Magrilless

And my right side. Looks a lot like the left — big. I have at least had some comfortable nights sleeping lately. Propped up with enough pillows I can be on my back. Ish. So now I at least have three different sleeping options to cycle through. My stomach and bladder are a lot smaller than I remember them being, and I occasionally have someone punch a nerve that takes out my right leg. But other than that, it’s just a waiting game now. I’m spending a lot of time with my hands on my belly, trying to remember that I will miss certain things later on, like following a body part move from one side to the other. I did try a little bit of hopscotch, and no labor yet. So I guess I’ll wait a couple of days before trying again. Oh, and still at 13 squares.

Speaking of Biangi being born, perhaps some of you out there would like to participate in the guessing game. At my baby shower this weekend we started a betting calendar for when the birthday will be and if out will pop Tessa or Liam. So if you’d like to add your guess (for a pound of fudge to the winner), leave it in a comment here and I’ll update the calendar as guesses come in. Happy betting, everyone!

A selection of photos from Maggie’s birthday last week. She looks pretty happy, no? Yep, she’s pretty much just a happy kid. She had her doctor check-up a few days later and is also a healthy kid. She took her book about Farley going to the doctor and thought it was pretty neat to have Dr. Lisa do all the things to her that happen to Farley in the book. Except for the shots. That wasn’t so neat, and she tells me sometimes now that she doesn’t like shots. But she was very brave when they happened and clung to her lollipop and remembers that shots keep you from having to go to the hospital later. She is 37.5 inches tall and 38 pounds (which puts her in the 60-somethingth and 90-somethingth percentiles) and developing normally in all good ways.

And now, some business to attend to. I generally try not to post anything that will garner me hate mail, but here goes and hopefully y’all will be in forgiving-type moods. This will be the last Maggnificent Monday. Since we are very soon adding on to the family unit, I’m anticipating a drop in my free time and motivation. (Did someone in the audience yell out “plummet!”?) This is not to say that I’m abandoning the blog or anything; just the planned, scheduled, regimented postings that sometimes make me dread the day of the week. Maybe we’ll have Two for Tuesdays or something. We’re just gonna play it by ear.

But I promise to still tell you about things like tonight: In her bath she was spouting nonsense words, one of which happened to also be a molecule (acac, for those who want to know). Bill drew it on the tub for her (“first an M, then two lollipops on top, polka dots that rollercoaster from one lollipop to the other, then we write in the negative charge”). And Maggie repeated his instructions and copied the molecule next to his. And when we put her in bed she kept asking for “the bow one.” So I brought her the board that teaches you how to tie shoes. “No, bow one.” So I gave her the fabric book that has a shoe to tie and hair to braid and buttons to button and those sorts of things. “No, bow one. I’ll show you.” And she took into bed her periodic table of the elements where her favorite element is boron. Duh, Mom and Dad; what kind of child did you think you were raising?

Term, baby! I’ve made it all the way. If it starts now, we go through with it and end up with a baby at the end. Whew and good grief. Okay, so let’s get this show on the road.

I think we’re good to go. Biangi’s room is all set up; crib, dresser with clothes, a few diapers and wipes, drapes on the windows, rug on the floor. Bassinet is at the ready in our room. Car seat is strapped down next to Maggie’s in the car. Our bag is packed for the hospital. Grandparents are on call. Okay, so let’s get this show on the road.

Except I keep thinking that once this kid is out I can sleep again. Be comfortable while asleep, maybe, but sleeping ing general. . . So I guess there’s one thing left to do: align my expectations with reality!

P.S. I forgot to mention I’m holding steady at 13 squares. Thank goodness I’m not getting any huger!

Today she took a special treat to school, which Mags helped me cook, made Great Bill’s sticky buns for breakfast with us, and we’ll watch a robot movie over her dinner of lasagna and banana cake with peanut butter frosting. There’ll be presents to open and some friends dropping by. And I think she’ll have a pretty good day. 3!

I’m at 13 squares, folks! I never made it that far with Maggie. I guess Biangi’s going for the bigger sibling award. I think I’ll never make it to my December 19th due date (just a feeling), so it’s probably less than four weeks until we get to meet this little bugger. I’ve packed our hospital bag, warned Maggie’s teacher that grandparents could be picking her up or dropping her off, and prepped Maggie for waking up to Baka Sue and Scotty in the house and Mommy and Daddy gone. Biangi’s room now has only his or her furniture, a rug, and drapes; all that’s left to do is change out the outlets in there (they are kind of, um, exposed at the moment). And then beef up my iron count, which is pretty low (FYI: craving ice cubes is a sign of iron deficiency — who knew?).

I’m ready. Sort of. I mean, my body is certainly ready to be over this. And my stamina is waning daily. I feel like it better come soon so I have the wherewithall to take care of a newborn and a three-year-old. Feeling like it’s time to have a new baby in the house, however, is a different question. Yikes, there will be some changes around here! I guess. Right? Of course.