Impatience

I tried... I tried really hard, well, kind of hard, to not put any stock in my "due date" and yet here I am 10 days before the "official due date" and I'm finding myself getting impatient. I know (in my head) that I don't want to rush through whatever days remain of our precious family of three. I'm treasuring the moments I have with my little girl and yet I long for the energy of a non-9-month pregnant body. This may be our last child, so I'm trying to treasure the kicks and rolls and the imagining who this little person is, but I'm tired of running to the bathroom every 10 minutes (or so it feels). My friend who shared a due date (or at least a due week with me) has already met her precious son. That probably contributes to my impatience although I knew it was likely that she would have her baby first.

The last three days we had the privilege of watching our good friends' son, but I realized how hard it is to chase after 2 toddlers. I'm just not a fast as I imagine myself to be. Daryl took some time off work to help and that was a HUGE blessing. The kids did great and I was so impressed by Hannah's willingness to share her space and her parents with Levi. She was even heartbroken that his parents came to get him today. It gives me hope that she will enjoy her little sibling just as much.

So now what... my bag is partially packed for the hospital and I'm getting restless. Lord, help me to trust you for these final hours and into this next great adventure. As my husband reminded me tonight, "One day at a time." This has been a mantra since we started dating. Thanks Honey! How right you are!

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday was Daryl and my 5th year anniversary... crazy! The time has flown and yet it seems like I have known him forever, which is really cool. We had a fairly low key evening and yet it was just perfect (accept for the potatoes:-( ). We fed Hannah her dinner separately and then Daryl put her to bed at 7 while I cook our anniversary dinner... grilled fresh salmon with garlic mayo sauce, asparagus with a cream sauce, roasted potatoes and for dessert... cake! It was VERY yummy if I do say so myself, but even more than the food was the fact that we actually got to have a quiet conversation, eating at our own pace without 5000 questions. I love our daughter, but it is nice to have a chance just to talk to one another without her darling little voice. The rest of the evening was more of the same... conversation. I didn't realize how much I missed that. We are always asking ourselves what we did before Hannah was born. I think part of the answer is just talk to each other. Mental note... do this again:-)!

Follow-up on Baby Grover ~ everything look really good! He/she is measuring exactly where she/he should be. In fact, the ultrasound tech estimated the baby was already 7 lb 6 oz. That is one ounce smaller than Hannah was when she was born... 9 days late! I'm hoping we go a little early, although it would be nice to have at least one more week before the baby is born. God knows and I'm trying to trust Him!

How many pictures does a pre-born baby need?

Here we go again... only 3 official weeks to go and another ultrasound scheduled. This baby is going to have a full photo album before he/she takes his/her first breath! This time the reason for the ultrasound is that the baby (or rather my uterus) is measuring small for gestational age. The midwife wasn't overly concern because she could tell that the baby's head is pretty low, the heartrate is strong, and the baby has enough fluid to be very active (believe me... I know!). But, they want to be sure, so here we go again.

Can we make it through another ultrasound without finding out if Baby Grover is a boy or a girl? Hope so!

Contractions? Already?

No, no, no I'm not in labor. At least I don't think I am:-). However last night I was awaken on 2 separate occasion with a very strong and painful contraction. I mean, it woke me up from what I thought was a deep sleep. It really is true... you don't remember pain (of labor or anything really) until it happens again. Ouch!

Can someone tell me where summer is? We are looking at another day of rain today. Poor Hannah (and poor mommy)! We had tentative plans to connect with a friend, but that fell through. We had another opportunity to go to another friends house for a playdate, but today was a no car day. SO, what did we do? Waited until the rain died down some (it was still extremely windy and a bit misty) and then walked to McDonalds (or as Hannah says "Old McDonalds") for lunch. Is that a sign of desperation or what?!?! Daryl said we survive the New England winters in anticipation of a fabulous summer and then we get rain:-(. On a positive note, the temperature has been perfect for this momma to be.

SO, if you have some sunshine to send (without the extreme heat, please), I would be so grateful to receive it!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Can ice cream be enjoyed any more than this?!?!
Waiting to head to the beach!

One month and counting

I had every intention of documenting this pregnancy in pictures, especially since I only got 2 pictures during my pregnancy with Hannah. But alas, it really is true, the second child doesn't get the camera time the first one does. I did manage to take this one at our 1 month until due date mark. Of course, there are no guarantees that the due date means anything more than a slight possibility, but its all we got. The time feels like it is picking up faster and faster. I don't even have my list together of what I would like to have done before this baby is born. I guess that is probably a reflection of what I will actually get done before the baby is born. Oh well, I'm taking each day as it comes.
This morning Hannah wanted to wear my sandals to church. She actually did a good job of walking around the house without falling. It was very cute. And yes, mommy got a hold of another pair of scissors. Her bangs are a bit short, but she can see again!Hannah was all curled up with her Winnie the Pooh friends. I think at one point she even had a book that she was reading to Tigger. I love seeing her share her love of reading with her friends.

Naps do happen sporadically. I think I took this picture to remind myself what it is like when she does sleep. Thank goodness she is a good sleeper at night. So although we might have some grumpiness going into the evening when she doesn't nap, we do get a solid night of sleep out of her. So, kind of a random post, but that's life at the Olsons right now!

Slowing Down

I think it is really true that you forget the journey from one pregnancy to the next. I really don't remember slowing down this much in the weeks leading up to Hannah's birth. In fact, I distinctly remember planning (and executing with help) a big conference 2 days before my due date. Where is that Dana?

Well, that Dana never had a busy 2 year old. This Dana does and is feeling the extra weight. Today I went with a friend to the beach. It isn't easy pushing a stroller across the sand with all the beach paraphernalia that for some reason we think it is necessary to bring. Add to that simple fact a 20 lb beach ball around your middle and you truly get a work out!

As we were walking back to the car, I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't a race and that I could go as slowly as I needed. When we got back to our house, I just wanted to sit in the car for a while and not move. If the kids would have fallen asleep on the way home, I think I might have been tempted to do that.

It was SO GOOD getting out though. We went at low tide, so Hannah was able to play in the tidal stream at a perfect depth. She loved splashing through the water, looking for crabs (I don't know what she would have done if she found one), and digging through the sand. There was just one slightly scary moment for mommy... Hannah stepped off a sand bar into a slightly deeper pool, went under the water and started floating downstream. I grabbed her probably in less time than it takes to type the sentence and she came up saying "I went under the water!" Mommy's heart soon returned to normal beating and Hannah quicker than that returned to splashing in the water. Oh, thank goodness for my little water bug, and the fact that this pregnant mom's reaction time isn't as slow as it feels.

So, we spent another day enjoying the fact that God has placed us in this beautiful beach town for now.