Everyone wants a piece of this baby. He's just that cute.
Well look who finally showed up! The Latest Model seems to have inherited Mama's sense of timing, since he arrived a week LATE! But arrive he did, which ultimately is the important part.
38 Weeks means that in a very short time we will meet the Latest Model. In just approximately 2 weeks we will hold, snuggle, sniff, and cuddle a precious newborn.
38 weeks ALSO means:
~ Anything that falls below waist-level ceases to exist. It is off my radar. Please watch your toes walking across my floor; I have no idea what's there until I step on it. Unfortunately for them, my kids are short and also fall into this category. *oops I knocked them over again!*
~ I have reached an unprecedented level of insanity. I broke down and cried when Patrick announced he needed to mow the lawn. I may or may not have flipped out trying to defend my sanity about wanting the house to be at least slightly ordered. *ironic*
~ I. Want. Wine. ...and a rum and coke. ...and a big-a$$ margarita. Not all at once.
~ My girls are running around in ballerina dresses and winter boots, and it doesn't even phase me, even in public.
~ I am starting to get nervous about the fact we haven't picked out names. We have our list of preferences, but have not settled on a good first/middle combination. It is starting to keep me up at night, even though this dilemma NEVER has before.
~I have trouble completing sentences or thoughts. Hence the no-blogging.
~ This lent has been rather quite fruitful, despite myself. I chose the "since I'm not giving up any sort of food while pregnant then I guess I'll just commit to more prayer time and let God hand me sacrifices throughout the day." Warning: it can be very dangerous to give God permission to work so openly. My will has experienced a good overhaul, my prayer-life is refocused, and I have had LOTS of redemptive suffering opportunities. I should write more about this, because it has been really a beautiful time of detachment. (I probably won't, though - see above.)
~ Gram arrives NEXT WEEK!!! The girls are over-the-moon excited! This Mama is over-the-moon excited, too. We LOVE her visits. In fact, every time they talk about Baby it is tied closely to Gram's arrival. I'm not sure about which they're more excited.
~ I have been confirmed in my previous statement that my personal super-power is gestating for 40 weeks. Went to the doc yesterday and everything looks great, but there is no early labor in my sight. I am blessed that my body has the right baking-time for growing kids, but it is this point where I wonder wwhhhhyyyyyyy??????? can't I be done????
~ On the other hand, I have a to-do list for BEFORE baby. This never works out in my favor, but I make them and cry over them anyways. Pray for my husband!
~ Finally, 38 weeks also means that I sure could use some prayers. We are SO happy and excited, and every mom knows there are nerves and emotions that are WAY out of control at this point. I pray for peace of mind and heart, to make a little extra room for a newborn, and to get maybe just a little bit extra sleep.
We have been ready for months. Waiting, watching, and wanting - but to no avail. It seems that the seasonal facts to the toddler and preschooler were getting complicated. Yes, it was still winter even though we didn't need jackets. Really, I promise.
And then what a glorious surprise! Bundling up quickly, so so desperate to just get to that wonderland finally outside our front door.
Bella was first to burst through the front door and immediately set to work. She is so focused, barely taking her eyes off enough to giggle. And when her brother broke onto the scene and saw a tower to knock down? Giggle she did!
Anastasia is quite the little imp; one minute she is dancing around and taking tastes of the cold wet fluffiness, and the next moment she is trying her best to launch a snowball at her Daddy.
This was Joey's snow-debut, and it did not disappoint! Adorable snowsuit that kept his hands warm even without gloves? Perfect and useful. Him rolling around on his back unable to stand, saying "UP!" repeatedly? Priceless.
After running and rolling and building a bigger snowman,
the girls were not even ready for hot chocolate, instead opting to go sledding with Daddy and some neighbors, which left Joey and I to snuggle and warm up by ourselves.
Oh blessed slumber, oh heavenly rest. How long you did elude him! How long you escaped our grasps! But not anymore. No friends, the little prince is finally sleeping WELL in his OWN BED! All Night! (*Of course, he is a toddler who's sleep is subject to change with every sneeze or cough, at any moment without warning for an indeterminate amount of time.*)
Joey loved our bed a lot, but he did not like to be crowded. Actually, I'm not sure how much he liked having us in our bed. It was time for him to learn how great his crib truly is! Not only did it go rather quickly, but it has been a while and he doesn't even fuss at bedtime. Oh glorious mornings! With my little boy greeting me happily and well-rested around 7am, everyone in the house is thrilled to see the sun.
The best part of course is how he established his OWN routine. After months of trying to introduce a "lovey" for comfort and him not showing any interest, he has chosen a stuffed dolphin he received at Christmas. After months of rocking and singing he has decided he no longer really needs the songs. What he does love to have is his Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer pillowcase, and anything with Frosty on it. He lays down on his side pointing and snuggling his 2 buddies. In the morning he tries to hand me everything in his crib, and I am unable to oblige and carry him at the same time! One morning Daddy carried everything down with Joey to discover that Joey expected Daddy to snuggle him with all of it!
I just adore how much he loves to snuggle during the day. It's always in brief, fleeting moments, and he rarely tolerates me interrupting his games, but it's soft and cozy and very, very lovely. And now that I get my own space at night I can soak it up joyfully during the day!
