a good landing spot

The Willy Wonka blueberry girl; Aunt Petunia that Harry Potter blows up into a helium balloon; a sumo wressler. Pick a card, any card - that's what I'm feeling like today. Large. I thought about designing an XXL clothing sticker and sticking it to my belly for these last three weeks...just to see if Jonathan notices. I'm sure Avery would love it- belly being right at her eye level and all, and with a new fanatic love of stickers.

Avery came with me to my 36-week doctors appointment this morning, and when they got out the "magic wand" to hear the baby's heartbeat she says, "Mama! Mama! I hear pony! Fast pony!"

I'm starting to think she's going to be extremely disappointed. Instead, she gets a crying baby that takes up more of my attention. I'm thinking that this baby could give her a stuffed pony as a gift when she comes to meet him at the hospital. Ya know, meet her half-way at least.

That stork that left the station many many months ago has got to be pretty exhausted by now. And, I'm keepin' a lookout for a good landing spot.

and I hope she never changes

Avery met Santa today, for the second time. Granted, she doesn't remember the first time, but something makes me think she'll remember this one. (The strange man with un-kept white fluffy hair grabbing at me with white gloves, asking me to sit on his lap?) Yeah- she wasn't having any of it. And, a parent can only really be proud of a child for not gravitating toward such strangers, right? We did get one shot of her sitting on my lap, while she was so very distracted with Santa's helper/camera dude shaking jingle bells above the lens. I cut myself out of course because I looked like what a mom looks like after waiting in line for 20 minutes while trying to keep a 2-year old entertained long enough without crying, pulling out her cute sparkly hair clips, or throwing her goldfish at other people.

I have to say, at this stage in my 36-week pregnancy number two, I am spent. Avery is far too heavy for me to hold. But, I just love to hold her. I keep thinking that once this new baby comes, she won't be my baby anymore. She's going to be my older girl. It's hard to let go of that; especially when she looks at me and says "Mama, hold you hold me." My heart melts. I'm just really hoping that she takes a lot of joy out of helping me care for this new little boy. She is definitely a care-taker at heart: strolling around her baby doll, wrapping up her animals in blankets to go nigh-night, changing her puppy dog's diaper, and patting my back when I'm hurt or crying. She's definitely going to grow up a little with such responsibilities of being a big sister, and of eventually paving the way for all of our future kids in the house. I can't wait to see the girl she becomes. She's so feisty, and creative, and independent. And, I hope she never changes.