gym

gym
Originally uploaded by archimom

Entering the gym yesterday. Not a great shot but it's been this beautiful sunny cold weather lately. Also, that back portion is the NEW POOL which may be open by March 1. I am not holding my breath because it was supposed to be open in August. At least all the dirt is out now and it really is just finish work. I just can't wait to go directly from the locker room to the pool - right now you walk through all of the weight area, including the judgmental body builders. And it's cold!

Originally uploaded by archimom

I took this yesterday and posted it and forgot to blog it. Anyway, I figured since I spend so much of my day, might as well include a photo of it. So here tis!

Originally uploaded by archimom

This is the property I fantasize about. It's perfect in so many ways, except for the $1.2 million price tag. Oh well. I'm a masochist who drives past it a few times a week so that when it gets ripped down and filled with mcmansions, I can cry.

Our fearless protector.

moon
Originally uploaded by archimom

Moments after this, she barked at the ups guy who threw our package up to the stoop. Good thing nothing's breakable.

Originally uploaded by archimom

A view from our typical Sunday seats. The sun was so lovely off the snow.

Nap kisses

Nap kisses
Originally uploaded by archimom

The big boy had to run over and kiss his brother while we were putting laundry away and things during naptime.

Seven year checkup

Seven year checkup
Originally uploaded by archimom

Is this not super stylish? He thought it was a riot. He's my healthy and strong boy. Also, his BMI is at the 90% which just goes to show how flawed that system is. He's fine and the doctor said that's a load of crap (although she's much more tactful anyway).

Dance class in January.

Originally uploaded by archimom

The boots, the hat, the gloves, the coat. The tutu.

Also, she is such a little bag lady. She always, always has to have a bag with some of her friends in it. Lately it's been a holiday gift bag.

Quiet time.

Originally uploaded by archimom

Each afternoon, when the girly is done with school and lunch, we go downstairs for some quiet time. Since she doesn't nap any more, she definitely needs down time before brother gets home and life gets more active. It usually involves turning on pbs and all of us piling into the one chair for an hour or so. We had just gotten off the floor from doing a puzzle.

Originally uploaded by archimom

We are partaking in some 90% off christmas candy. The cherry cordial ones are totally gross, by the way.

Taken by the girl

Taken by the girl
Originally uploaded by archimom

So yes, it's blurry. But the girl took this and I like it. The light off the snow is nice, I don't look horrible, and the smile is this really lovey smile. Directed at the photographer I'm sure.

By the fire after the bath

By the fire after the bath
Originally uploaded by archimom

The title says it all. He hates the bath, loves the naked, loves the fire, so it's a mixed bag. But he smells good now!

Originally uploaded by archimom

This morning, all 3 boys (look closely!) in my bed. Well technically *one* of the boys belongs there. But I'm powerless to the other two.

Originally uploaded by archimom

Oh gosh this didn't end up being the best picture. But he's taking it *so* seriously.

Project 365

In the interest of becoming a better blogger I'm starting up project 365. I honestly think the reason I've been such a slacker has to do with the love for the iPhone and the fact that I rarely use a real computer. So here we go!

The child in my arms is 6.5 weeks old and my last post was his birth. Blush. Things are a leeeeetle busy around here.

He's super cute. He even smiles. See?

The preschool teacher the other day said she took a photo of me when we went apple picking, two days before his birth. She said the photo was amazing, from the side. I'm dying to see it but I'm sure I'll be horrified as well.

I'm actually at that point where I'm going to start giving him a bottle so that I can Get Out and do fun things like volunteer in a first grade classroom. Watch out world! Okay, and so maybe I will go out for dinner with the husband and have wine and stuff once in a while too. 

Just had the first grade conference with the big boy's teacher, and she says he's great. Funny and great vocabulary and all that stuff I like to puff myself up about. 

On Saturday I had a baby. His name is Dante Antonio and he's perfect. I had a c-section despite our efforts otherwise, but it all went smoothly.

