Was there any doubt?

After watching one episode of Little Einsteins this morning...

C: "I want to watch more!"

M:"ummmm I don't..."

C: "TELL ME YES!"

If we weren't sure about Caroline's ability to be assertive I think we have a good idea now that she will be a very strong and opinionated woman. Just like her momma and all her aunts. 

6 weeks and counting down

That's right! Six weeks until we get to meet this baby! Approximately 42 days left of this pregnancy. This will be my last pregnancy, according to Evan, so I should probably document all of the things that I currently feel for when that moment comes in the future that I think, Am I really done with this chapter in my life?, I can remember how it really feels to be pregnant. Warning: this post might turn negative.

I love resting my hand on my belly and immediately feel a kick or a nudge from baby. I especially love watching my belly when baby is dancing. I love trying to figure out what appendage is sticking out and is sharp, is it an elbow or a heel?

I do not love my lack of sleep. I feel that I constantly turn from side to side and with my body pillow and the other pillows that I need to feel supported and comfortable it takes quite a bit of effort to readjust myself during the night. I also do not like waking up due to my bladder and then not being able to get back to sleep for an hour. I suppose this is nature's way of helping me adjust for when baby does get here and I am nursing but right now it stinks.

I love how excited Liam gets whenever he wants to feel the baby move. He thinks it is so funny and he also thinks this baby will be so strong! (Caroline is too impatient to keep her hand still to wait for baby to move for her)

I do not love all of the random people who like to ask me if I'm having more than one baby. If I'm going to have the baby tomorrow or who like to comment on how large I am. 

I also do not love how hard this pregnancy has been on my body. Maybe because I am that much older at 33, but the sciatica nerve pain I have had has been pretty unreal. Maybe because I am also in charge of two littles that there is no time for rest like with the first pregnancy. And really there is no denying that I have already surpassed my end weight for the last two pregnancies, about a month ago. I'm not really sure how my body will continue to expand for this growing baby. 

I love wondering about who this little person will be. What color of hair he or she will have, red like Liam and Evan or blonde like Caroline and myself. If they will have the same eye color as Liam and Caroline, blue like my Dad's. Will they have the Fink nose like Liam and Caroline? Will he or she have my trademark birthmark on their forehead?

I do not love the unknown health status of this little person. Will they have hip dysplasia like Caroline or any of the other million things that can go wrong in a developing human being? I know that whatever comes our way God will give us the strength to meet head on but is it selfish of me to just want a healthy baby?

I love thinking about how this baby will complete our family. In all honesty, two kids sometimes feels very overwhelming and I'm not entirely sure how we will manage three. I really don't know how both of our parents had four, that seems mindboggling. But I also know that it will be that much more fun, more loud, more tears but also more laughter.

 We can't wait for this little ones birthday!

AWANA

I am so excited that this year we decided to find an AWANA program to have Liam attend. I grew up in AWANA and love how many friends I made, the amazing Bible truths that I learned and I know that it helped shape me into the person that I am today.

Liam has started out in Sparks and of course the Sparks verse is John 3:16
For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in Him,
Should not perish but have eternal life.

Liam has been working on learning this verse for the last 3 weeks and we of course have practiced during all times of the day.

The other day Liam was reciting the verse for me but got hung up on "should not....."

So he said it again, "should not...."

And little Ms. Caroline said, "perish"

I was truly amazed and pursued her knowledge of the verse a little more. Turns out she pretty much knows the whole thing, with a little coaching. She is one smart cookie!

The importance of not mixing up words

It's hard sometimes to remember exactly what someone says. Words can get mixed up so easily. This story proves my point exactly. 

Today I got a message from Liam's kindergarten teacher that all the kindergarten boys had a talk with one of the male teachers about aiming better while using the restroom. Apparently someone or some people are leaving quite the mess in the boys bathroom which just also happens to be their tornado shelter in case of an emergency. 

So on the way home today I asked Liam if he had a chat with a teacher today. He told me that all the boys did and the teacher said "If I find out who did this I'm going to put your face in it"

This made me pause. I wasn't there for this pep talk but I highly doubt a teacher would be using this type of language or threatening a bunch of 5 to 6 year olds. 

So I said, "are you sure that's what he said? Or did he say someone could slip and fall and put their face in it."

"Right. That's what he said. He said someone could accidentally slip and fall in it."

We then discussed how important it is to remember the sequence of words and how vital that can be in retelling stories. 

Just fine

With Liam starting school there wasn't just two people affected by this new transitional milestone. (Liam and myself) Caroline has had to do some adjusting as well.

While they fight often throughout the day Caroline looks up to her big brother and is constantly wanting to play with whatever he is playing with. (Batman, superheroes and Legos) Now Liam is gone for most of the day so we sometimes talk about Liam and where he is but mostly.....Caroline is loving this new milestone as well. 

Playing quietly  by herself with no one to snatch toys out of her hands is truly fantastic!

Playing with Mom all by herself with no one else to steal away Mom's attention is a giant bonus and something Caroline has not had a lot of experience with.  I am enjoying this immensely as well. It's a lot of fun to see what toys she picks out to play with (doll babies, Fisher Price people, her purse), what colors she is drawn to (purple) and how excited she gets when we get to do special outings with just the two of us. 

Caroline loves craft time and coloring!

Caroline is very excited to see Liam when he comes home and I know that she misses him throughout the day but for the most part? We seem to be doing just fine.

The first week

With one full week of kindergarten under his belt we have discovered a few things.

1. Liam is still a shy kid who has a hard time making friends at first. He is remembering their names but hasn't quite made any true buddies yet. I'm sure in a month this will change as this is his normal routine.

2. When Dad tells you to follow all the other kids into school after riding the bus in the morning you listen. Even if that means you go into the cafeteria instead of the gym to line up with your class. And if the kid in front of you gets in line to eat breakfast you do that too because Dad told you to follow him. Go ahead and eat that cinnamon roll because that's what the kid in front of you ordered even though you literally ate breakfast an hour ago at home. *sigh*

3. When Mom gives you money for milk to drink with your lunch and tells you to give it to whomever is giving you the milk do not come home with the same fifty cents that you had in the morning. Especially if you tell Mom that you did indeed drink milk for lunch but no one asked you for money.

4. Always try to go to the bathroom before you get on the bus. Always.

5. Your mom is so excited to see you when you get home I immediately want to kiss your entire face and hold your hand the whole way home but Mom is learning that when there are still other kids around that is not cool. I am resisting squeezing you until we get inside the house.

I know we have so much more to learn about this whole school thing but we are learning. Learning about who to follow into school in the morning. Learning about who pays for lunches and also learning that Liam's teacher seems amazing. I am so excited that he is in her class. This year is going to be great!

First day of kindergarten

Last week Liam had his first day of kindergarten. He was so excited! A little bit nervous as well but mostly excited. 

We drove to the school, parked a block away and began the hardest walk of my parenting journey to date. Tears were beginning at my eyes as I thought about this little boy whom I have watched grow up. And then I told myself to yoga breathe and keep it together because HE was so excited. As he stood in his classroom line waiting to go into those very big doors I graciously accepted a conversation with a fellow parent so I could stop thinking about how my biggest baby is no longer my baby. And then that ended and I was forced to again confront my very pregnancy driven hormonal feelings. I gave him a hug, told him to have the greatest day and watched him walk away. Then I walked back to my car making the ugly cry face. 

Liam had a great first day. I got to hear all about his teacher, his classmates, recess and his lunch when we got home that day. I am so happy that he is doing so well with this giant milestone. 

He was ready and so now I am too. 

Trying to make me laugh by wearing his backpack backwards.