When you least expect it...

I live in a small town where small talk reigns supreme but sometimes the most innocent remark or question can bring someone's world crashing down. This is what happened to the cashier who was ringing in my items yesterday at Walmart.

The interaction I witnessed between the cashier and a pal of hers who was going through another line:

Acquaintance: Hey Ronda! How's it going?

A smiling and relaxed Rhonda replies: Oh, not bad.

Acquaintance: So, any babies yet for you?

Rhonda looked completely crushed her cheeks instanly flushed bright red and obsviously holding back tears she simply shook her head no.

Acquaintance: Oh, Rhonda, I'm sorry. I didn't know.

Rhonda: You're not the first....

Silence.

I don't know the details but clearly there has been some trying and loss...

I stood there suddenly wishing I was not buying a little Take Along Thomas set for my little boy and a new bib and spoons for my little girl.

I just wanted to reach out and hug this woman who was clearly going through something really hard and sad. My heart truly went out to her because I felt like I could relate to her situation.

We TTC and lost three pregnancies to miscarriage before being blessed with two healthy pgs from which I gave birth to two beautiful, healthy children. The losses we suffered were awfully hard and so heartbreaking for me and my husband. Many times in those dark days following the devasting m/c's I found myself in Rhonda's shoes with a lump in my thoat and tears welling in my eyes in a public place because a curious and well meaning acqauintance asked the 'wrong' question.

Being in Walmart yesterday and hearing this conversation brought the memories of those sad times and my three tiny angels rushing back in an overwhelming way. I choked back tears for my own losses as well as for the heartbreak of the woman who stood before me.

I wish I could have talked to her, shared my story and listened to hers. I wish I could have offered her some comfort and hope, but was not my place to do that or say anything at all since I did not know her. I truly wanted let her know she is not alone but I didn't know how so I just bit my lip and quietly walked away as soon as my purchased were packed away in the grey bags.

The scenario I saw yesterday did get me thinking a lot about miscarriage - my own and those of so many others. I concluded that one of the hardest thing about this kind of loss is that there is no script for how we should act, react and what, if anything, we should say as a way to offer comfort and sympathy without offending or hurting the grief stricken mother. It's so hard...

Bone Marrow Donor Registry

I was on a message board playgroup this morning and I saw a post about a little boy my daughter's age (6 months) who has lukemia. How incredibly heartbreaking.

I followed the link to the boy's family website at www.trevorkott.com and was so moved that I went to the Canadian Blood Services site and got the process started to join the registry.

I couldn't believe how few people are a match for patients in need around the world. It only took me about 15 minutes to fill out the only form and it sounds like the rest of the process will be pretty easy too...

I just wanted to pass this along in case anyone else might want to think about joining your national registry and possibly saving a life.

This one's a keeper

For the last couple of weeks I have been on the hunt for a good oatmal cookie recipe. I finally found one.

These were really easy to make and taste super delicious. I made half with dried cranberries and the other half with chocolate chips - both are yummy!

3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar

1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries, cherries, or raisins or 1 cup white or dark chocolate chips or walnuts or pecans toasted and chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), cream the butter and sugar until creamy and smooth (about 2 - 3 minutes).

Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat until combined. Stir in the nuts, oats, and dried cranberries or chocolate chips.

For large cookies, use 1/4 cup of batter and space the cookies about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Then wet your hand and flatten the cookies slightly with your fingers so they are about 1/2 inch thick.

Bake the cookies for about 12 - 15 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges but still soft in the centers. Remove from oven and let the cookies cool a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.

Makes about 20 - 24 large cookies

This recipe comes from my new favorite baking recipe site: www.joyofbaking.com

The view today from my kitchen window

Our house selling saga continues...

Our realtor called us with another offer for our house yesterday. We are listed at 149,900, the house was appraised at 140,000 we hope to get somewhere in the middle.

These people offered 107,000! I think they must be on drugs. They are a young couple who came to look at it about a month ago. They came with 3 car loads of people, we think both sets of parents at least, and stayed less than 10 minutes. They said they hated our kitchen b/c the rest of the house was done (new floors/baseboards/paint, new furnace installed Oct 06, 5 appliances new in 2003, newer vinyl windows and siding) and really nice they didn't think it was worth the asking price since they'd have to reno the kitchen.