A few interesting things.

The first mom of the 3 in our childbirth class had her baby recently, and she was going to have a homebirth. She ended up in a hospital she hardly knew, and had a c-section. Her baby had a double wrapped cord on her neck which prevented her coming down enough, and this is one of those cases. If they hadn't made the call, I'm sure they're all terrified thinking about that situation.

The reason I know all of this is because the teacher came to visit yesterday. She feels sort of bad - we're 0/2 on the c section front, and the other couple is a vbac couple as well. May they get their perfect birth. They were really worked up about their first c-section and I would love it if this one kind of atones for that.

The reason the teacher visited is because she was working with a doula client, and they were supposed to deliver at a hospital about 45 minutes away. But the baby was practically crowning and here we're about 5 minutes away. She delivered within 10 minutes of walking in the door. It was her fifth, I guess that's why you hear about the farmer ladies dropping babies in the fields.

Also, I found this a little strange. I have two brothers in law who live locally. Not a word of congratulations to myself or my husband or visits or anything. He called his twin because it's so weird, just to make sure he'd heard the good word, and it was "oh ya congratulations I guess". Not really, but that's the attitude we heard. Is that strange or what? Poor third kid.

We're going home today, a day early. I can no longer handle these 4 walls, these uncomfortable beds and chairs, and I miss my big kids. They come to visit pretty often but it's boring here and we expect them to behave and I just want to veg out and cuddle with them.

So I'm just over 37 weeks along and I've never been so ready to birth. It's not even that I feel bad (although last weekend I felt awful, I think it was a stomach bug or something), but that I have to go in 2-3 times a week for non stress tests and ultrasounds and I spend about 8 hours a week being monitored. It's draining, and then to be resting on top of that, I'm always on my bum but it's still exhausting. Mentally I guess. So I've been doing things like making eggplant parmesan and taking evening primrose oil.

I have been really impressed with my doctors though, even the one who I was afraid would be on call when I go into labor. People toss around the delivery thing but when I go to the birth center to be monitored, they just send me home. I'm hoping that every day I become more inducable, because I think that saying "deliver" at this point still means a c-section. So we shall see. 

And no, we don't have a name chosen yet. 

Well, that's a first. An online friend died of cancer tonight. She leaves a 4 year old daughter and two year old son. She was a real gem. We had this connection as she worked with (and goofed about, and I knew *exactly* what she meant) residential architects. I miss you already, Vaike.

Oh I am such a super slacker. Let's see what goes on here.

Only about 3 1/2 weeks left until we are a family of five. No, we haven't chosen his name, and since some events this weekend (OH NO I HATE THAT NAME) we're not discussing it any more. Also, we'll probably choose the name that YOU HATE mostly because you're such a twat about it. Okay, not really. Plans for a vbac are still on, still good. I feel great, even though my blood pressure is still creeping up. No one is mentioning taking him early though so I'm good. I am, however, prepared. My bag is packed, the changing table stocked, and I'm about to wash the cosleeper linens.

The boy started first grade. The transition wasn't quite like kindergarten, but he still shed a few tears. Today we visited him at lunch and that was happy, but he got a mite sad when we had to go.

Speaking of which, the reason we were there was because the babygirl is starting preschool. Tomorrow is a "real" day with getting up early and all, but today we just filled out forms and met the teachers and all. She is very super excited. She charmed all of the teachers and checked out most of the room. She can't wait to meet Rocco (Wocko!) tomorrow, whom she knows nothing about other than he has a brother with the same name as hers. 

I am rather glad that I will have a few mornings to myself before the baby thing begins. Hopefully more than a few.

A couple of weeks ago, I was thinking about my twice weekly appointments, and how lucky I am to have great healthcare. The very next day, my daughter put a bead in her nose. And it really hit home. I was able to go to the pediatrician and a specialist, that very day, and only pay my regular copay. Also, the bead was never heard from again, but she's fine. Gotta love it.