Deja vu all over again

Two days ago I was officially moved from "modified couch potato duty" to "strict bedrest." After nearly 4 months of strict bedrest when I was pregnant with Aiden, I can't say it was a huge shock to find myself there again, but things had been going so very smoothly that Andy and I had almost convinced ourselves it was going to turn out differently this time.

We had a routine ultrasound at the hospital, part of our weekly "high-risk" appointments, and just looking at the measurements of my cervix on the screen, we both knew. We are getting really good at identifying the different black and white blobs on the u/s screen... if you've only had one or two ultrasounds it's almost impossible to tell what is a baby's abdomen, legs, or head, never mind parts of my female anatomy. Anyway, when the u/s tech left the room and told us to wait there for a few minutes (they can't tell you anything, though they completely know what they're finding, so you have to read the body language), Andy and I exchanged a knowing look. "If she brings in a wheelchair, we're screwed," said Andy. Ten minutes later, in rolled my chariot, and up I went to be admitted to the maternity floor.

The timing could not have been worse, and the timing could not have been better. I had a big training to run (all sitting down, of course) at work the next two days, complete with 4+ hours of powerpoint presentations. Other staff members (mostly my hero Wendy) had to pick up all the pieces and run it without me and with little preparation. Bad timing. The other way to look at it is that with my cervix is starting to open, the stress and long hours of the training would likey have exacerbated the problem, and could have spelled disaster for our little girl. Good timing.

I have been relased from the hospital now and am re-adjusting to the routine at home. Today is Day 3 of being 100% horizontal, except for trips to the bathroom. Only 10 weeks to go...



In better times (two weekends ago) Aiden had fun at a friend's birthday party which was held at a local gymnastics center.

And he got to visit his HaPa and Grandma in Vermont, make and devour wood-fired pizza, and collect the chickens' eggs. Fun will be limited to the immediate vicinity surrounding New London in the coming weeks, but I know Andy will do everything he can to make sure Aiden's life is as normal as possible. This is how super-dads are made!

"The Aiden": pepperoni, broccoli and black olives

Easter at the Beach?

The weather has been freakishly gorgeous and warm for early April, so when Easter weekend rolled around with forecasted temps in the 80s, we scrapped the housework and traditional ham dinner for some summer-preview fun. Aiden was more than game, as you can see in the photo above. He was ready with all his gear a full 20 minutes before Andy and I.



We went to the rocky beach at Ordione Point for some tidepool exploring first, and then to the sandy expanse of Wallis Sands after that. The boys flew kites, dug in the sand, ran through the freezing waves, and played soccer while I read and watched them from a big beach blanket. We had a picnic lunch and topped it all off with huge creamy ice cream cones from Beach Plum in Rye. Since we weren't able to visit extended family for Easter this year, our beach day was a great alternative.

We did get to some more traditional Easter activities over the weekend too. The town egg hunt on the New London green was lots of fun for Aiden and some of his friends from school. The whole green was scattered with what seemed like thousands of plastic candy-filled eggs, but within 5 minutes the small flocks of toddlers and kindergarteners swooped in and hoovered up every last egg. Let's just say lots of candy was eaten before lunch that day while all the parents lingered in the sun and socialized.

Some of Aiden's friends from Windy Hill School- Ben, Molly, Ollie & Zoey


The easter bunny also made an appearance

And we put to good use all those eggs Aiden had colored with Grandma Chris- we hid them, pitted them against one another in a traditional Lithuanian egg-cracking contest, and then chopped them up for egg salad (which only I eat around here).

Grandma Goodness

Aiden learned an important lesson last week. He learned that everything is better when Grandma is here. When Grandma is here, you get to watch cool new movies like Mary Poppins and The Muppets and The Fox & the Hound; you get to make chocolate frosted cupcakes; you get to decorate eggs; you get to play baseball and ride your bike outside; and you get to visit the planetarium, library, and local sugarhouses. Normally you might get one or two of these things with Mom and Dad, but when Grandma is here... life is really good.

Since we aren't sugaring in VT this year, we had to go find a local sugarhouse (this one is in Sunapee, NH) to get our yearly fix of Maple Cream (mmmmm....). Grandma Chris also got Maple Pancake mix and treated us all to a delicious breakfast on the weekend.

What surprises me is that they actually bother to put 2% maple syrup in Log Cabin!

Thanks to Uncle Kenny (and Ian!) for the huge stash of "vintage" matchbox cars and trucks. Aiden is in heaven!

Thanks for a great visit Grandma Chris!