Baby Pics

Here are a couple more Ember pics

taking a light after-dinner nap:



her first bath:

Family Role Changes

Unfortunately, i don't have much to update about, as far as homeschooling goes.  I take that back, the kids have learned alot socially, about their new roles in the family, how to care for a baby, etc.  If only there was a good way to put into words all they're learning about (and better yet, finding an accurate way to log the hours!).  i'm trying to look at it in a positive way--we'll never get these days back after all, and learning to read and add doesn't need to be rushed through anyway.  i'll be honest though, i definately have not had the motivation for lesson plans, or any of the like.  Willow of course, being the little observer she is, has no problem with it, and is content to hang out on the couch with me while i nurse Ember, but Ryvre is getting a little bored.  i'm hoping the little things we do are enough to keep him from going stir-crazy--i give him little projects to work on as we go and he shows interest, like when i was sewing last night, he wanted to try, so i just let him and Willow both take turns (with a needle and thread of course, not the machine!).  To my surprise (no, delight) neither of them got poked with the needle.  They did better in that aspect than i did! Willow is like a little mommy, and as you would expect of a two-year-old, far too helpful for my sanity.  It's all done with love and care, but when Ember is sleeping, and Willow gives her a big rough hug, or shoves the pacifier in her little face, i have to take a deep breath, and remind myself that she means well, and be thankful that she has such an interest, and so much love, for her baby sister.  Ryvre is very helpful too, but his help is real (and much appreciated), and he seems to know when it's time to back off.

Real Men Wear Pink (Baby Slings)

Halloween

 

 

Here they are Halloween night; having a newborn in the house means pics get posted a bit late.

Birth Announcment

Ember Rune
9 lbs, 6.2 oz
21 inches long
October 26, 2005
1:31 pm

The kids are SO excited about their new baby sister!  They've been staying with Nana for a few days--i don't know who is enjoying it the most, Nana, the kids, or us!  It's very nice to have this time alone with the new baby.  Thanks Nana and Papa, we love you!!!
Now, i can't wait to start bonding as a whole family.

Still No Baby

(The kids are tickling the baby through my giant belly, lol!)

i'm getting a bit anxious, i really want her to come out. Funny, because with my other two, i pretty much dreaded giving birth, lol, but this time i just want my little girl. i'm past the fear and the drama about it. i'm looking forward to it, of course, and it is pretty much all i think about (can you blame me?) but i'm at peace with it, if that makes since. Dale and i have decided this will be our last baby, and a few months ago i thought i would be reluctant to have it end, but i feel like i'm ready to go on with that next stage of my life, you know? Ah, anyway, i'm pretty excited.

There are no "real" signs that she'll be here soon; i've had alot more painless contractions the last couple of days, and the doc says i'm dilated 3 cm (that means nothing though). Baby has dropped too, so i measure for 41 weeks instead of 44 like at my last appointment. i'm hoping that means she's well on her way. The doc (surprisingly) isn't pushing induction, at least at this point. He casually mentioned it today, and i said no, and he didn't say anything else about it. He wants me to come back Friday though, if the baby isn't here yet, i suppose to tell me i'm still pregnant, lol.

Nesting!?

i just realized what i've been doing all day...holy crap, am i really having a baby? Because this whole pregnancy i haven't been able to get it into my head, and all of the sudden, TODAY i'm doing all these freaky things like i'm getting ready.

i went to the store this afternoon for milk--i came home with a van full of canned food, cereal, and other non-parishables. While putting away the few fresh items i got, i noticed that the fridge is full--really, really full, and though our freezer is tiny, it's packed with stuff too, some meals, and i never thought "hmm, i need to freeze extra dinners for when the baby comes" nope, never planned on doing that, and yet i notice that it's been happening ever-so-slowly.

The house has ended up cleaner than usual; i admit i'm a horrible house-keeper; usually i'm happy if the floors are clean, and the bathrooms smells nice. Today i did some organizing.

I put the carseat together (that's been sitting in pieces for a really long time) and i made a baby sling today. i've been planning, and putting off, the sling since the day i found out i was pregnant, haha. My sewing skills aren't great, but i'm fairly certain it will at least be functional.

The laundry is a mystery to me...i generally do about 3 loads a day, and today was no exception, except that i ususally wait until there is enough of one "kind" for a full-sized load. Today, i started doing it as soon as there was enough for a small load. i just have this feeling like "i have to stay ahead of it." That one, i find very suspicious.

i don't feel like it's going to happen tonight (at least i hope not, because the kids missed their bath!), but my mind keeps wandering to the finer details, you know? This is the first time i've put any thought at all into it, not to mention specifics! i'm starting to freak out a little bit.

i think i'll pack tonight, just so *everything* is ready, and maybe i'll shave my legs, lololol!