I'm Still Here, and Still Pregnant!

Oh hi there, Blog! You might think that I've abandoned you, but truth be told I've just been too lazy to  dedicate my time to rambling on about my current life.  That, and there really has not been a whole lot to ramble on about lately.  I'm just kicking back, being really darn pregnant and waiting for the impending arrival of our second baby.  Like... really pregnant.  I'll be 38 weeks on Friday so this baby could realistically show up any day now, but given my luck I've probably got about 4 more weeks of waiting.  These days going out in public inspires enlightening comments such as "You are sure going to be busy!" and "Wow, you must be ready to have that baby any day now."  Tell me something that I don't know, random strangers.   

People also like to ask if we are "ready" for the baby to come.  Is that a thing? Does anyone actually ever feel fully prepared and ready for the arrival of a brand new human being that will be their full responsibility?!  Aaralee was born nearly 2 weeks past her due date and despite my eagerness to no longer be pregnant, nothing could have completely prepared me for her arrival.  I feel the same this time around.  Sure, we've got the essentials and our bags are packed, but to sit back and say that I'm totally ready for a major life change would be delusional.  I'll never be ready, but I'll embrace the change and learn as I go. One thing that I know for certain is that I'm ready to shower this little person with more love than he/she will ever be able to comprehend... big sister has given me plenty of practice in that department.  

Speaking of Aaralee... she's somehow morphed overnight from being my little baby to a walking, talking, big girl.  She is already 20 months old!   Two is looming on our horizon, and she's got the attitude and tantrums to prove it.  Fortunately, she makes up for her monster moments with sweet hugs and kisses and a level of adorable that shouldn't even be legal.  Her current favourite things in life are food (as always), trees, toy cars, walks ("gok"), Niko, and playing at the park.  Whenever I'm certain that she can't possibly get any cuter, she proves me wrong.  I'm pretty lucky to be her mommy.   

Between Mother's Day and May Long weekend, we've had a busy couple of weeks jam packed with family and friends. It's been fun, but from here on out I'm going to exercise my right to be lazy, anti-social, and to stay home eating cookies and watching movies with my little family.  I'm excited to become a family of 4, but I want to enjoy every final moment of Aaralee being our one and only. I bid you all farewell for now, and we'll meet again when I have a new little person to introduce you to!  

spring happenings

It's Spring time!!  I've traded my boots for flip flops and Aaralee has been very appreciative of the extra time spent playing outside.  Just ignore the fact that we woke up to a rather large dumping of snow yesterday. This is Alberta and it's to be expected.  

Life lately has been pretty uneventful, and in all honesty that is all that I could hope for right now.  I'm (very) pregnant and my energy levels are depleting more and more with each passing day. It's not easy hauling around a giant ball of a belly all day long!  It's hard to imagine that if this baby is born even 6 days ahead of schedule, we'll have a newborn THIS month.  Aaralee was born 2 weeks past her due date so I'm not anticipating an early arrival, but in the back of my mind I know that it's a very real possibility.  I suppose that I should probably clean my house or pre-make meals or maybe pack a hospital bag or something.  Maybe tomorrow.  

I've been trying to take advantage of these final weeks by spending as much time with my little girl as possible while she still has her only child status. We've been spending our days outside, playing at the  park and in our backyard.  Every day is a new adventure when you are a toddler! 

This age is so much fun. She learns something new every day and makes us laugh on a near-constant basis.  She's a little chatterbox, but whether any of it is comprehendible depends on the day.   She loves to run, jump, and first and foremost... she loves to eat. Anything, everything.  Every waking hour, this girl wants food.  While other toddler parents are struggling to get their kids to eat meals, we are trying to manage tantrums when food isn't ready fast enough.  There is no doubt about it, she takes after her Mommy and Daddy.   

Because she will soon be a big sister, we took her for her very first haircut today.  What a brave, brave girl... myself, that is.  I know that it's only hair, but this milestone was an emotional one for me.       She has a big girl haircut and with each passing day her babyhood is fading into a memory.  Aaralee had mixed feelings about the haircut.  There was the initial excitement to sit in the "car" chair, followed by panic as a stranger draped a cape over her, and then a slow return to calm as she watched TV and had a snack.  In the end, she got to play in a ball pit and life was good. 

Niko also got a long overdue haircut, and now both of my babies are fresh, clean, and ready to welcome the newest family member.  

It's hard to believe that there are only 4 (or maybe 6) weeks until we meet this new little human!  Our crazy little home is about to get even busier, and we can't wait!