Taking it in

Today we had our last OB check-up before "Stu" arrives this week. Everything checked out--my BP was on the high-but-not-alarming side. I've lost three pounds since last week. Some c-section site pain I've been experiencing is nothing to worry about apparently--it's simply uteran stretching. I'm all scheduled for my delivery. Things are looking great!

We'd planned for me to go it alone the rest of the day since it would only be a few hours between J going back into the office and the time he'd be leaving in the evening (including the girls' naptime). But my mother had to go and call while we were on our way home to see if we needed her, and J set her up to come over and babysit me again when the girls awoke. He just won't let me catch a break! Ha!

My firstborn in the backseat while we were en route to the doctor. I had to snap a photo...I thought she was looking particularly sassy:
My three favorite people in our wonderful doctor's waiting room before our very last OB check-up:

After we ate lunch, the girls were playing so well together that I put them down for their nap later than normal since they were having so much fun and I was enjoying watching them interact. M was holding Rosie's hands and dancing with her, and they also played a few rousing rounds of "Ring Around the Rosie".

These days in my "last-few-days-as-a-girl-mom" fits of nostalgia, I spend a lot of time standing back and just taking my daughters in. And this week has been perfect in that respect--they are being so kind and loving to one another and having so much fun together! Maybe it's the age that they're at...I don't know. But it makes me so happy to see what I pray is a lifelong friendship unfold! And I really do feel blessed to have to stay off my feet in this respect. If it weren't for those orders, I might be focusing too much on the to-do list and missing out on these memories.

I can't begin to accurately describe it, but every moment with them is just sweeter these days. Their laughter is so musical to me, and I'm doing all I can to soak it in and memorize it. Everything we do is more special and memorable to me than ever. Every hug, kiss, spontaneous cuddle and "I love you" makes melt on the inside like none other. I am one blessed woman.

Dancing and Ring Around the Rosie:

Playing outside with Grandma. She's their hero because she lets them get as messy as they want to! (This, by the way, was my view from the couch through the patio door. And dig M's old-school play clothes ensemble she put together. Those shorts are ones we normally reserve for her to wear under dresses. And they're size 12 mos. She's THREE AND A HALF!)

Rosie taking a Sprite slush break: