Running in Place

We just finished enjoying one of our final weekends together as a threesome (plus puppy). While we eagerly await the newest Vanneste, we also wanted to embrace the time we have together now. On Saturday, we headed downtown to check out the town festival. What fun! It was so kid-friendly, not too crowded, AND not too hot. We ran into many friends from daycare and Fiona had a great time seeing the gang. She and her friend B even participated in the "Toddler Trot" race together. Fiona won her heat ... and hasn't stopped running since.

She loves the Olympics ... especially the swimming. So we figured when that was over, her interest would wane. Who knew that track & field is the new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!?!? She LOVES the track events and runs laps around the house while watching the races. We relish every pitter patter on the floor and think of the days during my pregnancy when we worried that she wouldn't even walk! The only drawback is that every one of Fiona's "races" ends with her purposefully crashing into something ... the slider, the couch, Yogi, my legs, Mike's legs .... toddler track is a dangerous sport!

The other kid seems perfectly content in utero. We are 39 weeks today and while we are probably the least prepared people you will ever meet for welcoming a baby, we are ready for me to be done being pregnant. My appointment today showed the slightest progress in this baby moving out and we're thrilled. Progress is progress. Think baby thoughts for us ... although maybe we'll wait until after our neighborhood party tomorrow night. Fiona is quite jazzed for it and I wouldn't want to upset her party plans!

Pool Party

When I picked Fiona up from daycare today, she informed me that she wanted to play in her pool tonight. I told her "maybe," so she worked on her dad when we got home. He's an easier sell than me and headed outside to fill up her turtle for after dinner.

We did have a very fun time. She knows how to plan an evening of entertainment! Now, if we could just convince her that 1) the grass clippings on her feet are okay and 2) they are NOT painful. Silly girl!

Number 2

Ha - bet you thought this was about Baby 2.0. But you're wrong! It's about the bodily function - number 2.

On Saturday, Fiona walked through our bedroom, into our bathroom, and firmly stated "I need to go potty." Needing to change the diaper anyway, we thought "what the heck." So I held her up on our potty - it was a bit precarious ... her being so small and me being 38 weeks pregnant and all. After we both decided it was a recipe for someone falling, I pulled her down. And two little poops rolled onto the floor. Saturday night, we headed to Target for a pink princess potty chair.

We got home and she promptly started crying because Daddy was taking WAY too long to put it together and she "hadda poopy." And as soon as Mike got that silly thing assembled, poop in it she did. She's sat on it twice more since and each time, we've had a successful poop. No number 1 yet - and still plenty of poop in the diaper ... but we are awfully proud of her!

She is also drinking from a big girl cup sometimes (when we have time to clean up the inevitable spills ... she forgets we can't wave it around). And naps have officially transitioned to the big girl bed. Our baby is growing so fast! We're proud and sad at the same time.

The other Number 2 (yes, this time the baby) is due in two weeks! The countdown is on!

The Dead Thing ... or the Melted Thing

The source of the "dead thing" smell has been identified ... and I'm thrilled to say that it wasn't something that was dead. Instead, it was our main circuit breaker melting!!! AGH!

We've been noticing some weird power pops, flashes, and outages in the past few weeks, but were blaming the transformer trying to keep up with everyone's AC. There was a huge storm last night and the power went out. That didn't seem too strange with all the lightning - until I got up this morning and there was power in our bathroom, but not our bedroom. So I woke Mike up with that joyous piece of news and headed to work.

He called me at 11:00 to tell me that he was finally heading to work after he, Grandpa, Buggy, and public utilities had spent the morning cutting power to our house and replacing the main breaker. Thankfully Grandpa is an electrician, there were two of them to help keep the toddler from electrocuting herself, and the house didn't burn down. Hopefully that is our last bit of excitement until Baby comes! I don't think Mike can take much more.

Practicing Listening

We've been working hard at day care and home on Fiona's "listening ears" - because she's pretty sure that listening to adults is an optional activity. I learned yesterday that in some ways, it's sinking in ...

Here is a conversation Fiona and I had while changing her diaper yesterday:

F: I need a pacifier.
S: No pacifier. You're a big girl.
F: Mommy, I need you to listen to me.
S: [trying not to laugh] Excuse me?
F: Do you need a time out?
S: [no response because I'm honestly doing everything I can not to laugh out loud]

For the record, I did not get a time out and she did not get a pacifier. What a silly girl!