Lego Man

Dylan is such a creative boy. He loves to come up with all sorts of things to make out of anything you can think of. Of course he loves legos. He is really getting into them, and loves to make all sorts of things. He made this the other day and wanted me to take a picture and send it in to the lego magazine so they can put it in their magazine. I don't know if I'll do that, but I figure I would post it on here. I love his creativity.

One more week!

I just have about one more week to go until my induction date. I can't wait! My doctor asked me yesterday if I wanted him to strip my membranes. It was very tempting. I have had horribly swollen hands and feet the last couple weeks. I mean seriously. I don't feel the tips of my fingers any more in my right hand. Sometimes the closest I can get to making a fist is a sign language "o". My ankles aren't my ankles. I haven't worn anything but flip flops for about two months now - nothing else I own can fit on my feet. I finally looked online this last weekend to see which essential oils would help with swelling and water retention in pregnancy, and it has made a huge difference. I can actually use my hands again, but I still have numb fingers and achy joints, but it is so much more survivable. I have a lot left to do to get ready for this baby, so I told the doctor not yet. There is a huge part of me that wishes I would have let him. By the end of today I am pretty sure this baby would be here if I had let him. With Ethan it was about 24 hours. I am at a 4 and 90% effaced, so I am sure it would have a similar effect this time. But in the end I think I will be happy to have the baby's room actually ready, and my house in order. You know those wonderful nesting instincts!

Where did my sweet Ethan go?

Ethan has always been my sweet, happy, easy going boy who is so much fun to have around. Really I have been thoroughly spoiled with this boy. Something has happened to that angel child, and he has been replaced with a not so angelic impostor.

Example A:
Two weeks ago: Tell him is was nap time. He would happily go upstairs of his own free will, happily get his blanket and dog,and read one story with me on his bed. I would leave him with one last book to read by himself and tell him to lay down when he was done. He would say "okay." I would leave the room, and check on him 20 minutes later. The book would be on the shelf, and he would be peacefully asleep on his bed.

This last week: Tell him it is naptime. He screams, cries, and waves his arms saying "Don't want nap. Don't want bed!" I try to convince him otherwise. Finally carry a screaming child up the stairs. I try to get him to pick out a book. He is still screaming and crying and repeating the same phrases. I finally give up, tell him to stay in bed, leave the room. He comes immediately to the door, wanting to come out. I put him back in bed, tell him to stay. Go out, he comes back to the door and opens it again. We continue this for quite a while. At some point he calms down and wants to read a book. We read one. He wants another, I try to convince him to read it himself and go to bed, but he can't handle it, so I tell him one last one. We read it, he wants another, I tell him no. He falls apart. I leave the room. We repeat the process of putting in bed, leaving room, door opening, back to bed, etc. Finally I try holding the door shut. He screams and cries and eventually pushes the book he wanted under the door. Continues to cry, scream. I finally tell him he can go read the book by himself in bed. I push the book back under the door. He stops crying, and takes the book, climbs in bed, reads it, and finally finally goes to sleep. Whew!

Example B:
Two weeks ago: Sleeps till about 7 am. Quietly sits on his bed reading books until I open his door, leaving the sleeping Jayden alone so he can get the sleep he needs.

This last week: Wakes up at 5:45. Wakes up Jayden. Makes a ruckus, and the whole house is awake by 6.

Example C:
Two weeks ago: Shares toys really well with brothers and cousins. If they ask for a turn, gives them a turn. If they have a toy he previously used, he asks for a turn when they are done (with a little prompting from Mom).

This last week: Doesn't want to share, even if asked nice. Any toy he has touched in the last 3 days is permanently his, and if anyone even looks at them, he screams at the top of his lungs "my (insert toy name)."

If these were just single occurances, it wouldn't be so bad, but unfortuntely they are pretty much daily occurrances now, as well as plenty more other unpleasant situations not listed because I could go on and on.

If anyone knows where MY Ethan has gone, please let me know so I can retrieve him before the baby comes. That would be nice.