Events from the week

We have had so much going on this week, I have to get it all in this post or it's not going to get done.

1. Care Kids
I took Connor and Isabel to a Care Kids class at the hospital where I'll be having the baby. It's a class for 3- to 8-year-olds to help them learn to prepare and care for a new sibling. It ended up being a really fun evening, and they enjoyed it. They made a craft project about being a big sibling, learned about baby safety and choking hazards (this part was super helpful; the instructor told them that anything that can fit inside of an empty toil paper roll is too small to have near a baby; we will totally be using that model), read a book about new babies, got to hold "babies" and change their diapers, had a snack and watched a movie about bringing a new baby into the house, and then toured the L&D/postpartum unit, where they got a surgical cap, mask and gloves. Connor thought these were the bomb, and wore them the rest of the evening. On the ride home, he said, "mom, when we get home do you think dad is going to get confused and think there's a real doctor in house?" Isabel said her favorite part of the hospital was the big glue stick she used on her art project. Um, OK. But overall, they had a fun time and I think it helped them get even more exited for a new baby brother. Oh, and that doll lying in the bed is "dolly," who had a baby in her tummy and then the instructor pulled the baby out and showed the "umbilical" cord. Her explanation of the baby coming out through mommy's "magic door" threw a wrench into my simple "cut mom's tummy open" mantra.

2. Massage
A kind friend offered to take my friends for a few hours one day, and I was able to use that free time to get a massage and meet Brian for lunch. It was heavenly! The first time I had relief from my excruciating lower back pain in a while. Unfortunately the reprieve didn't last night, but I loved it while it did.

3. Kelley and Leo
Brian's sister Kelley, her husband Leo and their sweet boys Cameron and Parker were visiting from Dallas. They spent some good time with us; we always love having them. Baby Parker was born in January, and it was the first time we had met him. What a love! He gave us a real glimpse into having a baby boy in the house again, and my kids were gaga over him. They doted on him constantly and all wanted to take turns holding him. Lucas kept saying "mom, isn't he so cute?" I hope this parlays nicely into having his own baby brother. We'll see!

All the cousins together. Isabel certainly is surrounded by (a lot of very cute) boys-

One evening we went to dinner with Kelley and family, Brian's parents and their good friends Ray and Val and their 2 daughters.
Ray and Val have 9-year-old twin daughters, one of whom has Down syndrome. She and Isabel got along famously; Maggie was crazy about Isabel and they became fast friends. So sweet!

On Thursday I went to the temple with Kelley and Leo and my mother-in-law Kathy. Three years ago, Kelley and Leo had twins born at 25 weeks gestation. After significant struggles for life, little Cameron pulled through and is now 3 years old, while Ressa lived for 3 short weeks and passed away after getting a deadly infection. May 20 was the 3-year anniversary of Ressa's passing, so we went to commemorate her short, sweet life. It was a touching, emotional, yet peaceful experience. I am grateful for forever families.

4. Last day of preschool
Isabel finished her first year of preschool! They celebrated with a park outing. She has had a great year, learned a lot and made some fantastic friends. She has become quite the social girl, and loved every minute of it.

5. Field Day
Connor had Field Day at his school, which is always a rather chaotic but fun morning. His favorite activity is belly bumpers. He asked me if I wanted to do that one with him. Can you just picture it? :)

This game involves standing in a pool of water and picking up as many marbles with your toes as possible and placing them in a Frisbee. Weird, yes. Fun, yes.

Connor and the art teacher, Ms. Hilliard. It apparently is a well-known fact at school that Connor and Ms. Hilliard have mucho love for one another. I think she is the reason he says he wants to be an artist when he grows up (and a fireman and a scientist).

Water balls-

Tug of war-
At the end, a firetruck comes and sprays a huge spray for the kids to run under. This is complete madness and I didn't get a picture.

6. Dance, dance, dance
Isabel has had a number of commitments this week to get ready for her recital: pictures, tech rehearsal, dress rehearsal and regular class. These have all been held at different times, thus requiring a lot of running back and forth. But, oh, she has loved every minute of it. The big recital is tonight, and she is eagerly anticipating it. She thrives on the stage, a true performer who takes the recital very seriously. Here's a sneak peek:

On top of it all, we've had a couple of birthday parties, and Brian has been at state track for the past 3 days from morning 'til night, which is why he is noticeably absent at most of these events. I have done a significant amount of kid juggling, and want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has kindly helped me out this week.

