ultrasound weight/size can be way off and the estimated size was 6lbs 2oz +/- 15oz. So, it looks like the baby should be somewhere between 8-9lbs when born. I'm still going with 8lbs 12oz for a girl and 9lbs 2oz for a boy:) I'm measuring 1.5 weeks ahead of where I am according to the ultrasound. I may scan and post the pictures I have. I got to see up the nostrils (never seen that before!) and when we went to see the face again at the end, the baby had turned away which was too bad. I also saw the kidneys, stomach, heart, feet, legs, arms...everything! It was great. The baby has big toes. So cute. I can't believe there's a lil Chapman in there! We're going to have a new baby soon...I can't wait!

December!!

My headache left me last night..woohoo! So nice to wake up and feel normal. Nothing like a little pain to make you appreciate your health a little more. Gary got home last night at 6:45pm and we decided to decorate the tree. Kai was SO pumped. We did it in 15 minutes so it doesn't look the snazziest. He had to go to bed at 7:15pm and was up til at least 8:30pm. He really has no idea what is going on, but, a tree in the house, with fun balls on it, is VERY cool:)

(I told him to say `cheese' and instead he yelled out `Max and Ruby!')

(A penguino!!!)

He saw a pretend Santa dancing at Walmart and was confused about who this person was. I did not grow up believing in Santa Claus and I'm not really sure how much I should tell him about Santa. We just bought him one small present this year and Gary and I aren't getting eachother anything. I just really think we have so much already and have purchased so much throughout the year anyway (camera and van)!

(We are using the chocolate countdown calendar that goes all the way to New Years as a countdown for the baby)

(34 weeks)

Our baby is supposed to be born in exactly one month from today. I have a feeling that with all the Christmas festivities, the time will fly by! I only have one day left of work and I'm so excited to use my days off to prepare for the baby by relaxing (READING!!!!), baking, cooking, and cleaning. Oh ya, having fun with Kaisie too. He's such a monkey. He can go from being the sweetest, funniest, most charming guy ever to...the opposite. Generally it is short lived but still, he does know how to drive me crazy. He is still wildy into letters...he wants to know how to spell every word, what it starts with etc. He does not understand the sounds that different letters make which would allow him to figure it out for himself but we are trying. He'll go `Guh Guh Guh Gramma!' but doesn't recognize that the Guh sound is a G. As for numbers, he still is not really recognizing them so that is what we are learning these days.

(Kai and daddy cuddling after he got home from basketball tonight)

Gary's beard provided a lot of entertainment for Kai. They would chant `Kai and Itchy, Itchy and Kai!'. Kai was sad when Gary shaved it but is glad that daddy still has two small itchies (his sideburns).

Ultrasound tomorrow!! I know they are usually off by about 1/2 lb but I think its way more accurate then the doctor just feeling my uterus! Last time at 32 weeks, they predicted that Kai was 6lbs and generally a baby gains 1/2lb per week which would make him 10lbs at 40 weeks. He was born 3 days early so it was pretty much right on with 9lbs 11oz! There's also something reassuring about them checking to see that everything looks okay still. One last thing, I have a pole by my bed. No, not for anything fun:) It is so perfect for getting out of bed during the night and will be wonderful after my C-section. It was my mom's (she received palliative care at her home the entire time) and I'm glad to put it to good use. If anyone ever needs it for their pregnancy or post C-section, let me know!

Tension Headache

Just need to complain about my headache. I seem to be getting them every few weeks or so and they last 2-3 days long. It's probably a combo of things; stress (this teaching week is stressing me out), fatigue (improper sleep), carrying extra weight (so interested to see what the ultrasound shows in regards to the baby's size), dehydration (I don't drink enough water). Maybe a walk in the cool air will help? I feel like I can't do anything. Nothing. It's only 8:15am and Gary is not home til 7 pm. Talking about that, he has bball 5 days this week. Let the fun begin:) Well, maybe I'll make Kai go for a walk with me right now...

Parents of three...for 24 hours:)

Today we have Ani and Bbelle over while Maria and Kris have a romantic weekend away. They are currently all in bed, although I think Bbelle is the only one sleeping. This is Bbelle's first sleepover (she just turned one last week) and I have to say that her crying flustered me. Thankfully it was only about half an hour. I'd say that based on my experience so far (no leaving the house and no meltdowns) that it wasn't bad at all. I mean, it was Gary and I taking them all on so it went fine. On my own, not so sure:) We'll see how it goes taking them all to church tomorrow!

