Excitement and Dread

we have officially hit the month of march and hopefully will be meeting our sweet little girl, face to face, this month. we are 23 days away from the due date but who's counting. i'm feeling as though i can't possibly get much bigger...and so many people are willing to point that out to me as well :).
i am getting very excited to finally see our zoe and begin life as a family of four but boy am i beginning to dread going through labor. i can only pray that this time it is not as long and it sure would be fabulous if i can do most of the laboring at home. with malachi i was induced (cause he was going to be so huge i was told...and yes he was only 7lbs 10oz...never again will i believe the size estimations i hear) i would really love it if we don't have to go through that again.
last week at my regular weekly appointment my midwife heard some decelerations in zoe's heartbeat and wanted to follow up with monitoring at the hospital. when i arrived at the hospital at 3pm they checked me into labor and delivery triage and i didn't actually leave until 5:30! heartbeat sounded fine, everything was fine...just sent me into a bit of an emotional roller coaster even though i am well aware that decelerations are very normal. we are just grateful everything looks great and continue to pray that she arrives healthy and strong.

the ABC's

yesterday i went out to the garage and grabbed a few books from my old 'teaching stash' since malachi is outgrowing the smaller board books and is interested in longer stories now. this book, alphabet mystery, is one i pulled out and read to him 2 times yesterday and this afternoon i caught him reading the first part on his own...going through the ABC's! as you may be able to tell from my response I was slightly surprised at how many he was able to say. i was actually in the kitchen making lunch when i heard him go through it the first time (saying more of the letters at the beginning) so i quickly pulled out the camera to catch it again.

now that i am no longer babysitting multiple days during the week, malachi and i are developing a new routine. we've been going for walks each morning. for the first part malachi rides his tricycle around the block one or two times while rafiki enjoys the slow pace so she can sniff anything and everything she wants to. then we put the tricycle away and get out the stroller for the longer faster paced part of our walk.
it has been a lot of fun spending this time with malachi. he has yet to use the pedals on his tricycle but i am sure that will come in no time. he always wants to wear his hat and bring a few of his cars or trains in the back of his trike. and to think, in a couple months his little sister will get to join in on the fun!
speaking of...i am now 33 weeks along and, according to many people i see on the street, looking like i am ready to pop anytime (why is it that people feel so free to comment on the large size of a pregnant belly?!) i saw my midwife today and everything is looking good. we actually put the infant car seat in the car this weekend (maybe due to some wishful thinking on my part that maybe our little girl will come early...not too early though of course). besides feeling very large i have been having major sciatica nerve pain. hopefully that will not continue after i can borrow a maternity belt (...thanks allison :))

THE favorite toy...Thomas!

Malachi has discovered Thomas and loves it! This is his new favorite thing to play with. Thomas in the morning, noon and night. Thank you Ishams...Jason, Ali, Hayden, Dave and Carol...the combination of your gifts has begun the addiction :)

Morning Prayer

"Jesus, Jesus please (bless) this food. Amen"

Watching "This Old House" with Grandpa

We are still alive

we got back on jan 2 from our trip to texas and hit the ground running. this seems to be the first time i have had the chanc or at least that i have thought about updating. i'll keep it short since i am babysitting right now. here are a few pictures of the cousins enjoying time together.