A Lot Of This....

Led to this.....

Taken through the kitchen window screen

We got a good 25cm yesterday, which although pretty, wrecked havoc on the commute home.  Edward was over an hour late getting home on the bus, and was a soggy, snow-covered mess when he finally trudged to the front door.  Luckily, Nana and Opa stayed until he came home, which gave me a chance to get dinner ready.  It did mean that there was a mad rush to get the Ducklings fed and upstairs for their bath.  Edward was hustling Evelyn along - which she resents, because she likes to dawdle - and as they went up stairs, she turned to him with a solemn look and announced "You're not my Daddy anymore". I guess it does start young...  Lucky us.

Baby Z Update

Here we are, at almost 24 weeks.  More than half way there, and I have yet to get my act together and start any of the crafty projects I have lined up for this little one's sleeping "nook" in Edward and my bedroom.   Despite having collected a ton of baby items over the last few years, I actually have to purchase a few new things; a carseat, single stroller and some clothing among them.  In fact, the month I found out I was pregnant, I purged almost all of the 0-18 month baby clothes I had.  But at least this time around, I know how little I need to keep this one dressed.  Especially considering s/he will be born in the early summer.

I had my doctor's appointment on Thursday, and in addition to being told that we're chugging along nicely, I was given my c-section date.  Yep, Baby Z's final eviction notice will be served on June 14th, which is also my niece Siobhan's third birthday.  As a neat aside, my nephew Liam was born on August 14th, and our trio on September 25th; which means that should our last addition actually arrive as planned, my family will only have to remember two numerical birth dates for 6 kids.

Otherwise, baby and I are hanging in.  Much to my surprise (and delight), I'm only up 14 pounds at the midway point in my pregnancy.  I look pretty much as big as I did with the triplets, though, because as my doctor put it, once you've "been there and done that", your body happily returns to the same pre-stretched state.  The baby's favourite place to hang out is still face down, so I'm getting the majority of the kicks to my bladder.  Edward did feel the baby move for the first time last weekend, but due to the baby's positioning, external kicks are still hard to feel - although I feel them, usually between 2-4am.

I'm starting to slow down a little, although I'm still making it to Zumba on Wednesday nights and I'm able to keep up.  We'll see how things progress over the next 16 weeks, but here's hoping I can continue to stay moderately active!

Overheard...

... while I was making dinner, and Edward was helping them with their puzzles at the dining room table:

Edward:  Evelyn, where is another piece with a cloud on it?
Evelyn:  I have no idea.
Edward:  Here's one... Keith!  Get off the table!
Evelyn:  I need help!!
Edward:  Okay, how abo- Keith! Get off the table!
Colin:  I touch lamp!
Edward:  No, we don't touch the lamp.  Keith!!  Get off the table!
Evelyn: I NEED HEEEELLLLP!!!! **
Keith:  I find piece with digger!
Edward:  That's a tractor.
Evelyn:  I NEED HEEEELLLLP, DADDY!!
Colin:  I touch lamp!
Edward:  No, we don't touch the lamp.  KEITH!  Get off the table!!

And so it goes.

** Delivered with the rising pitch shriek that only Evelyn can master.  A few days ago, when Evelyn was having one of her frequent moments of.. um... "pique", Edward could hear her outside from four houses away, in winter with all the windows shut.

Learning the Lingo

It should come as no surprise to anyone that The Ducklings are quite verbose.  Then again, most two year olds love to chatter at full volume, so I know we're not the only ones who spend a large amount of our days listening to them banter away at us and at each other.  Personally, I love it.  I get such remarkable insight into their personalities, likes and dislikes.  It's amazing to hear them express themselves so proficiently.  Sometimes, I almost forget I'm talking to a two year old.  Other times, well, it's pretty obvious...  "Colin take it!" is a frequent wail, although we have thankfully avoided the dreaded "MINE" for now.

I don't know if we'll get to the "why?" stage, but we have been at the "wappened?" (Ducklingspeak for "what happened?") stage for a while, as well as the "what ______ doing?"; as in "what man doing?", "what garbage truck doing?" or "what toast doing?".  Some of these questions are easier to answer than others.  Keith loves to point at things he can easily identify and ask "wuzzdaaaat?".  The game is to turn it around and ask him what it is so he can beam proudly and reply.

