Transitions

My 3 yr old son is one of those kids who needs help with change and transition.  He can't be forced into something new, so we usually just have to let him take his time adjusting to things.  For example, when we were moving him to his own "boys" room, we took time putting the bed in first, letting him play in there for a couple of days, having him help us paint, then finally letting him sleep in there.  Actually, he didn't have a very hard time adjusting. 

Maybe I'm the one that needs help transitioning. Getting used to my kids growing up and being able to do things for themselves, transitioning my mindset to having 4 kids instead of 3, learning to live with my office in the kitchen instead of my own office, etc.  I guess some things we never outgrow and have to keep working on!

Pregnancy schizophrenia

I've hit that stage of pregnancy schizophrenia.  The stage where in alternating minutes you have the thoughts "I'm in no way prepared for this baby to come" and "Man, I hope this baby comes soon so I can get started on the next phase of life".  I'm pretty sure this is going to go back and forth until the day the baby is actually born.  At least I've finally left the stage of denial I've been in for the past 8-1/2 months of "What baby? Am I pregnant?" I've got to get prepared someday soon!

Those magic moments

You gotta love those magic moments.  The ones that make your heart kind of melt and remind you how much you love your family and how thankful you are for them.  Here are some of them for me.

-Coming into the bedroom after walking/exercising early in the morning to see all 3 kids sitting with my husband as they wake up.
-Having my 3 year old boy wrap his arms around my pregnant belly and tell me he's giving his Baby Brother a hug.
-My 5 year old saying she has a surprise for me downstairs, dreading what I'll see, and finding out she cleaned up the basement without being asked.
-Seeing my husband reading to all the kids on the couch.
-Giant spontaneous hugs from my almost 2 yr old.
-Hearing all my children laughing, yelling and playing chase together without fighting.

Those are the kind of moments that make it all worth it.  What are some of yours?

The inevitable question

So my 5 year old daughter finally asked the inevitable question of her pregnant mother.  No, she didn't ask where babies came from.  But she did look at me kind of funny after breakfast today and say "So, how does the baby get out?"  With her, my 3 year old son and my 1 year old daughter staring at me, I paused as I quickly thought of all the different ways I could answer the question.  Do I give her graphic details? Do I lie? Do I make up a story that explains what a beautiful thing childbirth is? Is there a perfect response to this question?

I settled with telling her that some people have their stomachs cut open for the baby to come out, with medicine given to them so it doesn't hurt and they can't feel it.  I told her girls have a place near where they pee where the baby comes out. It's kind of like when you poop.  They thought it was hilarious to think you kind of poop out a baby.  When they're a little bit older, I'm sure I can have a proper discussion with them about how babies are born, but for now, I think they really just wanted to know in basics.  It caught me off guard.  Hopefully I haven't scarred their views of childbirth and their proper scientific learning for life!