Week 27 Pregnancy Update

I cannot believe how far we've come.  I can still remember all the shocked January faces of loved ones as I told everyone Bobby and I were expecting again.  Yet, here we are at the end of May and much closer to the end of this journey. Below is an update on my pregnancy, the baby, and me.  (Some format "borrowed" from Kelly):

How Far Along: 27 Weeks

Gender: Baby #3 is definitely a boy!

Size of baby: Baby Center reports that "baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with [his] legs extended."

Total Weight Gain/Loss: slightly above average...what?  You wanted a number?  My Dr. knows...

Maternity Clothes: All I wear.  I have some leftovers, but I got rid of most thinking I was done with babies, so I have had to borrow and buy.

Movement: He moves regularly!  Others can feel him moving, and occasionally you can see my stomach moving from the outside.

Sleep: I have no problem falling asleep at all!  But staying asleep is another problem.  I have to get up to go to the restroom no less than 2 times a night sometimes I have a hard time going back to sleep.  Boo!

What I miss: Lime margaritas.

Cravings: Mexican food and spicy / buffalo chicken. 

Symptoms: Heartburn pretty regularly.  I've narrowed it down to all things tomato-based from ketchup to salsa to spaghetti sauce, etc. 

Body Changes: My hair is halfway down my back.  Definitely growing faster.  My nails are very strong and long, too.  My feet are starting to swell at night slightly, but they are back down by morning.  I'm pretty sure my nose is widening, too.

Now, here is the part where I have to warn you about upcoming self pity.  But in the fairness of documenting this pregnancy, I need to get this down.  My feet hurt.  Seriously.  All the time.  My hands stay hot and they make my entire body temperature seem elevated.  I want to just walk around holding bags of ice.  I don't feel like I have that amazing pregnancy glow.  Rather I see myself as full of pre-natal gluttony affects.  I am so irritable all the time and I have to force myself not to take it out on my children.  My poor husband doesn't get quite that effort, though.  So pity him for a minute.  I'm pretty much miserable already! 

I got to thinking that in no more than 13 weeks all of this pregnancy misery will end and I will have a beautiful, God-willing healthy baby boy.  But then I quickly remembered that I will also have a terrible twos year old and a brand new Kindergartner.  I'm so stressed out with worry about pretty much nothing that is in my control.  All that worry then gives me significantly sized mommy-guilt, which furthers my misery.  Needless to say, in the past 72 hours, there have been raised voices, tears, and silent treatments.  I'm really having a hard time right now.

Okay, I got that off my chest.  Now, want a little view of real life?  In the pic above, I'm documenting my baby bump.  But it took more than one try.  Check out my little photo-bomber below:

Haha.  The Morris household is a little cookoo right now!  I'm off to keep growing a baby. Until next time,

Prince of Peace Graduation

Yesterday, May 16, 2012, Rob graduated from preschool.  I got to thinking about childhood graduations for a while.  When I was growing up, I don't remember graduating from anything.  Not that I didn't, but I don't remember any ceremonies or special affairs.  Graduation was reserved for high school and college. 

I can remember at my high school graduation hearing a speaker drone on and on about the true definition of "commencement"--to begin.  And that's when my mind really started processing yesterday's ceremony.

In recent years I have heard about more and more Kindergarten graduations.  But this is a preschool graduation.  Why the subtle change?  Kindergarten is much more aggressive these days.  At the ripe old age of 5 and/or 6 kids are learning to read; write sentences and stories; do math; and have homework.  In a nutshell, Kindergarten is no joke anymore.  Therefore, I totally understand why Rob and his peers graduated from Preschool.  The world of knowledge is about to commence.  Good luck my sweet, sweet little boy.  You will always have a place in my lap as you will always be my baby!

Here are some highlights from the big event (warning, picture overload approaching):

The gang's all here!  They're lined up and ready to begin.

Madison (on left) also graduated from POP 4K yesterday.

