Last weekend we had the most beautiful baby sprinkle held for our family. The outpouring of love, support and excitement over baby girl was indescribable. Not to mention all the ways the girls were included in the party and getting some new little things of their own. Obviously James and I are over the moon excited to meet our next daughter but seeing our family and closest friends share in that joy left me speechless.
Speaking of little miss, we are currently 27.5 weeks deep, into the third trimester. I honestly thought this pregnancy would fly by. It's not. The weeks are slowly creeping by and I cannot let myself think about the fact that we still have 3 more months. I think we have both hit a growth spurt in the last couple of weeks and I know feel like there is an actual baby body in my belly that does not appreciate her big sisters leaning on her. She is most active at night and likes to turn her back/bum out to make one side of my belly super hard and uncomfortable. I have been having Braxton hicks contractions every day and sometimes they stop me in my tracks to breathe through. Yet, I still look forward to going through labor and delivery again. I am having the strongest nesting needs even though we will not be doing a nursery for this little lady.
I have been on a serious no-meat kick and luckily our overflowing abundance of fresh vegetables is making preparing meals around that easy for me. It's nice to get out of the usual groove of meals and start experimenting with new foods and recipes. Last night was sweet potato, black bean burritos which were delicious in my book. That and rainbow chard fritters have been my favorite concoctions lately.
I have really started delving into the world of preschool at home for the girls. Lucy is showing a ton of interest in letters and numbers so there has been a lot of researching going on. Since she will not be attending preschool in the fall, I am putting a lot of responsibility on myself to make sure she is getting what she needs and wants from me. With baby girl due in September, I am trying to get a handle on what a daily activity/ lesson plan may look like. I am adopting a lot of Montessori principles and activities because I have seen success with those in the past with her. Vada is starting to notice color and identify animals so I will be doing some different things with her as well. The amazon wish list is filling up! Arranging swim lessons is next up on the to-do list.
Lucy is turning into such a little girl lately, no more baby in her. She will get her own breakfast, dress herself, brush her teeth, and tell everyone else what to do in the meantime. Her knack for directions is uncanny and she picks up on every little detail of any situation. Her memory is insane and she will ask me things about stuff we did last year or longer with surprising detail. She could not be more excited about her baby sisters arrival and telling me what she plans to do and teach her. She is wise beyond her years and has the most joy around her friends and family that, although overwhelming at times, is contagious.
Vada is a tiny tornado. She is rough and tumble, never sits still, and moves a million miles a minute. She is talking up a storm and has no problem telling you what she needs or when she has been wronged. Mornings have been rough for her lately but after nap she is happy as can be. She is a total goofball and loves to make people laugh. She is obsessed with baby dolls and does a surprisingly good job of taking care of them. She is now dressing herself too and has been potty trained for over about two months. She still loves to be held and loved by her Mama but has become more and more of a Daddy's girl as she gets older. Every morning she asks if he is home and anytime she hears the door she screams "Daddy's home!" Seeing her interact with her smaller cousins makes me think she may not have as hard of an adjustment to being a big sister as we fear. She is only one month away from her 2nd birthday which she refuses to talk about.