We know the kitchen needs to be updated but we've only lived here four years and new kitchen cabintes and flooring just have not been in our budget. So to them I send a big fat "Whatever..." they need to be told that around 145,000 is what the house is worth without a kitchen reno and 143,000 is a very good counter from us but I doubt anyone will tell them that.

We know they looked at other places after ours. Then they came back here about 2 weeks ago for a second viewing since there isn't really much great out there in this small town. Yesterday they came in with this insane offer -ack! We countered 143,000, which is as low as we'll go...We find out what they had to say to that tonight but we are expecting it to end there...we really hope they just go the heck away - idots!

Now, I don't know if it's all they were approved for or if they are just A-holes. We live in a small town and people know we're being transfered for work and it's not a secret that we're excited to get back to Ontario. Our house has been on the market for nearly 6 months on we only had one other offer last week which came in too low as well. (they offered 130,000, we countered 143,000, they came up to 137,000 we felt it was still too low so we just ended the negotation there. It's a long story but we think they may re-offer soon).

We think these 107,000 people thought they could smell a deal. WRONG! We also think that from their complaining to their agent about the kitchen needing a reno that they are deducting the cost of a kitchen and bath reno from our asking price to get to the 107. DUH! Our realtor told us their realtor tried to explain that their offer was way out of the ballpark and tried to convince them to start higher but they are stubborn.

The only reason we countered at the lowest we'll take is b/c DH thinks if we decline or start to 'play' the negotating game they'll waste everyone's time with stupid ass offers. I wanted to refuse it flat out or counter 147,000 but I think Dh's strategy makes sense and will put an end to the dinking around quickly.

Well, our doggie's got a new home

On Monday morning the man who DH brought our dog to meet the night before came by our house to pick her up and take her home. She was excited and I am sure a little confused when she hopped in his car and none of us joined them. It was so sad to see her go...her bowls, treats, cushion and leash were already neatly packed away for her big trip. It's hard to believe that I will probably never see her again.

DH and I are both relieved that we've found a great home for our pup. The man wanted a companion to pal around with all day and Ranger is certainly a dog who loves to be with people and go with you even for a ride to the store. We think it's a great match ands she'll have a much better life than we can offer her right now and for the next couple of years. Plus, she'll be living on a 40 acre farm with a huskie dog next door who is missing his old pal so it couldnt' be more perfect.

We left later that morning on our 18 hour road trip to Ontario. We made good time and the kids handled the long drive amazingly well. They both slept great in the hotel room and seem to be adjusting well to living in Nanna's house. We are here for a month long visit so it's worth taking such a long road trip.

I've been thinking about Rangie a lot and wondering how she is. DH will call the man's daughter tomorrow (our friend) to get an update. It won't seem real for me until I am back home and she's not there :( I haven't lived without a dog for more than 13 years...I can't imagine what it will be like. I also worry about my sweet little boy wondering where the heck his doggie-doo has gone. I know it was the right decision but I'm still sad and feeling like there will be a big hole in our lives when we get back home and into the daily routine. I know it will be ok once we get used to it but I'm sure it will still be hard.

Ranger may be going to live with a new family

It makes me so sad but I think it's for the best. Our 7 year old border collie mix just left with DH to go visit with a friend's father to see if they are a good match.

This man is looking for a dog to adopt because he's recently had to put down his beloved pet. He's lonely and wants a new doggie buddy.

We have been thinking for a while now of finding a new home for our sweet Rangie girl. She just doesn't have the best quality of life right now because we are consumed with J and L. J loves Ranger so much. And they are good buds but I feel bad for the dog since she doesn't get much exercise these days and hasn't for a while. She also doesn't get a whole lot of attention from us either, except for J. In September we had to say goodbye to our older dog Murdoch and since she lost her best friend Rangie seems sad. We wish we could give her a better life and anew buddy to pal around with but right now we just can't. We are going to be moving to Ontario and to a big city. DH will be travelling a lot with his new job once we get there and I will be alone with the kids most of the time which will make things even more lonely for Rangie.

We hope this man connects with her and wants to take her home with him. He lives on a farm and wants a companion to dote on...Ranger is definitely a perfect candidate for that arrangement...

Can they really not find anything better to wear???

