I've decided that boys just really love their mama's. So much so, in fact, that they will stay inside their mama's so that they can have them all to themselves. When I was pregnant with Rori, the doctor shocked me at 38 weeks and said he wanted to schedule an induction because he felt at that point she was safer outside than in (I think he feared something happening because of what happened with Faith and wanted to make sure that we got our healthy baby). Anyway, we scheduled an induction for just past 39 weeks. Bill and I were super excited and planned out our last week or so. Well, 5 days before my induction date, my water broke. We were shocked and excited. Apparently Rori was as ready to meet us as we were to meet her.



Moving on to Liam. I hoped he would come early as well, especially because the last few weeks of pregnancy aren't so fun. The last month or so everytime I got checked I was another centimeter dilated. Then I would have contractions at night and we'd call my mom and Bill's mom and tell them to be on alert! It could be tonight. Then I'd lay down and fall asleep and nothing would happen. Finally I was 4 centimeters and we scheduled an induction. Fortunately he cooperated, but frankly, I think if we hadn't given him his eviction notice, he'd still be in there.



That brings me to this baby. At 37 weeks I was 3.5 centimeters dilated. The doctor told me not to wait too long to go to the hospital and I probably won't make it to my induction date. He scared me a little because he said that normally he tells people to go to the hospital when contractions are 5 minutes apart, but I should go at 10 minutes apart, because it may happen fast. This is especially scary because I am all about getting my epidural before any serious pain starts :) So...yesterday at work, my contractions were 10 minutes apart for an hour. I left work to pack my bag and shower, and this little boy, much like his brother did, changed his mind. The contractions eased off to about one every 30 minutes. So here I am today. Waiting. and Waiting. and eating--because what else is there to do when you're waiting? I have come to terms that the doctor was wrong and I will probably be serving this baby his eviction notice on October 5th. I guess he just wants to keep his mama all to himself. That's what I know about boys and their mama's.

Frank and the farm

Last weekend we went up to the farm by my parents house. The main attraction for the kids was Frank the Combine. He is a character in the Cars movie and the farm had painted their combine to look like him and were offering rides. Liam talked about riding Frank for a couple weeks before it opened. Fortunately he wasn't disappointed. Here are some pictures from our fun day.

How cool is Frank?

Liam sat on Papa's lap to ride Frank. He thought it was great! I didn't go on the ride because I knew it would be bumpy and the idea of a bouncy ride, almost 9 months pregnant, with a baby sitting directly on my bladder didn't sound like fun...Rori thought it was pretty cool too, but really I just wanted to show off her curls in this picture ;)

Grandma Rose and Baba Hoo Hoo rode too!

Riding Frank was tiring...but Grandpa knows just what will give them the energy for the rest of the day...

...fresh baked apple cider donuts!!!

Rori and Liam went for barrel train rides--my baby girl insisted on going by herself!

Papa folded himself into a pretzel to ride with Liam

Of course we had to do the inflatables. Rori has no fear climbing up or sliding down!

Liam was pretty brave too...but

Papa insisted on going too, "just in case Liam got scared."

Then they played in the "sandbox" of corn. You wouldn't even begin to believe how filthy they were from that. Thank goodness grandma let us give them a bath when we got back to their house!

It was a fun, but tiring day! We can't wait to go back. Hopefully we will be able to get back one more time before the baby comes!

Rori's first day!

Today was Rori's first day of pre-school, and I had been trying not to think about it. I was worried because I didn't think she would know anyone and it is just the park district preschool, not a big fancy one. Rori is just so innocent and I worry about the influences that others might have over her, and the things she might pick up from being around other kids. I would love to keep her in her innocent bubble for as long as possible. Last night Rori wasn't able to sleep, I could tell she was very apprehensive. She told me she didn't want to go, she wanted to stay home with me. Before I went to bed last night I prayed over her that she would have a good day and meet some new friends.

This morning, she seemed less nervous. I read her the book, "The Kissing Hand" which is about a little raccoon that goes to school for the first day and his mama kisses his hand and it stays with him all day. The book comes with little stickers to put on your child's hand. I kissed Rori's hand and put a sticker on it and told her that if she was lonely to look at her hand and remember my kiss was with her. She then kissed my hand and gave me a sticker and said it was "in case I got lonely for her." Tears started to fall then--but I managed to hide them from her.

This is her showing off her kissing hand sticker

We took pictures before school and she seemed excited. Papa left for work late so that he could come with to bring her to school. When we got there, we found her cubby for her backpack and she spotted a friend! She said, "Mommy, that girl went to Cubbies and Vacation Bible school!" I was so relieved and was thanking God for that. I brought her over to the little girl and asked if she remembered Rori, and she said she did. Then we kissed Rori goodbye. Liam took it the worst :) He wanted to stay and play with her. He even joined the circle of kids.

When it was time to pick her up, the teacher opened the door and some kids came running out, Rori didn't, so I peeked in and she was with her friend. She was happy to see me, but also had clearly had a good time with her friend. I was so relieved! I'm so thankful that the recent transitions that we've been having have been going so smoothly. God has really been taking care of us, because if that wasn't the case I think I might lose it at this stage of pregnancy :)