Such a cutie. I took this photo of my friend’s daughter at our sorta-monthly pot-luck. We have known this group of people for nearly three years. In fact we met most of them at our prenatal class when I was pregnant with Thomas. I can’t get over how grown up all of the kids are getting and am so thankful that we are now going through our second round of pregnancies together. One of the boys has just become a big brother. Next it’s our turn and then we have two more siblings on the way in the next few months. 

The best thing about this group of people is that we all come from different backgrounds, different religions, I’m sure different political leanings (although we have never discussed it) but we have one thing that brings us all together and that is our shared experience as parents. And that’s enough to start a friendship that can develop into more than a shared experience. Gotta love that.

I think I have about a hundred versions of this photo – taken just after Thomas’ bath when he is all cuddly and cute. Unfortunately lately it has been accompanied by a lot of baby talk. Thomas wants to be treated like a baby and I’m sure it has something to do with the pending arrival. I feel bad saying this, but the babytalk is annoying. VERY annoying. And as much as I tell Thomas that he is a big boy he insists that he is a baby. I am hoping it’s a phase that he will overcome soon after the real baby arrives. I am also hoping that the whining goes with it. Don’t worry – I’m not delusional – just hopeful.

This is the first P365 post with a photo that I didn’t take myself. But it was just too special not to post. Thomas has become VERY interested in the baby lately. And not just because he is benefiting from a lot of the baby shower gifts that happen to also be fun for Toddlers. I think he realizes that his little brother will be here soon and he is excited about it. Today he turned to me and said “I’m not going to push the baby”. Yes, I was grateful to hear it too.

Oh and I LOVE high key photo actions that make stretchmarks disappear. Just like magic. 🙂

A little birthday present from my brother Ben and his girlfriend Emma. Well done Bro – it arrived right on my birthday – all the way from Australia. Full of fun activities to do with the kids (still weird to use the plural).

And in case you were wondering… I ALWAYS carry a basket and wear an apron while tending to my sunflowers.

Grooving before bedtime. It’s been a little while since Thomas has picked up the guitar. Tonight’s playlist? “Rock-a-bye Your Bear” and “Play Your Guitar with Murray”. Both by The Wiggles of course.

Thomas loves playing with the magnets on the fridge. We have some magnets of different foods that came with a Sesame street playset and he spends a lot of time arranging them and rearranging them. We also have some alphabet magnets (remember the same alphabet magnets they had when you were a kid?). We started off with – well – 26 magnets. One for each letter of the alphabet. Now we have just one – the letter “W”. Not sure where the rest of them went. I’m sure most of them are under the fridge but that will have to remain one of the mysteries in life – until we renovate the kitchen anyway.

Another busy fun day. I took this photo in the morning and it really represents one of Thomas’ favourite things to do right now. He just loves it when we read to him. The only problem is that it makes me want to buy him more books. There are some really booooring books for kids and we definitely have our fair share. But reading to Thomas is still one of my favourite things to do – especially when he starts “reading” along with me. (Side note: Kei gave me the eye roll when I went to take this photo. He’ll thank me later. :))

Sunday was a beautiful day – not too hot, not too cold and not a cloud in the sky. We decided to make the most of it by heading to the zoo. Yes, we spend a LOT of time at the zoo… 🙂 On the way there I started thinking about how this will probably be the last time we go on a family outing with just the three of us. Next weekend will be busy as I try to get some cleaning done in preparation for Mum’s visit and I don’t think we’ll have much time for fun and then the weekend after my Mum will be here and Kei has a class so not much chance of a family outing then either. (I do have a pedicure scheduled for Sunday – the day before my c-section. Do you think I jinxed it?)

It’s a little bittersweet. While there is no doubt that I am excited about this baby and how he will add to our family, I am a little sad about this part of our life ending.

Where was I? Oh yes, the zoo. Thomas spent a lot of time in the sandpit, the elephants were in fine form and we had a very relaxing, stress-free visit.

I think the zoo membership was possibly one of our best purchases. It doesn’t matter if we don’t see all of the animals or if Thomas just wants to hang out with the elephants all day. There will always be a next time. Which is why Kei and Thomas can spend some time just chilling.

Once again, Thomas fell aslep in the car on the way home and, once again, he decided to skip his nap. Good thing Kei needed some “help” out in the garden so Thomas sepnt some time out there while I tried to get some rest. But then I did some weeding and the laundry so I suppose I am a little bit of a masochist. I am definitely feeling it today. Very achy and tired and really getting ready for this baby.

Happy birthday to me. Yes, Saturday was my birthday – my 33rd. Of course with everything else going on right now it didn’t have quite the celebratory feel that it has in the past, but I had a great day just hanging out with Kei and Thomas.

We started the day with breakfast at one of our favourite places. We have been going there since we moved to Portland 5 years ago and it has the most amazing Crab Cakes Benedict. The best thing is that it’s also family-friendly but still an adult restaurant. That means the noise level is just enough so that we don’t have to stress about bothering other diners and the food is quick.

Next we went and chose light fixtures. I know, pretty exciting, but the good news is that we did manage to decide on almost everything.

Then off to Target where I picked up some toiletries for the hospital bag and some socks for Thomas (thrilling, huh?). Thomas fell asleep on the way home which meant a 15 minute nap, which then meant no nap when we got home. He played in his room for about an hour but no sleeping.

We then headed to a first birhday party for a friend’s daughter where there was much cake and frivolity – including a pinata. Here is Thomas and his friend Evan dividing the booty.

Thomas managed to eat quite a bit of candy before we cut him off. I don’t know how he managed to learn how to unwrap those suckers so fast. Oh, and in case you’re not paying attention, Thomas at this stage had not taken a nap, had eaten some cake and was now onto candy. So we have now moved to the stage of tired loopiness coupled with a sugar high.

So of course I can’t cook on my birthday so we headed out to get some takeout sushi. Thomas decided he wanted to walk like Daddy with his hands in his pockets. At least he’s happy when he’s tired.

But the day was not over. We got home at about 5:30 and Thomas helped Kei make some birthday brownies, complete with a candle to blow out. Thomas was so excited to carry the brownie over to me – so cute now that he gets the whole birthday thing.

The tally for Thomas at the end of the day: No Nap, Birthday Cake, Pinata Candy and a little bit of Birthday Brownie. We did manage to get him to eat some sushi but basically a full sugar diet. This led to a post sugar crash and a VERY deep sleep that lasted until 8:30am. Thomas NEVER sleeps past 6:30/7:00.

Kei and I ended the evening watching Michael Clayton (great movie) and just chilling.

Overall a great, relaxing birthday with my two favourite boys and my very last birthday as a mother of one.

What I love about this photo.

• That it shows how Thomas dances down the street when he’s happy.
• The way the sidewalk goes off into the distance.
• The beautiful pink flowers that signal that finally spring may be here
• The gorgeous porta-potty that managed to make it into the shot. Perfect! (OK, not so much).

This photo just says happy. 🙂

Here’s my little boy in print. So exciting to see one of my LOs published and Thomas was pretty impressed too. As soon as Kei got home Thomas couldn’t wait to tell him that he was in a magazine. I was paid for it too. Not enough to retire but a little bit of pocket money. Of course I would have to publish about 10 pages a week to cover my maternity leave