Seriously! What's with these teenage girls who wear their pajama bottoms as regular clothes?? It's so cold here today - minus 20 degrees celcius and windy. On the short drive home from the grocery I saw 2 girls walking in the freezing weather wearing their pj bottoms.

Am I just getting old and cranky? Perhaps. I understand that teens do weird things to stand out, rebel and to fit in with their peers and that clothing trends are a big part of that. I get it but I don't have to like it...I wasn't crazy about the kids wearing their baggy pants practically down around their knees with their drawers hanging out when that was in. The super low-rise jeans and the belly baring spaghetti strap tank tops made me wonder how so many of these young girls got past their parents wearing clothes so revealing. Ack! And now it pj's in public. I suppose we should welcome a change in the direction of covering up butts and bellies but I can't get past how sloppy and lazy it makes them look. It really makes me wonder: Can they not find anything better to wear???

I heard this on Oprah..

that when you are working out and trying to loose weight you will feel hungrier in the evenings because that's when your body is burning fat. It makes sense right??? At least it did when Oprah's weight loss guru guy explained how it works. Plus, you don't get thin without making changes and sacrificing yummy treats right???

Ack! I'm craving something to snack on right now. It's all I can think about. So, instead of eating junk I am folding laundry, packing for our trip, blogging, knitting...anything that will keep me out of the kitchen. And I keep imagining the numbers I tipped on the scale at my weigh in at Curves this week...I am down 5lbs! That's worth trying to hang on to.

I just hope I don't gain it all back and then some now that I am headed a my month long trip home without my regular Curves workouts.

My Dad's getting divorced...

I know this is an awful thing to think/say but it's about freaking time!

The story goes like this... My Mom died when I was 17yo. She was in a coma for 9months and we knew she'd never come back to us. My dad's an alcoholic and his drinking was insane during the long 9 months my Mom was in a coma.

Once she was gone he wallowed in his own misery for a while but he soon started dating a few different ladies. They were all nice enough. He lived with one for a while - my brothers and I loved her to bits but it was a rocky relationship for her and my Dad and it ended after a couple of years.

I think the biggest problem for him is that he has never gotten over my Mom, even to this day he still compares his wife Kathy to my Mom all the time. So, I was shocked to find out he had proposed to a woman I'd only met a few times shortly after he started dating her. My brothers and I saw a big change in my Dad when he started dating K. She's a kind lady with a young daughter (C was 8 yo at the time they married). We thought maybe my Dad had turned over a new leaf. He went camping and did all kinds of stuff with them - things he never did with us and that are totally opposite to what he's been like as long as I have known him - he's a homebody, well hermit is actually a better definition.

Anyway, the dating was going well since he was making such a great effort and they started talking about moving in together. K wouldn't move in with him unless they were married so he proposed and they tied the knot only a couple months later.

The day after the wedding things went sour. My Dad called me crying saying he's made a big mistake - ack! He immediately went back to his old ways of drinking and being generally miserable. I was so sad for K and C.

K has admitted to me that she really doesn't even like my Dad anymore. She feels duped by him. She believes that he misrepresented himself when they were dating which he did. That's so shitty! Anyway I guess because she was already divorced once she didn't want to do that again and she told me she would stick it out. SAD! I told her we all loved her and she should do what she feels is right for herself and not worry what other people will say or think.

My Dad's been just as unhappy in the marriage. He feels like she pesters him to do stuff he doesn't want to do. He's not involved at all with anything related to her daughter and Kathy is completely focused on C all the time, who is now 16 yo.

I guess C is going through a difficult phase as most teens do and it's put even more strain on an already weak and miserable union. So, my Dad told his wife he's not happy, and since she's obviously not happy they should go their separate ways. She agreed so they are splitting up. I am relieved although I do worry that it means my Dad will just become depressed and drink himself into oblivion after the dust settles and he's all alone. I hope I'm wrong and that he'll be happy. At least I know K and C will be better off but I will miss them.

Train of thought...

Today we made a trip to Antigonish to use the gift cards we got for Christmas at the book store there. It's a bit of a drive to get there...an hour or so on the highway. We've made this trip many times before and today as my mind started to wander as I watched the waves lapping the cold and icy ocean shore I wondered how many more times we would travel this highway. I am going to miss living in Nova Scotia once we finally sell our house and move back to Ontario.

