So, before heading to the doctor's office we headed to Heather's. Heather is the best babysitter I've ever heard of. She watches kids full time and really makes it wonderful for them. Grant's only been to Heather's a few times but he gets very excited when we pull in to their drive.

More about that in a bit.

This morning, we got Grant dressed. I packed his backpack with a change of clothes and some diapers and wipes. Then, I packed his lunch box. I've had this lunch box for a few months now... it's a Thomas the Train lunch box. I've told Grant he can't have it until he goes to school. He has been all about this lunch box. Today, I packed his lunch and some snacks (half a peanut butter sandwich, fruit snacks, bananas, green beans and sweet potatoes) and he finally got to carry his lunch box.

Here it is... a picture of Joy.

He was so proud of his backpack and lunch box that he couldn't wait for me to leave so he could just “be” with them.

So, comforted that Grant wasn't just in good hands, he was quite happy to be there, I trekked to the OB. We saw the baby on the ultrasound. He's measuring a bit big, but not too much. He's in the 74^th percentile for size. Grant was always right in the 50^th percentile, so this little guy is going to be a chunk-a-lunk. He's got my (and Grant's) nose. He's head down and I'm carrying him very low. He's also facing the side so we can't get a very good full on look at him. Also, I think he'll be a thumb sucker because he's always got a hand on his face. The parts of him that are hurting me... his knees. I pointed right to my stomach where it's always SO painful... and asked “what is here???” It's his bony little knees.

After the ultrasound it was non-stress-test time. Sort of silly considering we'd JUST had an ultrasound. He was not moving around at all after being squished so much... totally asleep. He was boarder line on passing the NST – so the nurse warned me they may send me to L&D for monitoring. I knew he was fine.. but better safe than sorry.

Finally, I go in to the OB. She says she's not at all concerned... we'd just seen him practicing breathing on the u/s and that he's just sleeping.

So off I go to the grocery store...

then to pick up my sweet Grant.

He'd had some fun adventures today... including a nature walk where he got to collect treasures (rocks). He at most of his lunch (and he won't even do that for me at home). He was so excited to tell me all about his day and I was so excited to see him and hug him. There are very very few hours that Grant & I are apart, so when we do go a few hours being separated I'm always so glad for a bit of a break but so so excited to have him in my arms again. He starts preschool in a couple of weeks and I'm excited for him but I'm nervous for me.

This afternoon I set my facebook status to:

Julianna wants to run screaming like a maniac out the door... down the road... and into the night.

I'd had quite the day with Grant who, at that moment, was refusing what used to be his favorite dinner. We were rushing to get out the door to preschool orientation and he was coming to the tail end of a cooped-up-because-of-the-rain toddler day.

When I got home tonight I was calmer, and sort of embarrassed by what I'd written out of frustration... sort of expected some “oh no, what's wrong?” comments.

Instead... I had these:

Been There!

That could be fun!

Can I join you?

This feeling is going around today!

I'm thinking CPM event.

That feeling IS going around today.

The comments made me laugh right out loud... and made me glad that I have the friends I have... who totally know the feeling, have had the feeling and can commiserate.

I still laugh when I think about it!

It's hot and steamy here in North Carolina... and very very busy.

I'm on weekly OB visits and I see the endocrinologist every other week.

I feel like I've been kicked square in the crotch... how's that for an honest blog?

Grant is averaging 1 naughty chair trip per day... he's talking in full sentences and loves to play “Happy, Sad, Mad, Scared” (where we make the appropriate face for the emotion named). He's also started counting things (up to 7) and knows the difference between a dolphin and a whale – which cracks me up. Also, my current favorite Grant thing is when he wakes up from his nap... he's surprised. “Mommy! I woke up!” Pure comedy.

We have preschool orientation on Wednesday and I'm just not ready to be apart from him... though I know I need the time to myself, it will be wonderful to schedule my doctors appointments during his school time. And when little brother is here, I'll have a bit of a break from chasing 2 boys for a few hours a week.

Drew painted the barn and carport. They look fantastic.

I've shopped the consignment sales for fall/winter clothes and both boys are outfitted... thanks to shopping at Brynn-mart today. Thank goodness my friend Brynn has the same taste in clothes as I do – and a son who is a year ahead of Grant in sizes (okay, not really anymore since Grant has stalled at 24 months and her son has shot up like a weed – sooo tall). We love shopping at Brynn-mart!

Buddy had his teeth cleaned and that was a HUGE disaster. They pulled 11 teeth. ELEVEN. More than doubling the cost of the cleaning WITHOUT TELLING US until we got there. So now our dog has no front teeth and we have filed a complaint with the BBB about Animal Care Clinic on Church street in Concord. They basically told us that when you send in your dog for surgery you're sending in an animal and a blank check for the vet to do whatever they think the dog needs. Yea, those were a couple of fun days.

Tomorrow morning I hope to hit the farmer's market then clean in the afternoon... and hopefully it'll cool off enough for us to go outside and play in Grant's splash pool for a bit. The rest of the week is absolutely full.

Also, thanks to Rachel I'm obsessed with Chipotle peppers adobo sauce. Yum. Seriously. Yum.