May-otic

Like my title? It's a play on chaotic, if you couldn't tell. Is May crazy in your house? It is always one of the busier months in our house. The next two weeks are extremely action-packed. Here's a bit of what we've had going on...

Brian and I have become opposites: I never stand up, and he never sits down. After he turned in the manuscript for his Broncos book, the publishers liked it so much they asked him to do the New Orleans Saints book, as well as 4 MLB book: Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. He is in the midst of the baseball books right now. That, along with his full-time job, is keeping him super busy. Then add on the fact that he's doing all of the grocery shopping for me, and tons of cleaning and laundry. Plus being superdad, taking kids on one-on-one dates: fishing with Connor, lunch and shopping for Princessy things with Isabel, and a lovely evening with Lucas just last night watching Cars and eating crackers and juice in Children's urgent care. More on that later. Brian is my hero right now. Grateful for him. Plus, I enjoy parenting with him. We are almost always on the same page, and he's a very hands-on, involved dad. He's keeping us all afloat right now, in many ways. Love him.

Melissa: I found out last week that my brother Nate and his wife Alli are for sure moving to Denver in August! Woop-woop! Nate will attend the University of Denver Law School, and Alli got a teaching job. I have not lived in the same state as anyone from my family is 11 years. We are all super excited. And it's looking like my other brother, JJ, will also be here for the fall semester doing a semester at practice; he'll be a 3rd year law student at Vermont Law School. Feeling the brotherly love!

A couple of weeks ago I was offered a freelance writing job, re-writing the Web site for one of the major hospitals in Denver. I am working about 10 hours a week during May and perhaps part of June. After a number of years of steady freelance work, the economy put a lull in things, and I hadn't had a contract job since the fall, which has been a mixed thing. So it's nice to get a little project in before baby arrives. It's rather a dreamy setup to work 10 hours a week from home.

I am about a month away from baby's arrival! Feeling huger than a whale. I sit to do pretty much anything, otherwise my spine feels like it's breaking in half. But the end is near. My appointments are weekly now, and it's almost time to start washing baby boy clothes. This pregnancy has been the fastest ever.

Last night I made these cupcakes. You must try them. The batter alone was like silk. The end result is amazing. I love the chocolate whipped cream frosting. It's delectable, not super sweet, perfectly moist, amazing.

Connor has 6 days left of school. Wow. He must be feeling it, because he's had a rough week or so. Last week he made 3 - count them 3 - trips to the principal's office for crazy behavior. Gulp. His teacher and Brian and I have really been working with him to focus and get through the remaining days, which includes some stellar bribes. He has been much more focused this week and seems to be back on track.

He is super excited to be signed up for swim lessons this summer!

Connor has been rather entertaining too. He is one of the more unique people I know. He's had lots of questions about his great Nanna, who isn't doing well. He's just trying to understand what is happening, but it comes across as humorous. After we saw her on Mother's Day, Connor asked me, "so who's been doing Nanna's hair?" I told him I'm not sure anyone has. Then at dinner one night he asked Brian if he knows that Great Nanna is dying. Brian said yes, he does, and that we are sad about that. Then Connor said, "but it's not the kind where you're really excited about something, it's the kind where you close your eyes forever."

This is not entertaining: on Saturday Connor came running excitedly into the living room carrying - are you ready for this? - a live prairie dog he had captured in a net in our backyard (the bunnies have been digging under our fence, and now and then a prairie dog finds its way into our backyard). All I could do was scream "Yuck! Gross! The plague! Disgusting! Germs! Sick! GET OUT!!!" He seemed baffled that I was not interested in his "cute" capture. I made him return the thing to the fence and put aside the net to be sterilized and then made him wash his hands about 50 times. Boys. Some people say God Bless Little Boys, I say God Bless their Mothers.

Connor said when he grows up he wants to be a scientist and an artist. He brought home this piece of artwork that was recently displayed; it's an African mask. He's very proud of it.

Connor has this thing about marriage, and wants to know why my single brother isn't married. I just told him he hasn't met the right girl yet. Connor said he knows of a first grade teacher at his school who isn't married, and he "better tell Uncle JJ about her." A matchmaker, he is.

Connor is looking forward to: taking a class at the hospital to prepare for baby's arrival; field day at school; his birthday (next week); the last day of school; summer break; baby brother's arrival.