On the move!

Blurry picture but they were pumped for Playdoh and played nicely with it!

No wonder it was easy, we just strapped them in in front of the tv:) Just kidding...they wanted to sit in their carseats...fine with me!

This kid is always smiling

Okay, a little embarrassed to post this scrapbook page as I may be getting into digital scrap booking. Well, basically just using free downloads. I tried last year, lost all my stuff, and just this week started up again. We'll see what I actually do with it...I've also made our Christmas cards using digital scrapbooking so I'll post it soon:)

In conclusion, I am extremely exhausted. I have been having huge issues with sleep. Falling asleep at 1:30 am or getting up at 5am, and having to go to work like that. Fortunately my report cards are done and I only have this week left for school. That means I can nap while Kai naps. Hopefully. I get to see my baby via ultrasound on Wed. Cool. We have a new baby girl name. Gary finally said to me,`Pick whatever you want' and I chose one that he only voted a 6/10 (which isn't bad, I think he gave one a 7/10?). We'll see how long I keep this one for. I really like what it means but I'm concerned people may pronounce it wrong which I never thought would happen with Kai but so many people call him Kia or Key or something.

I also had a major cry fest last night (phew, felt good to get it out...nothing like a good overtired cry!). I was so happy that I was not missing my mom these days because I was worried it would hit me hard when the baby was born. Well, it hit me last night. I feel like I need to adopt a mom. I don't mean disrespect to the memory of my mom but I just need the impossible role filled; someone who listens so intently and cares deeply for all I say. Someone who is so proud of me and lets me know it all the time. Someone who asks me the questions about me and truly cares for the answers I give. Someone who thinks I'm so funny and yet hurts when I'm sad. To those of you that are my friends or family, thank you for caring for me, but you know what I mean, the depth that I desire is one that I feel is only met by a mother for her child. I know that God cares for me in this way, but the interaction is different. Sometimes I wish Gary was a little more emotional and empathetic but I know that overall it is best that we are different. So, if you could remember me in your prayers that would be fantastic. Not only that this last month goes well for me and baby but that I will feel supported and loved and well rested:)

Doctor Visit

Here are the stats for my check up at 33.5 weeks:

My weight gain: 24lbs (according the doctors scale but his is a little on the nice side), my scale says 26lbs.

My blood pressure: 106/66

Baby heart rate: 144

My uterus size: measuring 36 weeks

I'm so happy that my back is doing okay at this point. Seriously. No real complaints. Just the usual insomnia, frequent urination, breathlessness, and difficulty getting up. I feel so blessed. Still no girl name. Wow. Maybe we will let Kai pick because he is pretty adamant on his choice:)

3 more days!!!

I only have three more teaching days left for the next year! So crazy! So exciting! Tonight I went out for dinner/dessert with my 4 sisters....good times. Love it.

(Kai's favourite thing to do this week is spell words...he asks how to spell a certain word and then finds all the letters. Two days ago, he asked me how to spell octagon. Where did he learn that? I would highly recommend these blocks!)

I went to Canadian tire the other day and when I got in the car to go, my car didn't go. Gary came to check it out (yay for a second vehicle!!!) but couldn't fix it. We brought it into the shop there and it was a frozen tensioner that had flipped and they had to do a bunch of stuff to free and replace it. Anyway, it ended up costing $300.00. I know this might not be a lot of money for car repairs, but for me, it just seems like a lot of money...3 photo shoots worth:) I'm so thankful for our van as I don't know what we would've done without the car for 2 days!

(He doesn't recogznize his numbers but can count to 15. I'm trying to teach him but he has little interest in that. He was reading the letters for GRAND & TOY on a box and he said all the letters and then exclaimed `That spells box!' One of his favourite parts about TV shows is watching the credits....`There's a D! M! A! etc')

`House' was great tonight, I love that show. I have oodles of marking to do tomorrow as report cards are due in a week. Well, I better head to bed and attempt to sleep. It's been taking me hours to fall asleep because the baby is being wild. Doctor appt tomorrow! Dudes, I only have 5.5 weeks left! I also get to see my baby via ultrasound next Wed which should be fun. Oh ya, I'm so forgetful. I keep phoning the wrong people and saying the wrong words and I'm not making much sense. So if I said something ridiculous above, just ignore it:)

