I’m not sure how it happened (i.e. how I got so lucky), but Zoe’s new favorite game is “massage.” While she enjoys being the recipient of a little foot or arm rub, what she really likes is playing the role of masseuse: she’s constantly running up to us with lotion (which she calls soap) and offering foot rubs. Given the state of my swollen feet these days, the timing couldn’t be better. And I have to say, she’s actually pretty good – and far less expensive than a spa!

-M

Though this early part of maternity leave is supposed to be about resting and getting pre-Poppy things done around the house, it’s also giving me some (fun) one-on-one time with Zoe. One highlight from our time together so far was Mon. afternoon, when we had an impromptu sing-along; luckily, I had the camera to capture some of it.

-M

At Michelle’s latest Dr’s appointment they came up with a Poppy plan. As most of you know Michelle has ITP and needs to have extra monitoring (even though everything has looked great so far). Combined with the fact that Zoe had some blood complications at birth, the Dr thought a planned delivery may be the best way to go for Poppy.

The new plan is if Poppy doesn’t come naturally by next Friday, we’ll schedule an induction. That means we are only 10 days or so away from Poppy! Zoe is especially excited to meet her baby sister…

Jon Q

You know how aging pro athletes – football players, especially – talk about feeling like old men when they wake up in the morning? (Brett Favre, for example, has gone on at length about how difficult it is to get out of bed – because of limb and muscle pain.) Well, I totally feel for these guys as I enter the home stretch of my own pregnancy – though my discomfort happens at night, not in the morning. Starting around 5 PM each day, my body feels like it’s about to shut down, with stomach discomfort, lower back pain and swollen (occasionally throbbing) feet taking over. It’s also increasingly tough to get up from a sitting or lying position; I often feel like an old woman myself as I struggle to stand up and move around…

My complaints are nothing unique, I know, but I had forgotten how this phase of pregnancy feels. Lucky for me (and unlike those aging athletes), these ailments should disappear in a few short weeks!

-M

We had so much fun on Sat. morning that we decided to head back to Union Street yesterday. This time, Zoe got to ride on an airplane, jump around with her friend Zander, and eat fair food the way it was meant to be enjoyed: on the street. Check her out below.

-M

One of my favorite summer fairs is the Union Street Festival; we went last year and had a lot of fun strolling and playing around. This year’s festival kicked off yesterday morning, and the three of us once again made an appearance. I had the most fun (over)eating and shopping (we got some great deals on clothes for Poppy), but Zoe seemed to enjoy the teacups and Sesame Street bouncy house the most. Here are some pics.

-M

Meal-time with Zoe is an occasional source of frustration for me. Now that she’s a bit older, she’s also a bit pickier – and she’s been known to turn up her nose at many food items placed before her. (Having her reject something I just spent time making is particularly irritating.) This afternoon, though, she did quite the opposite. I prepared a banana shake – something she hasn’t had before – and asked for her thoughts after her first sip. She was quiet for a second and I was convinced she didn’t like it (it had very little sugar, after all) – but then she broke into a big smile. “Dee-licious,” she declared happily – just about making my day.

-M

While Michelle was at her weekly Dr’s appointment leading up to Poppy, Zoe and I stayed home. This morning Zoe wanted to have a “hair day”, so of course I helped. Here she is with her hair all done up!

Jon Q

I had to smile when I saw the headline – “How can a man cope with his moody pregnant wife?” – on a favorite blog of mine. The blogger went on to discuss the challenges of dealing with a pregnant woman’s mood swings and told the story of a husband who said of his wife, “It’s like I don’t even know her anymore.” The writer also recalled how she once majorly flipped out when, during her third trimester, she couldn’t enjoy a twice-baked potato when she wanted one. (It was, of course her husband’s fault.)

I know more than anyone how moody/irrational/crazy/ pregnancy can make someone; sadly, I think I’m more susceptible to hormonal ups-and-downs than the average woman. Poor Q has dealt with his fair share of ranting and raving and even tantruming, and I thank my lucky stars that he has taken everything in stride – never losing his patience (or, at least, never showing it) and always accepting my later apologies and hugs. I’m not sure how he puts up with me – but I’m glad he has. And I look forward to the day when hormones don’t cause me to freak out over something as small as a twice-baked potato!