Isabel finishes her first year of preschool this week. She also has her dance recital on Saturday, and this week has dance pictures, a tech rehearsal, a dress rehearsal, and one more regular class before the big show. She thinks the stage is about the greatest thing ever and can't wait to perform her dance. And her costume this time around is luscious.

Isabel has enjoyed an increased number of playdates as of late, with many offers of kind friends offering to take her to give me some quiet time while Lucas naps. She and I both appreciate and are grateful for these offers.

Do you ever dress your daughter and wish her outfit came in your size? I do, although I know it would never look as cute on me. I love this one-
She's all dolled up with hair and makeup b/c she had just had dance pictures.

Lucas gave us a scare yesterday. He had a high fever, chills and goosebumps all day, and also complained about leg pain right where his break had been. This increased throughout the day, to where he was screaming in pain and would not walk or move his leg at all. We became concerned, and when I called the nurse she thought we needed to get in asap. So Brian and Lucas headed to Children's urgent care. When they arrived Lucas had a fever of 103, and the nurse thought his leg looked swollen. We were all concerned that there was some virus or infection in his leg. But after X-rays, everything looked normal. So he was discharged with a diagnosis of a fever and sore knee. And today he is totally normal, no fever at all and running around like himself. Bizarre. We have had enough doctor visits this spring for sure.

Mother's Day

Since Brian and I share the same birthday and usually lame out by just going out to dinner that day, we tend to make a big deal out of Mother's and Father's Day, as it's the one day we get to ourselves. Sometimes I place big expectations on the day. Some years we hit big, some years not so much. So maybe the day wasn't as perfect as I hoped (nothing major, just felt like a zombie all day, splitting headache, serious backache, grumpy, Lucas woke up stinkin' early soaking wet and even though Brian dealt with it I never went back to bed, Connor dropped a tick on me - one of my biggest phobias and I about lost it, have never seen one in CO in 10 years of living here). So I sound like a whiner. Forgive me. I'm 34 weeks prego and miserable. The day really was good. And look at those faces - I am one lucky momma.

We did enjoy a tasty breakfast, Baked Blueberry Pecan French Toast, a recipe I picked out from my favorite food blog, Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Love pretty much everything on that site.

Brian and the children gave me a beautiful mini rose plant, the movie The Blind Side, which I love love love-

and a sassy new handbag that makes me happy. Love the pewter color.

Church was fabulous. All the women got chocolate truffles, and Relief Society had a fabulous video and message on visiting teaching, then we got to enjoy muffins, juice and chocolates and just visit. Lovely! I normally teach the 2nd Sunday, but the RS Pres switched with me this month so she could teach on Mother's Day. Worked for me! The kids all made darling Mother's Day pictures/cards for me-

I love the All About My Mom form that Connor did for me. It's so entertaining to see yourself through your children's eyes. I was impressed that he really knows me well! I love #7 :)
in case you need help deciphering, it reads:
1. How do I show my mom I love her: ..... Help her
2. My favorite thing to do with my mom is: ..... Go somewhere
3. Her favorite color is: .... Blue
4. Her favorite food is: ..... Tockos (tacos, in reality anything Mexican)
5. If she had extra time, she likes to: ..... Take a bath
6. When my mom grows up, she wants to be a: ..... Writer
7. My mom and dad first met: ..... Themselves
8. My mom laughs when: ..... I make her laugh
9. My mom is _______ years old: 35 (unfortunately he got it right)
10. What my mom loves the most is: ..... Her family

After church I got to talk with my mom, whom I love so much and is a great example to me. She is a gifted teacher. She always made everything exciting and adventurous when I was growing up, and does likewise for my children. She loves to travel. She loves to read. She values and encourages education. She loves to craft and is an amazingly gifted seamstress. She loves the gospel. She loves her family and sacrifices much for all of us. She is an example of selfless service. She teaches me to be the better person. She encourages and supports and praises me. Everything I know about being a mom I learned from her.

We were fortunate to spend dinner with Brian's family, in the retirement home Brian's sweet Nanna has moved to. Nanna turns 90 next month, and her health is diminishing rapidly, which is so hard to see. She is the sweetest person, and I'm glad we got to see her, as well as Brian's mom Kathy, who loves us dearly, and to whom I am grateful for raising a son who is a devoted and dedicated father and husband. We have some good women in our lives!