Today at lunch, Colin gave Keith some of his nectarine and Evelyn said "Thank you, Colin, for sharing".  Then they spent a good few minutes thanking and you're-welcoming each other.  It was a total love in.  This is forgetting that earlier on in the morning, they were at each others throats (um, literally) over a mouse puppet, stickers, a variety of books and my ever diminishing lap.  It's a shame that wrestling will no longer be an Olympic sport, because I have three shoe-ins.

As I've mentioned previously, our nap routine involves putting one down at a time, and waiting for the previous child to settle.  Even though it isn't the most efficient method, it does serve numerous purposes; one of the most important is one-on-one time with Mummy and Nana as they get their diapers changed, or chapstick and cream put on their faces.  Keith gets a tiny glob of Penaten on his finger which he insists on shoving up his nose.  Compared to other objects that have made that same journey, cream is much less objectionable.  Colin is the last to bed, and he loves to dreamily cuddle his stuffed puppy on the change table while waiting his turn.  This afternoon, he took a small crocheted doll hat and put it on his puppy announcing "Puppy, you are so beautiful".

Sigh.  Yes, these are the good days.

Guess Who?

Who runs around outside in -20 degree weather arbitrarily sticking his tongue on metal objects?

Incidentally, those fleece neck warmers are amazing - and inexpensive.  Keith told Nana that he'd need a "tongue bandaid" after his experiments...

And who insists on wearing a swim diaper on his head as a hat?

Yes, that would be Keith.

I'll Take It!

Our week has been a panoply of colds, fevers and hospital treks, none of which have been too serious, thankfully, but we're definitely feeling a little run over down.  We survived the domino effect of tummy troubles followed by colds - Evelyn was the last to get a cold tonight, so that officially places us all in recovery mode.  A small but significant accomplishment.  

I ended up visiting Labour and Delivery on Friday afternoon because I was having some unsettling aches and pains.  They are monitoring two potential issues that cropped up, but I feel much better now.  The baby was active and happily bopping around, and everything else measured up fine.  

Last night, my parents came over to enjoy Edward's delicious lasagna.  My cough really started to rile my asthma, and so I found myself at the Civic yet again, this time in the Emergency with a pretty bad attack.  I haven't had one in several years, but it's hard to forget or miss that panicky feeling of not being able to breathe properly.  Or talk.  And, as everyone knows, the latter is much more of a travesty for me!  After several hours of peak-flow reading and various inhalers, I made it home for midnight.   But, well, restless Ducklings, and breathing issues plus coughing and pregnancy insomnia does not make for a very (read: any) good sleep.  

Today, Edward and I had a moment to sample the cake my parents brought over last night for dessert, and we came across this:

Sure, it's no Jesus at Timmy's, and it is completely flukey, but it made us smile.  And that, we'll take!!

Colds and 'Cuts

I (grudgingly) accept that it is our turn - a cold has beset our house.  With our Toddler Time-ing, and dance classes, it was truly inevitable.  And I have to admit that given the severity of the cold and flu season this year, I am amazed that apart from Colin's Christmas bug, we've been illness-free since early December.  Mind you, our last major bout saw Keith in the hospital for 5 days, so it isn't as though we escaped unscathed.  This is compared to last winter, when the kids were sick from September to mid-April.

In any case, this iteration started with Keith developing a fever and sore tummy on Sunday, followed by Colin on Tuesday and Evelyn yesterday. Then, just when we thought that was the worst of it, Edward got a cold and Keith started with a runny nose and coughing last night.   You can bet that they've been restless most nights, which never bodes well for Edward and my immunity.

Regardless, the show must go on to some extent - although Dance Class tomorrow is sadly out of the cards.  Maybe I'm feeling a little ungenerous, but I seem to be among the minority of parents who believe that knowingly bringing my infectious children out in public is not acceptable; then again, they probably haven't experienced the joy of three sick two year olds.   Although Colin is just learning to blow his nose, which is a huge help.  Maybe the other two will get the idea.  In any case, yesterday was the dreaded but long overdue Hair Cut day.  Edward and Nana and Opa had the enviable task of assisting, with the results below (graced with a touch of bedhead).   Keith actually did better than previous attempts, although that might have been partially because of the lollypop they gave him.  Evelyn was so proud to have her hair cut that she felt compelled to announce it repeatedly.  Colin managed to rally himself after they draped him with the cape, and did very well, too.  It helps that the staff is experienced and very patient!