-M

So, it’s official: I’m on maternity leave. My last day of work was today, and I’m not expected back at the office for another four months. A good friend/co-worker asked me this morning if I was excited, and I wasn’t sure what to say. I am, I guess, but despite all the planning and having been through this before, it all feels sort of surreal. It will probably take the baby’s arrival for it to sink in that I’m on leave and how much my life is about to change (again!); until then, I’m hoping for a little time to relax, get more organized and spend quality time with my otherbaby.

-M

Zoe has been known to slip into my shoes or Q’s shoes from time to time, but she hasn’t shown a big interest in playing dress-up with our clothes. Last night, though, she decided she wanted to wear “Daddy’s pajamas” instead of her own, and she managed to pull herself into Q’s white tee (size XL) and lounging pants. After prancing around the house for awhile, she kept saying “cheese,” so we figured we should take a picture.

-M

There are certain milestones that a pregnant woman finds herself relieved to have hit. Among them: the end of the first trimester (when the risk of miscarriage dramatically drops), the mark of viablility (when the baby, technically, could survive outside the womb), and then the 37-week mark (when the baby is considered full-term). I remember feeling particularly happy about reaching the first two, and now I’m in awe over the fact that I’ve hit the last! The baby, so to speak, is fully cooked – and it would seem there isn’t much to do but wait…

With that said, the shrinking countdown doesn’t mean I’m just sitting around like a cool cucumber. In fact, my head has been filled with lots of nagging questions/concerns these past weeks – and my worries seem to be lumped into three handy categories:

-Labor: What if I go into labor early? What if the pain is worse than last time? What if my platelets aren’t high enough, or I get to the hospital too late, for my (very necessary) epidural?

-Baby: What if something is wrong with the baby? What if I don’t love her as much as Zoe? (And: how can I possibly love her as much as Zoe?) What if she is colicky or unhappy all the time – i.e. the exact opposite of how Zoe was?

-Zoe: What if Zoe feels abandoned, unloved and/or sad after her sister’s arrival? What if I never get to spend quality time with her? What if I always feel a little guilty for disturbing our happy family of three?

I know these thoughts are so not unique, and I try to keep in mind that something good is about to happen. Besides, I also worried a lot (about labor, the baby, etc.) the first time around – and things turned out pretty well!!

-M

Q and I have been a little lazy with the whole potty-training thing, but we recently decided to make a last-minute push (no pun intended) before the new baby arrives. After a couple of promising attempts, Zoe went the entire day without diapers or accidents yesterday. And when she woke up this morning, the first thing she said to me was, “I’m wet. Will you change me, Mommy?” (The first thing she normally asks for is milk.) It feels like this is the beginning of the end of the diaper era, and I’m pretty excited about it – but not for the reasons you might think. My happiness has less to do with the hassle of changing her (which, after 2.5 years, I’m used to) and more to do with the pride I see on Zoe’s face every time she does her “big girl” thing. She gets so excited when we praise her, and you can tell she feels good about pleasing us. (She also, in turn, likes to cheer us on: over the weekend, she started clapping when she saw me going to the bathroom. “Good job, Mommy!”)

I know we’ve got some more work to do, and there’s a (good) chance Zoe will regress when the baby arrives. But for now: I’m a pretty proud mama.

-M

Yesterday morning the three of us took a Wonderbug Adventures class at Stern Grove, just down the street. The theme was caterpillars and butterflies, and Zoe learned all about cocoons and metamorphosis, danced around like a butterfly and went on a little nature hike. (Illustrating just what an urban kid she is, Zoe wondered aloud whether we would see any “choo-choos” – i.e. street-cars – in the woods.) Though we didn’t spot any real butterflies (too chilly for them to be out, I guess), Zoe did get nice and close to a banana slug. Her assessment of him? “He’s wet. He needs a bath.”

-M

Given that Zoe has watched entire movies at home, and has sat on airplanes for as long as six hours, we figured she was more than ready to go see a movie in the theater. It was her dad’s idea for us to go see Up (the new Pixar flick) yesterday morning, and I’m so glad he suggested it! The movie was fantastic (and more than a little touching), and Zoe sat through it like a champ. She became restless about 30 min. in (“It’s time to go,” she said to us more than once), but she then settled down and enjoyed the rest of the show.

Q and I used to go to tons of movies before Zoe was born, and I’m excited we have a new theater companion!

-M