Then I thought, what will I do in Ontario? I'd love to stay home as long as I can with our children. The cost of living is so much higher there and things are tight as it is. I will need to find work sooner or later - hopefully later, much later.

I started thinking that I would really like to work in the medical field, in a hospital or clinic perhaps. I have no experience or training in anything remotely medical. I have been thinking for a long time about becoming an ultrasound technician. I looked into this a year or so ago and learned that there are only a few schools that offer such a program and one is in the area where we are moving.

So, I thought about how I would go about such an endeavor. First, I want to and need to finish my MA in Sociology. Also, I will need to go back and find out what the pre-requisites are for the u/s/radiology tech program. I am hoping to finish up my MA and get the pre-req's for college and still be a SAHM.

I was really excited at the idea of being an u/s tech and wondered what kind of place I would work. Would I get to do a lot of pregnancy ultrasounds? How fun! But wait, maybe not so fun, right?? I have personally had more than one 'not fun' u/s. Could I really be the one to be the first to see and know that instead of a fetus there is a blighted ovum, or instead of a viable pregnancy there is nothing? I got really sad and started to tear up at the thought that u/s techs are sometimes called in to check babies that are near term...how would I handle being the first to see that baby's heart has stopped beating?

The day I found out that my second pregnancy was not viable and that my little baby had stopped developing at 8w6d (I was more than 10weeks along at that point) the regular u/s tech at our hospital was training a new tech. It was the young woman fresh from school who was at the controls in front of the magical, mystery screen and with the want on my little belly. She was the first to see that my baby had no heartbeat. I remember the room being so painfully silent. I was barely breathing. "Please tell me what you saw" I begged them both, but they said they weren't sure and couldn't say. Instead they just wheeled me off to talk to the ER Dr.

So, today as we drove along the highway that we'd driven a hundred times or more in the last 4 years, to the town where there is better shopping and restaurants and where the hospital is ...where twice we were heartbroken to learn that our babies stopped developing and twice we were blessed when I gave birth to our beautiful healthy children...I wondered how that young woman felt and what she was thinking that day at 10am staring at the screen and knowing she did not have good news to share. I hope that wasn't her fist day. I don't know that I could do that job and not cry and hug the woman who lay on the exam table. Maybe being an u/s tech isn't for me. Then I thought, maybe it is because I have been on both sides...

Then I spilled coffee all down the front of my coat and my train of thought was lost.

We're still here and that isn't so bad

We haven't heard from our realtor since December 27th. This comes as no surprise although B is pretty disappointed. He is headed back to work on January 22nd and was really hoping to be starting his new job in Ontario instead of going back to his old position here in NS. He is so excited about moving back to Ontario and living in the city again.

I feel differently about it these days especially with 2 little ones to care for. I find the longer we stay here the less I want to move. I know that we all will have so many more opportunities in Ontario than we do here but I am really starting to love the pace of life here.

The things that bugged me about small town life in the first few years we lived here are things I find charming now and I know I will miss them. Like small talk with strangers and people peeking in your shopping cart at the grocery store to see what's for dinner or taking the time to hold the door open for you even when you are still on the sidewalk and not all that close to the door.

Going back home to Ontario or even just to Halifax for visits in the last year really emphasized how different life is in the big city. I suppose it's gonna take time to get used to the difference in the pace of life just like it did when we moved out here.

Will this house ever sell?!?!

Geez! I can't believe we are still here in NS. We had so hoped to be moved back to ON by now, or at least to have sold our house and working out the details of the big move... NOPE.

On Christmas Eve our realtor called to say that a couple wanted to come see our house on Dec 27th. We were so excited that this might be it for us. We thought that they must be pretty serious to want to go around and look at houses 2 days after Christmas.

So, B and I rushed around getting things perfect for the big viewing only to find out from our realtor that the people who came to see our house were never serious in the first place. Apparently, after she drove them all over town looking at houses they informed her that they had already decided they were going to buy a lot and build a new place. NICE!

Again, we have to hurry up & wait and hope that the New Year will bring us better luck and the right buyers for our lovely home.

Remembering My Angels

Today is the third anniversary of my first miscarriage.

Today is the second anniversary of the estimated due date of my second pregnancy which also ended in miscarriage.