One of Rob's soccer teammates Ryan (L) and best buddy Carson (R)

Lily Kate and Rob making their grand entrance.

I really wish I knew what Rob was whispering to Carson here!

There were a few songs before the actually graduation process.  Rob loves performing.  Isn't it obvious?

 

Don't you just know how hard it must be to wait your turn for something as exciting as a diploma and dove pin?

...there he goes!

Rob receiving his diploma from Mrs. Angstadt

Sweet, sweet Ms. Dana who also teared up when hugging my boy.  At this point, you should know that I completely lost it!

I am one proud Mama!

There was a brief reception following the ceremony.  Take a look at the table.  All the graduates received cute beach towels with their names embroidered.  Love it!

The 3 Amigos saying "Hello, Summer!"

Well, that's a wrap!  I was an emotional wreck, but they were happy tears!  I am so proud of my son and I know these next 13 years are going to fly by! But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's enjoy some summer vacation time!   
 

Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened

Maybe it's because I'm more prone to tears and extreme emotion these days, or maybe it's because I'm me...but I have been so melancholy for about a month or longer.  I cannot believe that Rob's pre-school experience is coming to an end.

There is a famous Dr. Seuss quote that says "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."  I have seen this quote used in true times of sadness like funerals, and also in more sentimental times like graduations and major life changes.  I think it perfectly applies to the Morris life right now.

"Smile because it happened"-- I am definitely smiling.  Rob had just turned 4 and I had just started working for my mom instead of "the real world".  Caroline was 9 months old and knew nothing more than being near me at all times of the day.  Rob had been going to Miss Beth's house as a source of daycare since he was 6 months old.  Miss Beth's was all he knew, but I knew there was so much more out there.  So I sent my child to "big school", hoping he would grow and blossom. (It's funny to think of how my perspective has changed from then to now.)  I felt sad at the thought of leaving Miss Beth's nest, but it was nothing compared to the blues I have now.

Rob on his FIRST 1st Day of Pre-School

I was so thrilled at what I then deemed progress Rob made in a very little time.  He was making friends, he was learning his letters and numbers; he wrote his name; he raised his hand when he needed to say something; and he had routines, dress codes, and real consequences for rules being broken.  He was so proud of himself.  And his warranted pride put a huge smile on Bobby's and my faces. 

Nevertheless, around that December of last year we started hearing talk of Kindergarten.  There are certain traits that Kindergartners must possess and academia is only a partial list.  I don't regret treating Rob like my baby boy.  Bobby may joke that I have "ruined" him sometimes because he is tender-hearted and cautious.  But Rob is Rob.  Those friends he made in Ms Tania's class were all leaders and Rob was definitely the follower.  He would follow them right to trouble.  He had a hard time remembering that "raise-your-hand" lesson because all he'd ever known was a world that revolved around his every need.  Oh, and then there's the fact that our current school system starts so early he'd still be 4 for almost a month after starting Kindergarten.  So we made the decision to retain him.

"Smile because it happened"--yep.  I have been smiling all year this year.  Retaining Rob and repeating 4K was a great decision for us.  Rob has become a leader.  His self confidence has deepened but has also been validated by the ability to make good choices.  He is the leader in his classroom, but he accepts that responsibility and knows that he has to model manners, generosity, and honesty.

Rob on his LAST 1st Day of Pre-School

We were lucky to have not just Ms. Tania last year, but also Ms. Dana this year...both teachers have been great!  Their warmth, Christianity, and dash of spunk have mixed well to bring out only the best in Rob. 

"Don't cry because it's over"--At one point this year Rob said to me that he wanted to do the 4's just one more time.  I laughed and told him that he had to move on to Kindergarten.  When Kindergarten was a year away or 6 months away it was this great mecca of progress that we anticipated.  Now it is just 2 1/2 months away and there is no more pre-school to distract us from the inevitable.  We have had the best experience possible at Prince of Peace.  So good that it's blocking my ability to imagine loving any school as much.