Documentation

Here are just a few things I'd like to document for the day:

1. Kai went to Sunday school all by himself!!! I'm so proud of him. Gary and I had taken turns over the last 3 weeks to go in there and just help out in the class and today I let Kai know that he would be going on his own. Gary went and peaked on him 3 times (I know, I'm so crazy) and he was doing what he was supposed to (sitting quietly listening, playing etc). Apparently he did cry once when someone else took his puzzle and he asked the teacher for Bubbi (the teacher thought he wanted a puppy). Also, he was saddened that they did not sing `Deep and Wide', his new favourite song. Overall, he was very proud of himself and I was so proud of him too!!! Maybe he sits and listens when I'm not around!! Woohoo!! My boy is growing up!! Again he said yesterday that he will start wearing underwear once the baby is here. He came up with that timeline all on his own, we'll see how it goes!!

2. Love (not at all) no shave November. The school/staff is doing this right now and all the men look so gruffy. I wouldn't mind so much except Gary is not shaving his neck either which I think looks a bit icky:) At the end of the month they will all create gross mustaches and whatever else they can think of doing. Please note how red Gary's is. He used to have bright red hair and that is why I was surprised when Kai was born that he did not have red hair:)

3. 33 weeks pregnant. I wanted to document my stretch marks thus far which are kind of hard to see in this pic....I thought I would not get any new ones as this baby will be born a week earlier. However, throughout the week, i have gained some new ones already so the `fun' is just beginning. This picture is to remind me of how it was at 33 weeks...This baby kept me up until 1:30am this morning. It keeps turning sideways on me which turns my entire belly into a donut. Seriously, the belly button portion becomes concave as its head and bum press out on my sides.

In the past 2 days, I've had 3 people say I look small. I'm sorry, but I'm not. Some how saying that I'm small doesn't make me feel validated for my waddling and discomfort. So, feel free to say I'm huge. It makes me feel better:) By the way, our pastor and his wife (not my bro-in-law, the other one) said that I looked beautiful being pregnant. That was really nice. They've said it for the past 2 weeks. No one really says that you look beautiful, they just say `good' (meaning not as swollen and puffy as you could be) or small or big. Beautiful. Made me feel beautiful. Tell a pregnant woman (no, not me, I'm not fishing for it!) that she looks beautiful:)

Funny things (okay, maybe not funny, just conversations) Kai has said this week:

1. We drive past a large water fountain that has not been working for the past month or so.

Kai: `Mommy, the water fountain is broken, we should fix it!'

Me: `I don't know how to'

Kai: `I can do it mommy, I will find the button!'

2. I was going to the bathroom...we may do this with the door open in our house...

Kai: `Mommy, do you want some privacy?'

Me: `What do you think Kai?'

Kai: `I think you should mommy. You should.'

3. We have a Busytown book with characters Hilda, Pig Will and Pig Won't...

Me: Kai, time for breakfast! Come here!

Kai: Mommy, I'm not Kai. I'm not Pig will, I'm not pig won't, I'm Hilda!!!

He had us calling him Hilda all day. Oh boy. HOpe that one doesn't stick!

Happy 1st Birthday B-belle!

(the birthday girl)

My little niece turned ONE today! I can't believe how fast they grow up. I def. love the stage she is now. She is walking on her own, although, she prefers to push a toy or hold onto someone's hand.

(pushing her buddy Emma)

She is always grinning, what a happy girl! This morning we got together with friends and family to celebrate her birthday with some yummy cupcakes made my my sister.

(group effort blowing out the candle)

(We re-lit the candle so that Kai could blow it out too. He has been talking about it for a month. If he uses to toilet, he gets a cake (muffin) with a candle on it....when he decides to)

It seemed like the big kids were more into opening the presents than B-belle was:)

Good idea!!!

In my last post (like 2 hours ago), I complained that my belly was protuding from under my shirts. My friend Dana pointed me to a blog that had a great suggestion!

1. I took a T-shirt that had a hole in it anyway (or use one that is too short now anyway due to style changes etc!) The lady on the blog also tried one with a camisole and just cut off the straps.

2. I cut it around the waist (should've cut it closer to the armpits but it has buttons on it)

3. I can wear it as a belly band! (and with the remains,I also have a belly shirt that will perfect for the summer? Um, maybe not:))

You can see the seam of it but I think I might make another one...Yay!