My due date was two days ago, and so things are getting real. Like really real. I think we're as ready as we can be. But really, how ready can you ever be?! We're about to go from a man-to-man defense to a zone...
I realized this week that I've gone through pretty much this entire pregnancy without writing about it once. Oops. I'm really not trying to overlook the third child, it's just that I've got my hands full with the other two little gingers. And yes, they do keep my hands quite full! Ginger is a spice, and lemme tell you, they both have plenty of that spice! There is never a dull moment here. Ever. [Unless they are sleeping, which fortunately, they go quite well.]
I want to take a little time, just presenting a picture of what this third baby will be entering into with the dynamic ginger duo as older siblings. They may not technically be babies anymore, but they are still my babies. My growing ginger babies.
[Photos courtesy of my dear friend, R. Tolley - who also breeds gingers ;) ]
About a month ago she turned five. FIVE. What?!?! Not a baby or toddler or even a preschooler, she's a little girl! This little girl is sugar and spice and sass and sweet and smart and silly and sensitive and sincere all rolled into one. She is quite a girl! Some words that we often use to describe her are passionate, intense, persistent, energetic, determined, intelligent and excited. She's got all of those and more. These days, she's the one keeping us most on our toes. But actually when I think about it, that's how she's been since she was born, so I guess she's just staying consistent.
Her strongest quality is probably her persistence. When she wants something or has an idea in her head, it is going to happen, no matter what. Sounds great, and for the most part is great, unless what she wants is something she can't or shouldn't have. Then it's not so great for everyone else around her. And then her persistence is not so great because it's up against me and Darling Daddy. We don't back down though, much to her dismay. And over the years we have learned A LOT in how to deal with the persistence and determination.
Some of her favorite things are going to preschool 3 days a week, doing any kind of arts and crafts, playing with and holding babies, cuddling her stuffed animals and Oscar the cat, climbing trees, running, swinging on swings, practicing reading herself and being read to, creating things out of the recycling bin, swimming above and under water and watching Curious George.
She is SUPER excited about a baby coming into our family and has told me on more than one occasion how helpful she's going to be [and that I'm going to basically be able to sit back and let her handle it... Hah!]. I really can't wait to see her in big sister role again, this time as a five year old rather than a two year old. I'm thinking [& hoping] that she will actually be quite helpful this time around.
Ginger Boy
A little over a month ago he turned three. And he really is acting like a three year old more and more each day. Not even six months ago, he was still pretty much my ginger baby - wearing diapers, sleeping in a crib, still wanting a bottle at night, still using pacifiers and sleeping in a sleep sack. And now, none of that! He gave it all up cold turkey in November. Sniffle sniffle. I was sad at the time, but now with another baby looming on the horizon, it's actually quite nice. Potty training has been a bit of a challenge [as in, we've been going at it for about 4 months but just had some real success last week with him actually telling me he had to go and then going on his own to do it..] but we're getting there! And my goal of having only one in diapers is going to be a reality soon!
He's got his own characteristics - he's sweet, snuggly, silly, mischievous, laid-back and also quite determined. He gets this serious look of passion and fury on his face when he wants to go after something [which often happens to be his sister these days..]
He loves to dance and jump around, especially when "dance" music is on, which is usually high energy techno-type music [thanks to Darling Daddy] and likes to sing a lot [heard him singing along to Taylor Swift on the radio this morning!] He also enjoys riding his tricycle around our loop, or just in circles. He likes playing with Thomas trains, trucks, cars and building things out of Legos. He's also gotten much more steady and quick on his feet lately and enjoys trying to keep up with Curly Girl in climbing, swinging and running. And he really loves going on dates with me to Starbucks to get 'chocolate cow milk' [at least I like to tell myself he loves it..]
He recently told me that he's excited about being a big brother to the new baby and that he wants to hold it all the time and that we can never have any visitors because he'll be holding it all the time. Hah! I was actually quite relieved to hear this though, because prior to our conversation, I thought he wasn't very happy or excited, or apathetic at best.
He is quite hilarious, in general, and it comes so naturally to him. Darling Daddy and I are really hopeful that this part of his personality will not change as he becomes the middle child, rather than the youngest. He's the comic relief around here, which is often necessary when dealing with the intensity of Curly Girl ;)
Baby "Peach"
Last but not least, our little unnamed one who we haven't yet met outside of the womb. We are all so excited and anxious to meet you, baby! For the first time, we chose not to find out the gender of this baby, and surprisingly, I've been so at peace with this decision. Of course I want to know, but I'm not going crazy about it. It's going to get love no matter what.
This pregnancy has been different than the other two, which were strangely similar, so I really have no clue what the gender of this baby is. I've had nausea, varicose veins, itchy itchy skin in numerous places, tingling in my hands and arms, lower back pain, pelvic and hip pain and extreme tiredness in both the first and third trimesters. And I am so thankful for all of those things, because I know that it could be so much worse! I've had a generally good pregnancy and I've stayed pretty active [able to keep up with my two little ginger go-getters, which I think is active enough!] and I'm thankful for that as well. And not only have I been active, but baby is pretty active, even now at 40+ weeks. I don't remember the other two moving quite as much as this one does, so late in pregnancy. But, it allows me to sleep well at night, so I'm grateful for that.
I'm very much looking forward to meeting this littlest one and staring at its sweet face and welcoming it in to our family. Hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later!
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