Starting All Over

 Place:  Motherhood outlet in Indy 
 Lovely:  "Mommy, why does everything in here have this bump?" (points at mannequin)
Me:  "Because that's the kind of store it is."
Pause.
Lovely:  "But why are YOU in here then?"
Me:  "Because."
Lovely:  "Mommy!  Are you going to have a baby?"
Me:  "Maybe."
Lovely & Snugglebug whispering:  "Mommy is going to have a baby.  This is awesome!"
 Five minutes later.
 Lovely:  "Mommy, this is TERRIBLE!"
Me: "What?  Why?"
Lovely:  "A baby is going to keep me up nights with its crying."
Me:  ", you sleep like a rock.  Nothing is going to wake you."   
The title of this post is what keeps going through my mind:  I'll be starting all over.  I had finally moved past the diaper stage.  Lovely is almost out of her carseat.  And now:  starting all over. 

I normally didn't like to announce we're having a baby until after the first trimester, but I am now at 11 wks (although I look like I'm 20 wks!), and the cat seems to be out of the bag.  Hmm...this post may sound like I'm not happy, but really, I am.  I'm just nervous, which I attribute to being a bit older.   And knowing our house is entirely too small for all of us to live sanely.  There will be 6 1/2 yrs between Snugglebug and our newest, which seems like such a tremendous gap.  I had been under the impression that we just weren't going to have anymore children--which means we no longer have a crib, a carseat, a stroller, and numerous other baby items I had tired of storing.  I'm now 33, and I know there are plenty of mothers older than moi, I just feel...lol...old!  (shame on me, I know!)

I've decided I'll use my blog to document this pregnancy, praying it doesn't disappear.  I had kept an online journal through all of my pregnancy with Lovely--and the owner of the site transferred everything, happening to delete all of my posts . I barely wrote down anything with Snugglebug because I was too busy taking care of a 9 mo. old.  So, here goes!  

Current stats:
EDD:  November 16
Med Issues:  High blood pressure at last appt:  150/90.  However, I've taken it each morning & evening since and have not surpassed 133/82.  Thank goodness!  If I had high bp, I'd need to take meds, have weekly fetal stress tests at 32 wks and thereafter, and deliver 2 wks early.  Also, this will be my 3rd c-section.  There is one doctor in the entire area who is willing to do a VBAC after 2 c-sections, even though current research does not show a significant risk.  Anywho, he is in Louisville, and I must stay in S. Indiana this time around. 
Concerns:  I'm scheduled to teach three classes this fall.  I need the experience and the money, and since it's only 2 days a week, 5 hrs per day, I think I can handle it.  However, I'm not sure what I'll do for the few (approx. 5 days of classes) remaining after the birth. 
Predictions:  S told me (once again) that God told him we would have another baby, he just didn't know when.  This time, however, he was also told we'd have a boy.  I'm waiting and seeing.  I'm not eager to begin the battle of names that will ensue if we are having a boy. 

Columbus, Indiana

Because Snugglebug missed out on a field trip to Kids Commons in Columbus, Indiana, I decided to take both the girls myself.  It was a bit of a trip without another adult to talk with, but I couldn't think of anyone else who would be free to go that day, so anyways....

This is the main attraction.  A giant toilet that has a slide below.  The idea is to show the inner workings of a house, including insulation, and more.  They had a heat camera in one room that told you to rub your shirt so you can see the heat.  I won't tell you exactly where I rubbed, but I later found out people could have easily been watching on a screen located on the floor below.  Can we say embarrassing? ?

Below is a sliding portion of a wall that I thought would be so neat to put in a real house.  If we EVER get to move, that is. 

Bubble center.  Snugglebug became an expert bubble-blower, including creating a bubble that encased her entire body. 

Here is Snugglebug-Polar Bear.  She growled at everyone who tried to enter, including complete strangers.  Who said I needed a guard dog?

There was a cute campy scene for the girls to play.

And there was a Japanese house in which you could not wear shoes.  Very cute. 

 Before we went to Kids Commons, we stopped at a really neat soda/ice cream parlor a few stores down, Zaharakos

The girls were even enthused over the ladies' room tiles.  The food was a little pricey, but overall good quality.  Their cups of fruit really contained a huge assortment.  Their straws were made of paper, so it took a little getting used to, and the organ would play every now and then, making us feel like we were riding a carousel.  We filled up on lunch, but we went back a few hours later for ice cream.  MMmmmm...the strawberry milkshake was really good!