Since my heartbreaking losses in 2003 and 2004 I have been blessed with two beautiful, healthy children. The babies I lost are never far from my thoughts. I think about the 2 little souls that I've lost all year long but December 23rd is a day that is especially hard...Christmas time is bittersweet for me.

I love you my little angels. xoxo

Geez, where has the time gone?

I cannot believe it's been over 2 months since I posted last. I keep meaning too but every time I sit down to do it something comes up!

Last time I checked in I was about to meet my new baby. The induction went amazingly well.

This is our Baby Girl's Birth Story

After getting J settled with a dear friend of ours we headed to the hospital. I was really nervous about being induced.

We arrived at 7:15am and by 7:30am I was in the delivery room getting the prostaglandin gel applied. I was 3cms dilated and had been contracting sporadically prior to that but nothing regular. My OB explained that the gel was to get things softer and I shouldn't expect to go into full blown labour with just the gel. He would be back at noon to break my water. So, B and I walked the halls of the maternity wing all morning long with little breaks every half hour to be hooked up to the monitor by our wonderful nurse Anne to check on baby. Baby was doing great but was still pretty high up and my contractions seemed to get a little stronger but still weren't in any kind of pattern.

At 12:30pm my OB returned to break my water. I was a little disappointed to hear that I was now 3 and a half cms dilated but everything was clear, baby was still doing great and we were told to keep walking. Within about an hour I started to contract regularly at about 5 mintues apart but I was still comfortable.

By 2pm the half hour intervals between monitor checks with the nurse seemed to be coming faster and faster. I was getting uncomfortable but still handling the contractions well.

At 3:30pm I must have looked like things were changing and I was so uncomfortable through the contractions when I was lying on the bed during that monitor check that the nurse decided to check me herself to see where I was at in terms of dilation. I was 7cms. I begged to get up and when she said that was fine I hopped off the bed.

Things progressed quickly from there. Within about 5 minutes I felt intense pressure. I ran to the bathroom to pee and when I came out I knew this was it - I just HAD to push! I could tell there was a sense of panic from B and the nurse too. She told me not to push that I couldn't be ready for that yet and to at least wait for the Dr. She ran out of the room to call my OB. She quickly returned with another nurse who both realized this was it for me and asked what I wanted to do (stand and wait or get on the bed) I didn't care I just wanted to push.

Soon the Dr arrived. He had a look and scrambled to his feet to get his gear on since the head was right there. There was no time to even break down the bed. I was told it was ok to push so I did with all my might. On the third push the Dr was encouraging me by saying "push, push" and suddenly he shouted "stop, stop!" - too late! the baby came flying out and was on the table faster than anyone expected.

It was incredible. I asked if it was a boy or girl. B had already whispered it in my ear twice apparently but I didn't hear him. The Dr held her up and said look for yourself but the umbilical cord was in the way and I couldn't really tell. Finally everyone said: "She's a GIRL!" B and I are truly tickled pink! Our little girl is as healthy as can be and so beautiful. She was born at 4:04pm and was 6lbs 12 oz and 21 inches tall and perfect in every way!

Her big brother is adjusting well to his new role. Today he did something that brought tears to my eyes. Baby L was napping in her swing (which was not swinging at the time) and her blanket slipped off her lap. I was busy folding clothes and was about to get up when J toddled over, grabbed the blanket off the floor and gently replaced it on L's lap being careful not to cover her face. He said sweetly, "Ok Baby, sleep sleep" and then he turned on the swing and switched on the music button and tried his best to hum along to the lullaby.

I cherish every second of every day these days since I know these sweet and gentle times will pass so quickly. I am so blessed.

Tomorrow's the big day!

I had my 39 week appointment today. I had an ultrasound last week because the Dr was worried about baby's size. The ultrasound report came back with good results and show the baby has grown well and is within the normal range. At my appointment today everything is normal: bp, baby's heartrate and my weight gain but when he measured my belly I am still at 36cms! He did not like that there was no still apparent growth in the last 6 weeks - I am concerned about this too...

Then, he did an internal and said I am still at 2cms my cervix is ripe and baby hasn't moved down any further from last week...he or she is just waiting there for who knows what to happen. So, because he is concerned about growth...he said the u/s was good but it doesn't tell us much about how and when baby is growing... and since I am only a couple of days away from my due date he wants to induce to get things started since he seems to think my body is ready and just needs a bit of a push.

