A wake up call

Pregnancy number 2 doesn't - nor should it - illicit the kind of attention your first does. There are fewer if any baby showers, and the time spent registering and decorating the baby's room is close to zero. This is mainly because your focus is on your first and you realize that while all of those activities are essential to initiating you into parenthood, by the time of the second pregnancy you are well into the thick of it.

Over the last six months, an entire day may go by and I would forget I was pregnant. All of that is changing as I enter my 32nd week. The aches and pains, the growing girth, and now, a stern reminder from my beloved Ob Gyn today that I need to set up plans for help before and after the birth. I guess that means no more blithely carting 30 pound toddlers up and down stairs, along with two bags of groceries, our bags, on top of snow and ice in the freezing cold (or maybe I am just hearing what I want to hear on that one!). It is too bad that as of late Rhys wants Mama Carry or Horsey Ride - all - the - time! and has decided he wants to be naked and fights getting dressed like a wild tiger with the tears to match.

And by 36 weeks - less than a month from now - no more overnight trips, just in case. And to top it off - a friendly reminder that she doesn't want to see me hospitalized for post-partum depression so I need to make care arrangements for after the baby is born for myself and Rhys.

I do appreciate the talk and I am focused on making sure we all get the support we need. And all through this - I am counting my many blessings and can't wait to meet our daughter in less than 2 months. Just make sure you bring a supply of Stella for Dom, and cookies and some herbal anti-depressants for me, when you come to visit!

More time at Whole Foods Lincoln Park

Have a few hours to kill in Chicago? I still suggest visiting the Whole Foods in Lincoln Park. We needed to do some grocery shopping, and get out of the condo for a showing, so we all went to our favorite restaurant/grocery store where we shopped, ate Indian, Mexican and Italian food, and listened to a jazz trio. Rhys surprised us with his love of pizza (sausage and mushroom) and his enchantment with the music, especially the drums.

31 weeks and 6 days

There is no denying another baby will be here before you know it. I tried this trick of the camera (a la Sheila) and it is a bit frightening. But, in reality, I am not really that big; at least Dom promises me that I am not. I will try to get more photos of me pregnant to remember these days by. In theory, Miss Oldham could be here as early as five weeks from now as doctors do not stop labor once you hit 37 weeks. Thank goodness we live in a big city where you can buy what you need or hire help at a moment's notice.

Baker Rhys

Baking cookies, brownies, and all sorts of treats is a lot of fun with a two-year old. Rhys got his first taste of baking a few months ago and now wants to bake cookies every weekend. With his new apron on, he is on his way to professional status!

More La La La

Rhys is showing off his musical abilities in this set of photos taken on Saturday morning at the Family Grounds Cafe (a life saver for those cold Chicago days!). He is quite taken lately with singing and performing. At Christmas Eve services he kept asking for "More La La La"! A week later, at our friends' - the Crumps - house, he got right up on their kid-friendly stage, grabbed the microphone and sang out La La La - and clapped enthusiastically for himself.
"Thank you Chicago and Good Night"!

Hide and Seek

A new favorite game of Rhys's is Hide and Seek. The objective usually is for you to hide - where he tells you - and then he runs by and you jump out and grab him in a big hug.

Our little seeker is under the weather this week. He was sent home sick from school on Monday and had to stay home with Daddy all day yesterday. He is at school today; I hope until 5 pm!

A Cracking Time

A Christmas Cracker from Christmas Eve! Fun for all ages.

Snip

Rhys' long locks were getting in the way of his being able to see - so yesterday, I took him to Snippets for a kiddie haircut. Our usual - across the street low cost beautician -- was closed for the holiday.
Rhys was wary of the whole process but tolerated sitting in a police car and watching cartoons while getting his professional haircut. The best part was the sucker afterward!