I am sure you all know that I have always had trouble getting my toddler to sleep in his bed for nap. I have always pushed him in a stroller or driven him around in the car till he feel asleep. But in the last 2 weeks, I have been able to nap Max in his bed!! WOW!! I am amazed myself. I am not sure why this happened. We have a great schedule at night and no problem with sleep at night but for some reason I was not able to master the nap time ritual. I think one of the biggest issues was that I was not giving him enough down time before nap. Max needs about 30 minutes of one of his movies to just relax and unwind from the morning. I can relate. I think I was just trying to take him up and I was forgetting our night ritual-he needs that down time as well but he gets it with bath and books. 

I feel so happy about this because with the new baby coming it does not make sense to nap Max in the car or a stroller. I won’t be able to. I also know that pushing him in a stroller or driving him around is tiring and I won’t have that extra energy in the beginning days anyway.

So I think Max has given me this gift and I think I started to really think about what works and what does not work. Thank goodness!

I also notice that Max is needing more Mommy time and I am not sure if it is the age or if he knows the baby is coming but either way I am totally there for him. Last night we took a shower, as we have been doing for the past month since it hurts to bed over the bath tub, and I was just holding him in the shower and he laid his head down on my shoulder. The other day after nap I held him for a while and told him that I loved him and that I would always be there for him. I began to cry. 

I know I have enough love in my heart for both kids and I know Max is going to be great but it is hard as a mom to imagine life with two.

Scott came with me to the doctor the other day. We were both surprised to find out that I was almost 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I know some women who walk around dilated for a while and so I know that it really means nothing but I also know that when the time comes, well we have to get moving. The doctor thinks that I may not make it to 40 weeks. I just want to make it to Max’s birthday party and then I will be happy. She can arrive anytime after 6 pm on December 6th.

She also tested me for Group B Strep and so I am hoping that comes back fine. I would be really upset if I had to take antibiotics again. I think taking them for 20 days for the Lymes Disease was enough for one pregnancy.

The baby’s room is almost done and I will post pictures as soon as it is complete. I laugh because we will have a fantastic and gorgeous room and if this baby is anything like Max, then she will barely sleep in that room. Crazy huh but it is still fun to do a room and especially a girls room. I never thought my life would ever be so full of pink.

I know I post constantly about being tired but I am. I am tired and emotional, well I actually feel needy. I hate feeling needy but this is a time where I need to not be such a tough girl.

Well Happy

Last time I packed this bag, I had it ready about a month before Max arrived. There was so much in the bag-music, juice. lollipops, clothes, pictures etc. I am sure you get the point. This time I am not sure what to bring other than myself. Last time we arrived at the hospital and I was 8 cm and so I ripped off my clothes and did not listen to anything except my own inner voice. The room was quiet and dim and I dont even remember hearing anything other than my own head. But this time, it will be different. We are not planning to birth so long at home. Last time my contractions started at 6 pm and we arrived at the hospital by 10pm ish and I was ready to push by 11 15 pm.

Our doula came over the other day. A doula is a woman that we hire to help us during the birth. She helped us the first birth and she will be with us again. She is so grandnmotherly if that is even a word and I love that because she is so sweet. We went over the plan for this time and how the second births are less predictable than the first. Well my first was not predictable either. My contractions started at 2 45 apart and kept getting less and less. All of those books I read about early labor and birthing with your partner went out the window. So anyway, she said that with the second cut the early labor and the pushing by a third and so then, we dont really have too much time. So she suggested that we go to the hospital early and relax and birth there. I am praying for a room with a hot tub. So here is the plan for the bag:

Music, Gatorade, Aromatherapy (also nice for the hospital room since they all smell like crap), a tank top or loose shirt for early labor, favorite socks, a picture of Max, our birthing ball and I think that is all. Maybe some tums and candy just in case and a few snacks.

I am still amazed that the birth is so close. I just washed all of her little clothes last night and crib sheets etc. It will be 2 1/2 weeks if she decides to come on time. I would love that since Max’s birthday is December 20th. So please little girl come on the 13th for your due date.

My Dearest Little Boy,

I am always amazed by how much you change even daily. I am watching all of your pants become what is called “Floods” because you are growing so rapidly. You are actually three inches taller than your dad was at your age and three pounds heavier. I guess your momma made you some great breast milk when you were a baby..who knows. I am always happy when people say you are big because usually our people, the JEWS, are not very tall and so I am so proud of your height. Clearly it does not come from me, since I am not even 5 feet tall, but maybe from your Great Grandfather, Max Benjamin, who you are named after.

You are starting to talk more and more. You still like to call your Dad Ba and Grandpa is Pa. You like to make sounds of animals and especially the dog and the monkey. You also love to read Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see? You read every page with me. It is very cute. You can say TY for your friend Tyler and you like to blabber but not too much. I always think about your homeopath, who said that you would not talk until you could do it perfectly (he said this to me about a year ago). 

I watched you last week be so kind to a baby at your friends house. Your friend Max just became a big brother and you were helping his Mom while she was nursing. You wanted to bring the baby all of his blankets and stuffed animals. It was adorable. You also rubbed the baby’s leg while the baby was sleeping. You are going to be such an amazing big brother.

You are still the sweetest boy I know. I do look and see if there are others but there is something so special about you and how you treat the world. I looked at  Montessori school for you for Sept of 2009 because of the love and the free thinking that is taught at Montessori schools. I am making sure that wherever you may go a few mornings a week will honor your independent thinking.

We have gone through a lot of sicknesses lately. You and I went to see Maia at the Apothecary Garden and she recommended that we go off of wheat and gluten because we are both getting sick so much. Momma knows she does not do well with either and always figured that you had issues as well but we will find out. You are so my kid with all my good and bad.

So anyway, as always I love you and am honored to be your mom. I am honored to travel this conscious journey with you. I love you. I will always love you. Thank you Max!

Love, Momma

Here it is a a few days late. We took this picture on Sunday. I have not been the best at blogging lately and I do miss blogging but I just dont have the energy. I know that sounds crazy but my mind is in so many other places. I also have no slept that great this week and whenever that happens-I use my energy to take care of Max and myself and well the hubby gets the remaining. 

So it is getting close. I will actually be 37 weeks this Friday and I am amazed that we are going to meet this little girl soon. I have been worrying about our sleep situation with Max and the new baby but after talking to a friend, a stranger, my hubby and our pediatrician-I have let go. I know that it will work out. I just have that feeling that everything is going to be ok. I think it was important for me to honor my fears and because of it-well I worked on it and now they seem to have vanished for now. I am just now getting everything ready. The furniture arrives Thursday and the drapes get installed Friday. I need to wash clothes and buy a few onsies and stuff like that but as for everything else, we still have all the STUFF from Max so it just seems easier.

As for me, I have gained about 24 1/2 pounds and I am amazed that I have gained so little. I feel like I am eating so much more than when I was pregnant with Max but who knows.

It is going to be a few busy weeks weeks. I have doctors apt for max and myself and Max’s birthday party is in 2 weeks. Any ideas for party favors?

Well hopefully I can blog a little more and catch up on y reading of the blogs I follow.