trunk and treat

I am admittedly a Halloween Scrooge. It's the one holiday Dan and I just aren't huge fans of- and quite honestly I'd be perfectly happy to skip right over it so we could get to Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations sooner. But, the one Halloween'y thing we did do was Trunk and Treat at church which JP loved. I'm hoping I can get a few more years in where he still believes candy is "acky" and is perfectly happy passing it out instead of eating it (the child has never had a piece in his short little life and I'm all about keeping that up as long as possible...). He also loved the hay ride, pumpkin-picking, stroller rides with Pop and Nanna and looking at the ponies and fire trucks... all enough to distract him from the fact that it was prime-nap-time. We had a great time while Dan continued to make progress on the addition (today was all about insulation...), but now lets get going on the REAL holiday season!

{fall fun: ACORNS}

ebb & flow

For anyone who knows me, even casually, they would know that this week marked the beginning to my 8 months of bliss- I've been singing the news from the roof tops because, lets face it, this maternity leave has been long-awaited and even more so needed. And so on Monday Jackson and I began our new routine- which will be short-lived because I'm sure Audrey will insist on creating new routines for all of us when she arrives shortly, but for now, we're pretty happy with the flexibility our new-found freedom is giving us. And while we're only 2 days into this, those 2 days couldn't have been any more different... let me illustrate:


"Maternity Leave Monday" as I like to think of it as was all that not working should include in my opinion:
-JP got to wake up on his own time
-A pedicure
-Shopping (including multiple Christmas outfit changes for Audrey)
-Cooking 
-Organizing
-A lot of play time with Jackson
-A trip to the library


And then there was today, Tuesday:
-I had to wake JP up early to get ready for my weekly DR's appointment after a night where I would estimate I slept for maybe 2 full hours (horrible, horrible back pain)
-I had to drive Dan's massive (and loud, diesel) truck (see below for why) to my appointment  
-Dan's aforementioned massive truck was too tall to fit into the DR's parking garage and too long for the street parking... this resulted in this 9 month pregnant lady driving around for 30 minutes to finally find a spot that was a 20 minute walk to the DR (with a very full bladder I might add)
-I then had my appointment which revealed that I am 1cm dilated (which is great) & Audrey is head-down (also great), but the exam to figure this out is not a lot of fun
-Post-DR I then drove the loud truck north of the city to pick up our new furnace for the addition- after being sent to 4 different people in 2 different buildings I finally found the furnace 
-Finally I picked up my little man who apparently decided today was a no-nap day


It's funny (at least it is now, hours later) how completely opposite my first days of mat-leave-vacay have gone, but the thing is that it's totally to be expected... I'm finding just how much life and energy can ebb and flow when you're this pregnant. I'm learning to take advantage of the days, like Monday, when I have endless energy to nest away and to find patience (with life and with myself) on days like today when I am needing to take it hour by hour. 


Luckily, no matter what happens, having it happen with this little guy around makes it all worthwhile... and hilarious, entertaining and amazing all at once.

my little diva

Like any good diva, Audrey has decided to arrive in her own way... early! Yesterday I had my weekly DR appointment to check on her progress and my doctor informed me that due to Audrey's anticipated size (similarly to her big brother's) they would recommend that I not go full-term. Therefore, if she is not already here by the 9th of November, I will be induced early that morning- which is a week earlier than her original due date. 


This means a few things:
1. We get to meet our beautiful Audrey earlier than expected- GREAT thing!
2. My last day in the office is now TOMORROW instead of next Friday- GREAT thing!
3. We now have at least a week less to finish the house- NOT a great thing, BUT totally okay.


Dan is in the midst of working a new demanding assignment that he began on Monday where he has an incredibly long commute and is working longer hours, including some weekends, so needless to say most work has been put on pause on the house because quite frankly he has zero time. I'm hoping that Audrey's arrival will also present a much-needed break for him from his duties at work so he can relax and totally soak up his soon-to-be 2 perfect children (and wife, of course)!