I have been a mess lately.  I know it may be my raging hormones (remember I just entered my 3rd trimester of pregnancy).  I cried the other night at our great, big, local public school meeting for upcoming Kindergartners.  Currently Rob is in one of three classes with a total of 40 students.  This fall he will be in one of 14 classes with a total of 280+ students.  I feel like I am throwing him into the middle of the ocean with no lifeboat in sight.  Luckily we live in a great area with a fabulous school system.  But try telling that to my sadness.

Yesterday and today I cried in carpool.  Hard.  Crocodile tears.  Tomorrow is graduation and even though it's being held in our church I'm considering large dark sunglasses as a fashion statement.  My first born is no longer my baby by any stretch of the imagination.  I am so proud of him!  But please allow me a couple more days to be crazy.

This pre-school experience may be over but I know in my heart it's making way for some real, true progress to begin.  Rob is so hungry for knowledge and culture.  Forgive me, Dr. Seuss.  I am crying right now because it's over.  But I am trying to remind myself to smile because the future is about to really transform my son into the young man he is destined to become.

Stay tuned for a Graduation post tomorrow...

Swimming Into Summer

Whew...the days are flying by for me these days!  Since my last post, I have been going non-stop.  Do you ever feel like you just want to hit "pause" on life and take a breather?

So what's been going on?  Well I am now 24 weeks pregnant.  Baby #3 is here and he has no name, no bedroom, and no place yet of his own for me to start stockpiling supplies.  However, in the long run, I know that doesn't matter.  What matters is that he is healthy, I am healthy, and God's plan for bringing this li'l surprise into our lives will prevail.  Here's a belly shot just in case you (like me) are still having a hard time with the fact that, yes, our family is actually going to expand in a few months:

The other day my dryer just died. Total flatline! I really hate being a grown-up and having to handle things like this.  Nevertheless, Bobby and I went to Lowe's and picked out these beauties below:

We didn't go with anything fancy. No front loading machines and very few bells and whistles. What we did instead was factor in how much laundry a family of 5 produces. We chose a trusty Whirlpool that should last 8-12 years with proper care and maintenance. We also chose one that can be paid off in 6 months or less with no interest! Hey, what can I say?

My mom has taken on another line, and as her "office assistant" / PA I have been working non-stop for her lately.  It's great, actually.  She is actually starting to see all of this hard work paying off, but somehow with this new line I ended up on the delivery address for samples.  So at any given time, my front porch looks like this:

With the weather warming up, we have been spending a lot of time outside lately.  It's great, actually.  I am glad that my kids are loving the outdoors rather than being fixtures on a sofa or rug.  So at any given time, we are all hanging out doing some variation of this below:

But geez...did I mention I'm getting very pregnant? If the kids are going to be outside as much as I think they are going to wanna be this summer, I need some respite from this good ol' Alabama heat and humidity. Therefore, last weekend I broke down and came home with this little beauty below:



I haven't gotten in it yet, but I can see myself sitting in there and letting the kids splash and play all summer.  The kids love it!  They have been playing and swimming in it several times this past week.  Check 'em out:

Speaking of all things water, Rob is keeping this family so busy!  He still plays soccer, although this Saturday is his last game.  His 4K school year is wrapping up and May is not going to end quietly.  There are mommy-and-me picnics, graduation practices, and meetings for upcoming Kindergartners.  On top of everything else, he has started taking swimming lessons at our local YMCA.  He loves it, but it's M-Th from 6:45 - 7:25.  So by the time we get home, take a bath, and settle down for bedtime, it's already morning and wake-up time!  Sheesh!  Busy, busy.  Here are some shots from this past week's swim lessons:

So, there you have it.  We are swimming into summer full speed ahead!  I think perhaps when baby #3 gets here we will look back on these days and long for the "free time" we had!  But right now I just can't imagine how we will fit it all in!