FORTY

V makes really funny faces when she eats. Thankfully no one takes photos of me while I eat. I'm sure they're just about as flattering.

 2015 week forty

Well baby brother held out through all of our things we wanted to accomplish, so now, we're ready for you. And to add encouragement it absolutely feels like autumn (well Texas' version of autumn, still no leaves changing colors), just for you boy!

I made some applesauce from the rest of our apple party apples. And we've almost eaten it all already. Time to go buy more apples! 

We went to the Dallas Arboretum with several friends to admire the fall splendor. This is the attitude I dealt with for the first 30 minutes. 

Then it started to get a little more magical and she was more compliant. 

Then she remembered she doesn't have to be a troll just because it's October, and we had a nice time. 

This was after each child had already thrown a few pumpkins and some people behind the information booth said, "Shouldn't we have a sign that kids shouldn't pick up pumpkins?" "No! That's what their parents are for!"

I want this one framed on my wall. I love it so much. 

What should you do in a hay maze? Throw hay at Mama, of course! 

This was pure toddler heaven. I tried to get her out of it so other families could take photos, but after my enticing treats were gone she ran right back. I didn't have the energy to get her out of it, and I know she had a good time. Sorry other families if you wanted some photos... photos that did not include my child. 

Me and my baby. I was hoping this could serve as a reminder of what I looked like at 9 months pregnant, but obviously I only wear muumuus so you cant even see my belly in this. 

Buttered Hot Apple Cider with breakfast on a cool (read 60 degrees!!!!!!) morning.

At the doctor's office chanting, "Uter-YES! Uter-YES!" as though we were at some spirited 1970s era feminist rally. 

After General Conference we hosted the last family dinner without baby. Matt made everyone amazing ribs. I made some rosemary potatoes and biscuits. Melissa brought corn and fresh veggies. And our table was loaded with condiments: homemade pickled peppers and onions, homemade apple butter, homemade peach butter, homemade peach jam, homemade tomato jam, and "pickle pickles" as Vera calls them (regular pickles) -not homemade. I feel the need to tell you I made all these things by hand because I want to remember that at one point I preserved so many condiments. Also, I can't believe we fit so many people into our "dining room" to eat dinner. 

Quotes:

Vera counting, "one -two - three - four - five- six - nine -toast."

 V had a cup of water and a paintbrush to help me stain the outdoor furniture, and she kept saying, "I cant believe it! I CANT believe it! I'm PAINTING! Just like the Mouse! (from a book) I can't believe it!"

One day at lunch as she was eating her noodles she started saying, "I eat you, Grandpa Dean! I eat you, Mama! I eat you, Papa! I eat you, Oma! I eat you, Grandpa John! I eat you, Bonnie!"

Vera to me, "No mama. Only I can jump. I don't have a baby, I only have a little tummy."

V, "Mama, you go to hospital and get baby brother. Then you have a little tummy!"

V, "Mama, I'm SO beautiful!"

V to Matt, "Papa, your hair is so fluffy. No. It's not fluffy. It's BEAUTIFUL!"

A friend of mine was over visiting and while she was talking to Vera she called her sweetie. Vera just stopped and stared at her and said, "I'm Not Papa." Vera calls Matthew "sweetie" a lot because I do. "Oh sweetie is home... No sweetie, you sit here," etc.

Me, "Vera do you want to go on a walk?"
V, "No it's not good enough outside."

V, "I'm not a dog. I'm just a Wronka." (Veronica)

Every evening, "Papa! A FLY A FLY!"
Matthew, "Quick! Go get my gun!"
Vera runs away to retrieve the fly shotgun (it shoots salt).
Matthew, "Thank you. Find the fly!"
Vera, "There it is!!"
Then they crouch down together and shoot the fly. It's cute. It would be cuter if it didnt have to happen so often after I clean the windows...

Words V will just randomly sing around the house: "Heavenly Father" "If you give a Moose a Muffin."

Stories:

Every morning as I make the bed, Vera dives into the pile of pillows on the floor.

I tried to put V in her cute pair of Halloween bone pajamas last night. She was so against it. Unfortunately for her all her other "jamas" were dirty so she had to wear them. This creature who loves pajamas more than any other item of clothing -except maybe tights- screamed and cried about having to wear these. Then she stopped and attempted to bargain with me. Ok Mama, I don't want to wear these pajamas so I'll try another route, "I wear normal clothes to bed?" Seriously. You hate the pajamas so much you'll volunteer to put on regular clothes instead of wearing these? She still had to wear them. And when she padded up to my bed this morning the first thing she said was, "I don't want to wear bone pajamas." Too bad baby, it's October! :)

This week was a long checklist of things I wanted to accomplish before my baby arrived. First there was the apple party last week, but then I wanted to clean my entire house, have dinner with friends on Friday, and Saturday, and have Family Dinner on Sunday. Check, check, and check. Now that it's all over I feel like I can just rest and spend time with Vera and wait for this boy. Somehow, as though by miracle, the weather turned cool enough to sleep with the windows open. We have cider with breakfast almost every morning and V got to wear a long-sleeved shirt one day, and pants another day! Not me. I can't wear anything but like 2 shirts, 2 dresses and one skirt. Those dresses will probably be burned on delivery. I never want to see them again. :) I know my husband would never complain about how clean our house is at times, but I also know he probably harbors secret feelings that it is a bit extreme. And I'm sure during this last fortnight of pregnancy it is a bit extreme. But just like birds fluffing up their nests, there is an urgency and a relieving peace that attends scrubbing windows, blinds, baseboards, carpets, linens, mirrors, light switches, fan blades, garbage cans (insert shame right there), shelves, couch cushions, and every other hard or soft surface in my home. Now that everything has met my probably unreasonable standard, I can sit down, enjoy the nest, finish a couple books and pray for contractions. When everything is this clean I find it easier to keep clean because that jam handprint does not go unnoticed in a layer of dust any longer. Luckily Vera is very patient with me and really enjoys her freedom to run around and make the most of all her toys and dress up -and I know she milked those two days when I let her wear pjs all day because I knew we weren't leaving the house -while I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. Surprisingly, that is something my doctor asked at my last visit, "So, did you clean your house yet?" Yes, ma'am! Bring on baby!