Big Boy Sleepovers

Recently, we moved Dillan into a toddler bed. He was so excited to get his new bed that he didn't even care that we were taking apart the crib to store for the baby. He had a little apprehension when we actually removed it from his room, but it lasted about two seconds. He is amazing at staying in bed despite the fact that he could roam freely if he wanted to. At night we usually put a gate up on the outside of his door so that if does decide to roam, he can't get out of his room. He still has a monitor in his room, so we can hear if anything is wrong. 

This weekend, Dillan had his cousin sleepover. We usually take my nephew for a night every couple months. Dillan is 3 and my nephew is 6, but they seem to be at the ages where they play well together. Even when the difference was more drastic and Dil was a baby, it is nice to get some time at home with our nephew. Until this visit, when it was bed time, we would put Dillan down and when he was almost asleep, we would put our nephew down. This let us visit with nephew for a few minutes with out Dillan all up in our business, but also it avoided any problems with the actual falling asleep part of bedtime. My nephew liked it because he got to stay up later :)

Well, with Dillan's new bed situation, we set up another small bed right next to Dillan's and allowed them to hit the hay at the same time. This was the most frustrating bedtime yet. It was also the cutest, by far. We had the monitor on so we could hear any issues or crying, but instead all we heard were the funniest conversations. Dillan was reading our normal bedtime books to my nephew. My nephew was telling Dillan all about his days at school. They were talking about different kinds of birds. They were talking about their pets. Oh my gosh, I wish I could have recorded it. I had to go up a few times to get them settled down and was surprised to see Dillan tip-toeing around the room, but it was cute when they both tried to defend the situation. I love how close they are staying as they grow up. Weekends like this, make both excited to have a more full home. However, I am one tired Momma after just one weekend! 

My nephew and Dil 

Isolating Journey

Being pregnant is an isolating journey. It is exciting and beautiful. It is lonely and terrifying. At least, that is my take on it at the moment. I know that I am feeling very hormonal. I am so very much more sentimental and sensitive throughout this pregnancy than I have ever been, even when pregnant with Dillan. But, at the same time, I know that a lot of these feelings are entirely normal. They are simply aspects that women try to forget or not to talk about.

Hubster is seriously an amazing man. He is always so supportive of me, but I have never felt less supported than I do right now. Yes, he could probably be doing more to help me get ready for Little Lady and make me feel more at ease, but, to be honest, just the fact he can't understand how I am feeling is my biggest problem. And, obviously, he will not be able to since he is a male so that makes me feel like I am being absolutely insane. I just want my best friend in the entire world to understand what I am going through emotionally and physically. My physical insecurities are a whole other bag of wacky that maybe I'll touch upon later.

In addition to that completely normal, yet completely irrational, issue I am having, I am just plain anxious for the arrival of Little Lady. I am only 28 weeks. I have a long way to go and if I am going to be driving myself this crazy for the next 12 weeks, Little Lady is going to be a stressed out newborn. I stress about Dillan's reaction to the new addition, my being able to fall into a new schedule when I am home very often by myself with the kids, and keeping a honest, healthy relationship with Hubster. I am sure I will make it work since it seems I always do, but I am having my moments of sheer worry.

Can't Avoid It Forever

This has been one hell of a week, and it's only Wednesday. For most of the winter, we have been able to avoid each and every sickness we've seen go through my extended family. A few weeks ago Dillan came down with something that lasted about week or so. We were hoping we were in the clear after that, but, naturally, we were not. Dillan started to feel sick Sunday night. He was complaining of a belly ache, or in his words "I can't feel all good." I gave him some tylenol before bed which usually helps to bring down any fever he gets and also gets him a better nights sleep than without it when sick. Welp, that lasted for about 10 minutes before he was throwing up all over his room. For the first time in months, he was feeling so sick that he came to bed with us. He loves to sleep with us, but the kid loves his own space. He's never been one to fight going into his own bed. 

Monday he woke up and was feeling better, still no fevers or anything. We had a school thing to go to and he was excited and peppy for it so I figured maybe it was just a fluke and he ate something that didn't agree with him. We got to the program and he started to play with the other kids, when all of a sudden, he started to feel sick again and was burning up. We left with a quickness and he spent all afternoon getting sick. 

Both yesterday and today,  he has been feeling good. Acting more like himself, an angry and defiant three year old with glimpses of my sweet little man. But, then today, while visiting my sister. It hit him again, not the fever, but the upset stomach. Goodness, I cannot figure this thing out and weeks like this make me question my abilities as a Momma! 

Monday Morning Marvels- Take 3

Another week down in this pregnancy! It seems like it will be forever and a day until I get to meet my Little Lady. It is amazing how slow time seems to be passing when I think about my pregnancy and how fast it seems to be passing when I look at Dillan growing, yet it is happening at the same time. Very surreal. 

On Saturday, I had my book club. My childhood girlfriends and I started a book club so that we would be on a more regular schedule of seeing each other. If we have something planned to see each other, it just makes it more of a commitment and gets more of us there. There are six of us and we change the location to someone else's house each time. But, it is still tough because we live anywhere from northern Massachusetts to Central Pennsylvania. I am really enjoying the book club aspect just as much as I am enjoying the company. Getting to read books that I NEVER would choose on my own has been really awesome. 

So, what are we marveling today??

1. My friends. Usually we spend the whole weekend together, talking about the book for maybe a night. This weekend, we could only meet for a Saturday. Getting out of the house and seeing the ladies that have supported me for the last 20 years always makes my heart smile. It makes me feel so, so blessed to have those friendships and even more blessed to know they will always be there. They even had a mini baby sprinkle for me! 

You'd think I could find one with all of us. 

2. Our health. We have been hit with the stomach bug, not once, not even twice, but three times in the last couple weeks. I am so looking forward to a point where this cold season is over and we can get outside and get some fresh air. Dillan is exhausting when he is healthy. He doesn't stop moving or talking for two seconds, but I would take that over this any day! 

I'm sure there is more, but I am exhausted from cleaning up after a sick little man!

Day out in the city

Today is Dillan's birthday! I can't believe how big my little man is getting. It seems like just yesterday he was born. It makes me realize how fast this time really is passing! 

Since Hubster was on vacation this past week we tried to do some fun things with Dillan before Little Lady arrives. One of our adventures was taking him into Boston. We have been wanting to do this for a while and it was always just bad timing. Dillan was so excited to ride the subway. We decided to drive closer into Boston and take a shorter train ride. At first, Dillan was really nervous about being on the train since it was loud and shaky. I was proud of us for making a good decision to drive part of the way. But, naturally, by the time we were headed back to the car, he could have been on that train for days and was sad it didn't take longer. My bad.

While in Boston, we visited the aquarium. Normally, the cost is pretty outrageous, about $25 a person  on average, and not something we would pay. We used the museum passes from the library and our tickets were only $10! Every parent should check out their local library. Not only are the passes a great resource, but they have so many activities for kids that are really awesome. Dillan loved the aquarium. He is little and doesn't care too much for a lot of the exhibits, but the ones that caught his attention were well worth it. He got to touch some really cool animals including sting rays, sharks, and crabs. It was really an awesome time! 

Some days I get nervous about doing things like this on my own while toting another little one around with me in a few months, but this outing went so smoothly that it makes me feel like I could do this with no problems at all. It's a good day when you get a small boost of confidence like that!