So, tomorrow morning at 7:30 he wants to start with gel on the cervix and see how things go from there. I am excited to know that tomorrow's the big day and it's nice to be able to make arrangments for J without being in the midst of labour. B is excited that we are not in limbo waiting on baby. I am very nervous about being induced. I hope and pray all goes smoothly, quickly and that baby #2 arrives safe and healthy!

Wish us luck

House for sale and 7 days to go....

Last Tuesday we got another call from the relocation specialist. She chewed us out for not having listed our house yet! With a baby on the way and so much to do around the house to get it ready to seel I just wanted to slap her! Can't she understand we are really trying here??? But, we also realize that houses are harder to sell in the winter. Especially when you live in a region of the country that gets dumped with tonnes of snow. So, we finally got a call into our realtor and listed the house on Wednesday. Since then we have been running around like fools cleaning and clearing out our junk. It feels good to get it done. I just hope this house sells FAST!

I also wish that we could get our new furnace installed sometime soon. Yep, they finally told us we need to replace the whole darn thing, which in itself is fine with us but clearly it seems too much to ask that something related to our furnace fiasco would go smoothly. The furnace was ordered a week and a half ago and it should have arrived early last week -it didn't. The whole week went by without a word from the oil company so we have no idea what's going on. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it's there now and they will come in Monday or Tuesday this week and put it in....please wish us luck with that :)

So now we wait...we wait to sell our house, we wait for a new furnace get finally get installed and we wait for baby #2 to arrive. Yes! Only 7 days to go to our expected due date for this little one! I hope he or she decides to arrive sooner rather than later...I am getting quite impatient with tardiness these days - LOL!

I cannot believe this...

B just got off the phone with a representative from the relocation department for his work. Apparently the transfer orders are all signed and everyone who needs to do something with regard to our big move has been notified including the realtor advisors/relocators.

So, B provides all the information required to the representative. She tells him we can put our house on the market today if we want. Ummm, NO! He explains that we are planning to postpone putting it up for sale at least until the end of October since our new baby is due in about 3 weeks...Guess what? We're not allowed to delay it that long. Once they get things started, which they have, we have to list it as soon as they send their appraisers out, and this will happen in the next week or so. Nice!?!

Today, I am two days shy of 37weeks pregnant and this is very unwelcome news. And now it's too late to ask for a deferral because the wheels are already in motion. We thought we'd made it very clear that we could not get things started until early November...I guess no one there cares about that! Nice!?!

Fall is here!

It struck me hard today as I walked through the grocery store how much I love fall. It is my favorite season of all. The brilliant orange pumpkins, the pretty fall flowers and all the spectacularly colourful and delicious veggies that are in season really made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Later in the afternoon as I walked around the yard with my curious little boy I marveled at how quickly the leaves on the trees have gone from lush green to yellow, orange, red and how the grass beneath my feet is now suddenly brown. The snap in the brisk fall air is my most favorite feel and smell...especially on very cool days when you can catch a whif of logs burning in someone's fireplace. I imagine the warmth on my face from the roaring fire.

Fall is when I most love to go on long nature walks. It's so calming to listen to the leaves crunch underfoot and breathe in the freshness of the air as deeply as I can. I couldn't help but think it is very bittersweet since the beautiful fall weather that filled me up inside also made me realize how much I miss my beloved dog...

M, I hope you are rolling in a great big pile of leaves in doggie heaven. xox

I just can't quit.

I deleted my blog a few days ago but have since decided to start it up again. I am a little sad that I lost all my entries from before...ah well, that's life.
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30 days left and counting....

I am doing well still. Up until just the last few days I found the time was flying by with this pregnancy but now it is starting to slow down. I guess that's what happens when you get near the end and are ready.

Yep, I am ready...bags are packed, baby gear is clean and ready for use, freezer is full of yummy meals. B goes off work using his vacation time as of Oct 1st! I can't wait to have him around full time to help with J, although part of me wonders if being less busy chasing after J will make time feel like it's dragging even more. B's definitely not worried about this though, he's convinced this baby will arrive early - his prediction is Oct 6th, which is the night of the full moon. J was born almost 3 weeks early on the night of a full moon. Only time will tell :)