I started classes today at GCC. I've been a student or a teacher for most of my life, so I think of my years in terms of how they are divided up by semester. So when I started classes today, I couldn't help but think about the fact that, by the end of this semester, I'll be expecting a baby to arrive within days or weeks. That's pretty crazy to wrap my mind around.

Holding New Baby Cousin Nola

Meeting Baby Nola for the First Time!

It's a Boy!

We were at a homeschooling science program yesterday, and I said "hello" to the teacher, who I haven't seen since we did this program last year. When he saw me, he said, "Oh- more on the way! We like that...we need more responsible scientists in the world."

Of all the comments I've gotten about being pregnant, that was my favorite.

Baby Size at 20 Weeks

Starting to do Some Pre-Baby Reading

Colleen and Baby's Newest Cousin, Natalia!

Pregnant Me at Twenty Weeks and Needy Five-Year-Old (I think the two are connected)

Another Yearly Tradition Happened Today (Wonder if I'll be able to go next year?)

I'm Excited to See What Baby Adds to the Homeschooling Mix!

Teaching Older Brothers to Do Their Own Dishes

I'm Five Months Pregnant?!

Post-Nap Snack: Cookies, Pickles, and Milk. Think I'm Pregnant?

January 11: Oldest brother's due date (he came 2.5 weeks early)

Week 19: Baby Size

Baby Size: 18 Weeks

Pregnant Mama, Two Big Brothers, and Art

Peaceful Winter Walk

Today was C's first day of vacation from work, and we went to Porches and MASS MoCA, which seems to have become an annual tradition.

I've starting thinking in terms of "a year from now" a lot, and it is hard to imagine what life will be like next January, with a 7-month old, a 6-year-old, and a 9-year-old. But I'm excited!

Maybe I don't LOOK like I want to puke in this picture (do I?), but I do. I got SO carsick today, just going to a birthday party in Florence. Just when I think I'm back on my feet and feeling "normal" again, I remember being pregnant is never normal. I felt so sick and then walked into a big room of noisy, bouncy children. I ended up going for a walk, going to the local diner for tea, and then came back to the party to have some ginger ale. I felt okay after, but not great. Bleck.

We had a pool party for oldest brother today, and I LOVED swimming. I always love swimming, but I especially love swimming when I'm pregnant. It was such a nice treat.

I had another prenatal appointment and felt relieved to hear the baby's heartbeat and movement after I was sick for so long. I met a midwife I'd never met before, Cate, and really liked her. She was really down-to-earth and easy to talk to.

My next appointment is in a few weeks, and that's when I'll get an ultrasound. And I'm quite positive we will find out this baby's gender. Should be fun!

My two kids get along very well. They are best friends. The only times they aren't getting along is when older brother wants time alone, and middle brother (who never needs time alone) just doesn't want to give it to him.

Sometimes I wonder if Baby will eventually help to balance out E's need to constantly be with other people.

At seventeen weeks, baby is around the size of a turnip.

I don't like turnips. I bet baby is cuter than a turnip.

Woa. It's 2013. That's the birth year of my baby. That thought alone made me have dreams about giving birth. In my dream, I gave birth but couldn't remember one thing about it, and I was so delighted by the fact that I gave birth without being traumatized about it.