Motherly Musings

So Quinn now knows that he has a sibling on the way. After a couple asking him what he thought was in Mommy’s tummy and hearing his marvelously creative responses, “Dinosaurs” one day and on the next, “alligators”, I felt ready to share the news. When he was told, he was curious and wanted to see inside Mommy’s belly and noted that he couldn’t see him, which we corrected to her. He felt Mom’s belly and I think we timed we so that he might feel her kick. Showing him pictures of the ultrasound turned out to be scary to him rather than interesting, but to be fair, ultrasounds have a certain creep element to them, even to parents☺ He liked the one of her foot though because that was familiar and not terribly shaded. Quinn is all about when things are scary. Going upstairs alone can be scary and the same for heading downstairs solo. He doesn’t like timeouts because they can be scary. I suppose it’s natural that he should be fearful of some things, even as he likes to chase and seek out pretend monsters and mean robots with Luke and I on a regular basis. Last night we read the baby book to him that has all the flaps where he can see the baby inside the Mommy animals’ tummy. He liked it enough to ask for it twice. We worked hard to get bedtime moved up this week and did a much better job with our start times, I think. He still wants to get up and have his waffle after all of the stories are read, but then he’s pretty content to come back to bed where I am already slumbering and put himself to sleep. He’s been keeping himself company with his toy story flashlight, which stays on most of the night☺ This morning we both said good morning to the baby and he kissed my belly for me, when we noted that I couldn’t get me head to my belly. This morning I am taking the three hour gestational diabetes test and we actually got going early enough to make the 8:30 appt. I told Quinn in the car that we needed to first drop Mommy off at the doctor and then Quinn would go on to school. Interestingly, a minute or so later, Quinn reported that he had a tummy ache and needed to go to the doctor himself Sweet, funny boy. Quinn was adorable last night as he pretended to be a storm trooper and wearing a helmet meant pulling up the hood on his grinch sweatshirt. The boy is going to need more hooded sweatshirts to honor this costume bent. Last week he was all about being the officer and making sure that he had all the elements of the officer on the box. He is freaking adorable in the whole get up. Lately, we have also been building houses out of the pillows in the big bedroom. He likes to build walls and have a roof. Last night we had a very ornate sheet hanging from parts of the closet and blinds. We continue to work on the whine that appears now and then when Quinn feels helpless. We try to acknowledge that he doesn’t need to whine and can ask for things in a different tone. We’ll see how out reinforcement of this message pays off in the long run. Lightsaber battles continue to be a part of our world at home and Quinn is now using his lightsabers to open up walls and floors so we have passage to other places. He instructs us to jump once he has the hole made. He’s been all about Clone Wars lately and not interested in the original movies, which is ok, I suppose. Our son can quote moments from Phineus and Ferb pretty perfectly, with excellent tone and timing. He has also taken to quite regularly using his hands in gestures to explain himself. I love it. Only 12 more minutes until the last blood draw. Thank goodness. I oddly don’t feel hungry, but I’m exhausted as my body tries to process all of this pure sugar. I never drink that much sugar and it was quite gross☹ Here’s hoping I pass though. I weighed myself and I think I did well in NOT gaining this week, which is a plus. I focused strongly on my diet this week and taking vitamins. Hopefully in coming weeks I’ll get some light stretching and exercise in. Tonight Luke and I are off to visit Bobbi and the baby in Waconia while Quinn chills with Grandma. Tomorrow I have a playdate with Megan and Dylan and then on Sunday we have the Blast with ECC kids. I need to do my taxes and then agonize over how to save the money and spend it on what needs to be purchased for baby and family before #2 arrives. I’ve found some girl clothes I like at both the Gap and Gymboree which is heartening, but expensive☺ I’ll check out Children’s Place too, since they’re reasonable. I just hate to dress her in things that make her look like something out of a tacky easter basket. Life with a student teacher is fascinating. I am learning new things about myself and also about who I think I am as a teacher. I want to be a better pedagogue and will strive to teach strong for the two weeks of the term when I have the kids full-time. Hopefully I can set the bar high for him☺