How's the summer treating you?

Right now I'm sitting on my front porch. I'm enjoying a glass of vino and just sort of making sense of the last few weeks. Taking it all in. I feel like it's been forever since I sat on the "stoop" in the summer time. Granted I don't have a "stoop" now, but....

 

I would say that summer so far has been interesting. Between the monsoon rain and then the all consuming heat....

Of course there is the losing sight of Sean at both the pool (twice) and the zoo. That boy is the source of all my gray hair. For real. Becoming closer with some friends (you know who you are). Finding our "spot" in the community as a whole.

 

We are not doing to badly this summer.

 

I am officially 26 weeks  (and change) pregnant. And while I was pregnant with both Meredith and Sean in the summer, this time around is different. Much different. For starters.... the humidity down in NC is just that. It's humid. It's not smoggy humidity. It's just plain humid. I sweat, but I don't feel like I need a shower 10 seconds after I step outside my door. And with my last 2 children, I wasn't chasing Sean around like a crazy nut. Man that boy is stealthy & quick.

 

And geez.... I'm 26 weeks pregnant. I have 14 weeks left and while I would never wish for a preemie or a baby who wasn't done cooking.... I am so over being pregnant. I am so uncomfortable. This baby went from hanging out really low to planking. I look like I'm harboring a torpedo in there.

 

 

Please... don't mind the hair. That's the after the pool shower hair.

 

But gawd.... my self esteem is really not in the best of spots and getting bigger is really not doing anything for me. I feel like I'm lumbering around and just barely able to move. I'll spare you the gory details.

 

All told I haven't gained much in the way of weight. Yet. And what weight I have gained has been centered at the belly. So I'm grateful for that. As of 3.5 weeks ago I had only gained 10lbs. I can't imagine I've gained that much more.

 

Rob & I have learned some valuable lessons thanks to Sean. We were able to be very lax with Meredith. She never left our side and was always content doing just what she was doing. Not Sean. He is a ball of constant movement & independent exploration. I'm told it's a boy thing.

 

We learned (thanks to my friend Erin) that it doesn't matter if you no longer get invited to BBQs because your friends at the pool think you're part of a Special Ops military team. Your son will be safe. We have learned that kids will get used to their puddle jumpers.
 

. Our son has learned that if you don't wear one... well... you get locked into the stroller to sit & watch ALL the other kids play with your toys in the water. Now at least if his parents decide to have a conversation and he wanders off... we don't have to look at the bottom of the pool. We haven't had a wandering issue since the 2nd & last time at the pool.

 

Did you ever think a puddle jumper could be so comfy?

 

 

I have since brought the kids to the pool twice by myself. And by George... I nailed it! No one got lost. No one cried or had a meltdown. Potty breaks were facilitated by friends watching the little guy. Everyone got their recommended dosage of applied & reapplied sunblock. I managed to keep everyone hydrated and to keep their bellies full.

I even managed to get both kids in the water at the same time and neither of them felt slighted. Woot woot!!!

 

Meredith is learning how to trust herself in all aspects. Even in the pool. It's so amazing to watch her experiment and see what else she's capable of. I think she's so amazing.

 

 

 

 

She has started camp. She goes in the mornings 3 days a week. I have been kind of iffy about sending her, but she seems to enjoy it. At least from the last 2 days. She goes again on Friday. She asks for me to walk her in in the morning, but has no problem being led out with her counselor in the afternoon. Baby steps. I can handle it. Maybe.

 

On Sunday we met up with a beginning photographer to have some photos taken. I decided that I'd be bold and wear white. I didn't get all matchy matchy with the family because quite frankly I just want everyone to be comfy. And if that means Meredith wore her giraffe dress while the boy had on blue... then so be it. I wasn't starting the day off badly. She could've worn a clown suit for all I care. Ok maybe not a clown suit.

 

Anyway... I decided to go against my norm and wore white. I'm almost regretting that. I was incredibly bloated and probably could've used a little camouflaging black, but I didn't want to blend in with the scenery.

 

What she has sent me so far I really like. I don't necessarily like how I look, but I like what she's captured.

 

Ok I'm half way lying.... I LOVE my hair. Read: Pink Puffy Heart LOVE. I just wish carrying a child in your arms didn't result in odd body/clothing angles and weird posture. Humpf.

 

She's captured our love for each other. I love those moments of unposed happiness while trying to pose for a frameable family picture where everyone is looking & smiling.

 

 

 

Come on... do you not love the giraffe hugging Huck Finn picture?

 

The hat....? Well since you've asked. The hat was Rob's gpa's (who has passed away). I decided to bring it out because Rob really likes the hat and I thought it would be nice for Rob's son to wear his great-gpa's hat, but the hat has seen better days. Between moving & then storing the hat.... Sean however, could care less what kind of condition that hat is in. He adores it. He wears it sideways, backward. He doesn't care as long as it adorns his head.

 

At the moment it is sitting on my dining room table waiting for itty bitty hands to wake up in search of it.

 

I never knew a hat could make a kid so happy, but it does.

 

 

 

The only problem is fighting with the boy when he insists on wearing it to the pool. That's where I draw the line because it will get really ruined there. Not just loved.

 

So that's our summer so far. Tomorrow I'll be picking up the disc with the rest of the photos from Sunday. I'm excited. I can't wait to see them.