Looking Forward!

Well, seeing as I'm 39 weeks tomorrow, and since I have a hard time doing much of anything these days, I spent most of the day laying in bed. While doing so I started to think about all I have to look forward to in the next few weeks, months, and even years. First though, I thought about what I'll miss about being pregnant and that was a whole lot of nothing! Luckily at most I have three weeks left so there's no point dwelling on that.

In no particular order, here is what I am looking forward to:

*Getting to finally meet the newest member of the family. I still remember holding Carter for the first time and the overwhelming love I felt for him (and still do). I can't wait to experience that again. Oh, and to give JoJo his real name!

*Getting to see Carter with JoJo. I know it will be an adjustment for Carter but I have high hopes that it will go well. Ever since we gave him the nickname of JoJo, Carter changed from saying "don't want one" to happily talking about JoJo and what it will be like having him here. He has talked about teaching him things, he helped sort through his clothes, and he even says all the baby toys in the house are JoJo's. He's also really great around other babies. He use to get jealous when Dan or I held another baby but now he just smiles, softly touches their hands, and says things like "aww, cute!"

*Getting to play with Carter. It's been a rough 7 months of saying "sorry babe, mum can't do that right now." Although Carter's been a trooper about it (especially with sharing his lovey to make me feel better), and I feel it may have prepared him for the first few weeks with a baby here, I can't wait to be able to lift Carter without hesitation and to be able to get down on the floor and play with him.

*Being able to clean! Yup, it's true, I like to clean. I don't love it, and I know it will be a while before I'm up to it or even have the time, but it will be nice to be able to clean without getting sick or hurting afterwards.

*Being able to eat cereal for breakfast. In the last 7 months I've only attempted to eat cereal for breakfast two or three times and I paid for it each time!

*Working on losing weight. That ones self explanatory!

*At the top of the list, watching JoJo and Carter grow, learn, and play. Carter brings us more joy then we could ever imagine so we can only assume that joy will double shortly!

My Modern Man!

As I'm coming to the end of my pregnancy I'm having to rely on Dan even more then I previously did. It's getting harder to pick up toys off the floor, lift Carter, and do dishes. He brings the laundry up and down the stairs for me, does pretty much everything around here that requires lifting and bending over, and sleeps on the couch so I can get a better sleep. Everyday when he comes home for lunch he even spends half of it putting Carter down for his nap.  I can't imagine going through this without his help!

It does make me wonder though. If this was 50 years ago or I was with someone not nearly as helpful, how would I get through it. Would I just have to suck it up and do it. Would I have had to stop after one child (that I can pretty much guarantee would have happened!). Would I have ended up in the hospital more then once each pregnancy due to dehydration from not being able to take it easy and therefore keep some food/fluids down. Would I resent my husband for putting me through this while he went on with his normal daily life. It's too hard to know.

All I do know though, is that I love and appreciate my "modern" man so much. That isn't to say that all men in the past weren't helpful or even that the ones now are. It's just that things have changed a lot. It's a pretty well know fact that men now a days see their role as fathers differently then those of the past. Even just 30 years ago when I was baby things were way different. Though from what I can tell, Dan learned a lot from his own dad so it shows that not all men are the same, regardless of the times.

When Dan and I were first getting to know each other (10 years ago!), I asked him once what his biggest fear was. His response was that he wouldn't be able to provide for his family. I knew then that he was a stand up guy, but I couldn't possibly understand how much so until I saw it with my own two eyes over the last 10 years.

I'm not going to sugar coat it and say that he does all the things I listed above with a smile on his face, but he does do them without complaining and many times without me having to ask. Even last night I went to bed forgetting to put the laundry in the dryer. I later remembered but when I went to do it he had beaten me to it. That one small act put a smile on my face and reminded me how lucky I am. He's had to take on way more then his share during both pregnancies and he's never made me feel bad about it.

Most importantly, Carter (and JoJo) couldn't ask for a better father. I know the last thing Dan would want to do is take an arts and crafts class or swimming class with a bunch of two year old's, but he does it. He also goes to the park, follows Carter around in a giant jungle gym, goes to see disney movies, changes poopy diapers, gets thrown up on, reads children's books ad nauseam, and most importantly gives up his daily naps, all because he's a great dad!

I love you Dan! I can't wait to start this newest journey with you...we are finally in the home stretch!!

The Lorax!

Carter had his first movie theatre experience tonight! It didn't start out so well as we had to try to rush through dinner, and as anyone who has ever had a toddler knows, you can not rush them! Even as we were trying to get him in the car Dan opened Carter's door only to promptly have to close it so Carter could "do it myself!" Luckily once we got to the theatre he was mesmerized by all the lights and newness of it all.

First we stopped to get our tickets. It was cheap Tues and we were pleasantly surprised to find out kids under 3 are free, bonus!! Next we stopped for some popcorn. We smuggled in drinks (what can I say, it just pains me to pay $5 for a pop). So the whole night cost us $20. Definitely worth it for a night out at the movies!

When we got to our seats Carter started in on the popcorn, his new love! When Dan tried to grab some, Carter kept a watchful eye and grabbed each kernel out of Dan's fingers faster then he could get it to his mouth. Although it was humorous, we put a swift end to that with warning of losing the popcorn all together. We then just put some popcorn on a napkin in his lap which worked better for all involved!

Once the movie started Carter was mesmerized again and never took his eyes off the screen. He even swayed back and forth and shook his foot to the music! When the movie was over he said "don't want to go home!" We aren't positive but we're pretty sure the thought of leaving the popcorn was the most upsetting for him. Dan asked him if he wanted to live there and he shook his head yes. Luckily when everyone else started leaving he realized it's the right thing to do. As we walked out of the theatre the first thing he said was "we come back another day?!"

When we got home he was excited to call gramma to tell her about it and his usual "let's talk" at bedtime was changed to "let's talk 'bout Lorax!"

So I would say it was definitely a success!

"Speck" Inspector Kit!

Today I made Carter a "Speck" Inspector Kit. Thanks for the idea Kelly and the blog "Val's Crafty Corner" from the Melissa and Doug website!

For those of you that don't know, the term "speck" here is from the movie Horton Hears a Who. Carter's favourite movie! Horton finds a clover with a "speck" on it. The speck is actually a town called Whoville where all the Who's live. It's a great book and movie that emphasizes that just because you don't see, hear, or feel something doesn't mean it doesn't exist!

So off to the dollar store I went...

Every kit needs a case!

The supplies!

Let the inspecting begin!

Found a speck!

Sorting fun!