Connor is especially sweet with Nanna, giving her gentle kisses and hugs. When she could still walk on her own, he loved being a gentleman and lending his arm to help her along. Connor and I had a long talk afterward about the changes he saw in Nanna and how he feels about that. He asked if her earthly test is almost over, and then asked how many years I have left. It's a lot to wrap an almost-7-year-old brain around.

Kathy with Nanna-

So grateful to be a mom. There is nothing like it. Hope all you wonderful ladies in my life enjoyed the day!

First Grade Picnic

Connor had his first grade picnic today, and we were all able to attend. Pizza and lemonade, plus birthday cake for Mrs. W, as it happened to be her birthday - it was fun. So amazing to see how much Connor has grown this year, in many ways. Connor has had Mrs. W since part-way through kindergarten; it's strange to think of a new teacher in August when he starts 2nd grade! We have loved her; she is a fantastic teacher. Summer break is looming ever closer. Just 13 days left of school. Hopefully not 13 days left of my sanity. It's just that I'm not playing my "A game" right now. But the end is in sight.

So proud of what Connor has accomplished this year! Love that kid.

Ready to Launch

I can't believe I'm posting this picture of myself. But here's how I look at it: I have 6+ weeks left to have a valid excuse to look like crap, so I am livin' it up.
In case you can't tell, I feel huge (I'm not even sure this picture does me justice). As in back spasms when I stand for more than a few minutes. As in I have to cook dinner, clean and do my hair while sitting on a stool. As in grocery shopping is going to become either A. Brian doing it for me (which he is totally willing to do, but I have control issues) or B. me cruising the stores in a motorized cart. As in very few of my shirts actually cover my entire stomach anymore. As in LOTS of comments from those I know and those I don't. I actually have been getting comments for a couple of months. Here are a few favorites:

1. While shopping with my friend at the beginning of March (I was only about 25 weeks) a sales clerk at a store said to me, "You look like you've dropped! How much longer?" "Three and a half months," I responded. She didn't say anything else.

2. Someone looked at my stomach a while ago and said, "that's not a basketball, that's a missile!" So, I wondered, if I don't go into labor, would that be a failure to launch?

3. When I was at the CPR class with my mom, one of the health-care providers commented that I looked like I was REALLY close. I told her I had 2 1/2 months left, and she was stunned.

4. I ran into someone I know at the rec center, and she asked me to remind her when I am due. I told her my C-section is June 17, and she said, "Wow, you're huge! I hope I didn't offend you."

5. I have had several people ask me recently if I hurt as much as I look like I hurt. Yes, I do.

6. Then there's the old "are you sure there's only 1 in there?"

7. Connor told me the other day that if my stomach gets any bigger he's afraid it's just going to split open.

It's a good thing I can laugh at the comments. I can't, however, laugh at the stretch marks that have turned my stomach into a veritable road map. Not that it already wasn't. But now it's way worse. I mean, I love atlases, but come on!

On the flip side, with my C-section just 6 1/2 weeks away, I feel like I am in the home stretch (no pun intended). I have been dreaming about the hospital stay. You KNOW you're a mom when a 4- or 5-day hospital stay sounds like a dream get-away. I can order what I want to eat whenever I want to, they offer massages, what's not to love? OK, maybe the round-the-clock vital checks, the IVs, and the whole surgery recovery thing. But other than that...

In reality, the best part of the hospital stay is bonding with that precious new child. Oh, I love those moments. Taking in every detail, memorizing each feature, getting to know that new person who will be with us forever. There is nothing like it IN THE WORLD.

And I really can't wait to see my kids with a new baby brother. The excitement is really building. Connor can barely stand the wait. He loves to engage in naming conversations with Brian and I. It cracks me up when he sits down by us and says in a very serious, adult-like manner, "OK, guys, let's get this baby named!" and then will throw out suggestions. And while I have a name in my back pocket, I've still been considering other options. But not his ideas. Because I don't think Derek Jeter Howell is going to be a viable option.

I think Isabel is still suffering occasional repercussions from not getting a sister. This is just going on the fact that she pretends to call all of the Princesses on her Princess phone and then reports that each of them is expecting a baby girl. Isabel is all the girl I need.

Last, a major shout out to Brian. He has been selflessly, quietly and tirelessly serving our family to make up for my current inadequacies. He has been my buoy, keeping me from sinking entirely. I am extremely grateful to him.

So, here we are. This pregnancy has gone with lightening speed. Am I really going to be mom to 4?