37 Weeks...the countdown is on

This is me, 37 weeks pregnant with our LAST baby.  We have already been blessed with four beautiful daughters and will soon be welcoming the 5th little girl into our family to complete daddy's 5 a-side girls soccer team! Three cheers for Dad!!!!

Here are some things about this pregnancy:

• 2nd best pregnancy for me (only beaten by Shannon's, but I was 22 then, not so young these days)
• I can get heartburn from anything....I mean anything - I think I get it from breathing
• I cannot eat pickles, peppers or cucumbers - chocolate is ok
• No water retention, despite it being summer (yay)
• I still hate under the bump maternity clothes
• Was most tired with this one for the first trimester
• 3rd trimester has been relatively easy
• I've measured small throughout the whole thing (never happened before - I always measure big, with Aylish I'm sure I measured enormous)
• Moving at 7 months isn't fun
• The whole pregnancy has felt shorter than previous ones, though when I count the months on the calendar they've all been the same length
• I've had great support from family and friends but have missed having mom around

Here are my predictions for what's to come:

• I will have a scheduled induction on a date that suits EVERYONE
• 1.5 hour labour from start to finish
• 1 good push and she'll glide out (she better glide - I'm sure Aylish made the path big enough for me to deliver a calf!)
• She'll be a picture of health
• She will have lots of beautiful red hair
• She will weigh 6lbs 11oz
• She will be 22 inches long
• My hair and makeup will stay in place throughout
• I will shower immediately following her birth and dress in pre-pregnancy jeans

Yep, that's how it will all go - just like I've planned.  I will block from my mind what we all know to be true...the pain.  My mom's doctor told her when she was expecting me that "it goes in easier than it comes out" - how true that is.

Wish me luck!

P.S.  Meals, flowers and gifts greatly welcomed!!! Hehehe!

The Patience of a 6 Year Old

I love it when you learn from your kids.  All of my girls are pretty good at helping each other and looking out for one another, but one of my little sweethearts goes far beyond expectations, and she's only 6.

Keira is always willing to help, especially if it's Aylish who needs her.  She is the first to help Aylish when she can't do something, if she's sad or needs someone to play with.  However, night before last she did something that I don't think many 6 year olds would EVER do.

All of the girls have their own bedrooms now and for some reason most mornings Aylish makes her way down to Keira's bedroom and climbs into bed with her.  Sometimes this is REALLY early, Keira never complains.

Back to the story......so at some point night before last Aylish makes her way down to Keira's bedroom and gets into bed with her.  Little did Keira know minutes later Aylish would throw up all over her pillow and bed.  Now what would you do if this was you and you were 6?  Here's what Keira did.  She climbed out of bed, got Aylish out of her puky jammies, washed her face and hands, put her in fresh jammies, stripped the bedding off her bed and placed it in the laundry room and then took Aylish back up to her bedroom and they went back to sleep.  Richard and I never even knew any of this was going on.  When I asked Keira in the morning why she didn't come and get me she said it was because she knew that I sleeping and she was already awake, she didn't want to make me tired too.

Keira is so patient and thoughtful, a true Christlike example to me.  I love you Keira xxx

Love Hate Relationship

Aylish and her cousin Kalia have a funny relationship.  They love to play together but sometimes things don't go to plan and their little tempers flair.  Kalia is 6 months older but Aylish is bigger in size so you'd think it was an equal match.  In this case though, it doesn't really work like that.  Kalia always (no that makes my kid sound wimpy) usually comes out on top - I have NO IDEA where she gets that from, huh Heather!?!?!?!

Anyway, yesterday we spent the day at Park Lake.  These two girls were playing great together down on the beach then all of a sudden I notice Aylish throw down her shovel, yell at Kalia and come stomping up the beach.  And this is why: 

 Obviously they had a disagreement of some sorts!