Swimming, swimming, and more swimming

Zoe is a fish. If we let her... she would have been in PopPop and Grammy's pool 24 hours a day the whole week we were in Florida. One morning she was literally in the water for over 4 hours straight. The only time she was out during those 4 hours was to head to the potty (because I have the only child in the whole wide world that absolutely refuses to even think about peeing in the pool. She won't even do it when Mommy and Grammy tell her to so we don't have to get out to take her inside the air-conditioned house. PopPop is very happy about that though).

Not only does Zoe think she's a fish... she thinks she can swim like an Olympian. She likes to wear her swimming jacket and swim all by herself. She also thinks she can swim without it, though. One day while I was in the shower Zoe actually decided that she should take the jacket off and jump right into the pool. Grammy said she was under the water kicking away with her eyes wide open... kinda looking like "what happened here?" Grammy was standing right next to the pool watching her and jumped in (fully dressed) and got her right out. Zoe didn't shed one tear... she was ready to jump right back in. The next day she even told me she wanted to take her jacket off again. She informed me "I need to take it off so I can go down and touch the bottom again!" So we WILL be signing up for swim lessons again very soon.

Some pictures of my fish and her swimming companions.

Zoe swam at night.
Zoe swam with PopPop.
Zoe swam with Jim and Avery.
Zoe swam with Grammy.

Zoe swam with Mommy.

And look! Because so many people can't believe I'm already over 31 weeks pregnant... here is proof. Would you just look at that belly!!!

Oh, and guess who was the first person to skinny dip in PopPop and Grammy's pool!
Sometimes I think we need a pool in our backyard too. But... we'll settle for joining the town pool. That way... I don't have to do any of the work involved in pool care.

Florida Vacation... or Big Sister Training 101?

Zoe and I had a great time on our trip to visit Grammy, PopPop, Nanny, Pop George, Uncle Jim, Aunt Erica, Avery and Grace. The weather in Orlando was gorgeous. We did some swimming, a little beach visit, some swimming, some 5th birthday partying, some swimming, some cousin playing, and some swimming. Did I mention we did some swimming? (Swimming will have to be a whole post on it's own.)

In addition to the fun we had... it seems that Zoe wanted to spend a little time making sure she practiced up on her big sister/little mommy skills. There are many things that she believes she needs to be doing for a baby whenever present. And when I say needs I mean Zoe announces "I NEED TO ... ". She is going to take this big sister job very seriously it seems.

I NEED TO KISS BABY GRACE!
I NEED TO HOLD BABY GRACE!
I NEED TO GIVE BABY GRACE HER BINKY!
I NEED TO PUSH BABY GRACE IN THE SWING!
I NEED TO GIVE BABY GRACE HER BOTTLE!
I NEED TO HOLD BABY GRACE'S HAND WHILE WE WATCH TV!
I NEED TO CHANGE BABY GRACE'S DIAPER!

Zoe is adamant with her need to help. Even if Grace was crying her little head off Zoe would insist "Grammy, Baby Grace is crying. I need to hold her, right now!" Aren't most kids turned off by baby crying? It was like Zoe was attracted.

All I can say is it looks like I'm in for a wee bit of trouble. I'm looking forward to having an excited little helper. At the same time I'm really hoping that since Zoe's baby sister will be with us 24 hours a day 7 days a week forever that some of the novelty will wear off quickly and Zoe will let her baby have a little bit of peace now and again.

I guess time will tell!

30 Week Update

Another 2 weeks of this pregnancy have flown by. 30 weeks (although as I write this it's more like 30 1/2 weeks).

My OB appointment on Friday was same old stuff. Everything is normal. Urine, blood pressure, heart beat. My weight actually stayed the same as the last appointment. I'm not sure how that's possible considering I feel and look bigger... but it works for me.

The big news of this weeks appointment is that we have set a date for the c-section (Zoe was an unexpected c-section... I'm quite happy knowing in advance this time). If all goes as planned we will become a family of four on July 15th (just 2 short weeks after Zoe's 3rd birthday!) It's a strange feeling to "pick" a birthday (although I didn't really "pick" as much as take the first day they were offering to schedule us). Of course, this little girl could always have other plans and come earlier. I sure hope she stays put until planned... as it is I can't believe we only have a little over 8 weeks to go. I will say that having an actual date has made me feel the need to shift gears in the preparing. I mean.... 8 WEEKS!!!!

As for how I'm actually feeling... I have felt VERY pregnant in the last couple of weeks.

While I was in Florida I was convinced I was going to have to head to the hospital. I just felt so horrible one night. It felt like the baby was putting all of her weight right on the spot where my last c-section incision/scar is. Just laying right there. I can say what it felt like was nothing like contractions... but I can also say the pressure and pushing was horribly uncomfortable (cramping? maybe braxton hicks?). I had moments of thinking she was just going to push right out through the scar. I barely slept... and when I did wake in the morning I was beyond relieved to feel more like my normal pregnant self. I haven't felt anything like it since, thank goodness.

I'd swear this baby girl is doing somersaults already. I feel most of her kicks (or jabs) under my ribs on the right side... and at my left hip. I'll feel pokes in both places at the same time quite a bit... so I feel like she's in there just stretching out diagonally. This little one seems to be constantly in motion.

Just this weekend I was able to press on the right side of my tummy and I felt a response of a press back. I would poke, poke, poke... and she would poke, poke, poke right back. And it was just the little press back... I could feel an actual little bone part (maybe a foot? or an elbow?). Such a surreal feeling.

The "nursery" is still Zoe's room. I was hoping Zoe would be in her "big girl room" this week... but it's just not ready. All of the last minute details are coming together (like getting the curtains and liners hemmed, emptying our stuff from the closets and putting Zoe's stuff in, etc. etc. etc.) and Zoe should transition into her new room next weekend (fingers crossed!). After that we'll start freshening up the nursery for the baby.

We're moving right along. Now... if we could just figure out what we might name this new little girl we'd be set. Any ideas?