while we wait for flash

So, it's about ten o'clock in the evening on Flash's estimated due date.  I think it's safe to say this little boy won't be arriving on time.  Early last week we thought he might be early.  There wasn't anything dramatic enough to send us running to labor and delivery or anything -- just enough going on to make us think, "hey, maybe in the next few days..."  Now we know he was teasing us.  If he doesn't choose to join us before next week, he might just be evicted.  (My obstetrician doesn't like to go past 41 weeks.)  Only time will tell.

While Flash dawdles, his siblings grow more and more eager to meet him.  Kathleen loves to lie with her head in my lap, talking to her baby brother.  She tells him about everything -- how to differentiate between her and her sister ("I have blonde hair, Flash.  And Madeline has brown."), about her pink bedroom and her big girl bunk bed, about how many people will be in our family.  Madeline loves to hug and kiss my belly, proclaiming her love for baby Flash.  She sits with her hands on me, her eyes growing large as she exclaims, "He's kicking!"  (Her exclamations only sometimes coincide with actual kicks, but I haven't the heart to tell her.)

Both Kathleen and Madeline frequently pray for Flash, asking God to help him grow strong and healthy and arrive safely.  It makes me cry.  Their daddy, too.

John David, on the other hand, is completely oblivious.  He has no idea what's coming, and what's coming is going to rock his world.  At the same time, though, we've got reason to think that he's going to be a good, sweet, big (enormous?) brother.

Lately he's taken a liking to Madeline's baby doll.

Some apple for John David...

Some apple for the baby... 

I'm not saying we won't have to keep a close eye on this guy, but I think he's got a sweet little heart!

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In the meantime, we've been keeping ourselves pretty busy.  When it hasn't been raining, we've been playing outside.  We've hit up a couple different parks in the past week, which has delighted our little people.  Once we even took a picnic lunch.  It was only peanut butter and jelly, apples, and their water bottles, but they loved it! 

I'd like to tell you that the motivation behind the park circuit is ensuring the children have as much fun as possible right now, since we'll likely be sticking close to home for a bit once their brother arrives. But frankly, that wouldn't be true. We've been going to a lot of parks and playing in the backyard because I find myself thinking, "How can I get all these people to sleep for a decent amount of time this afternoon so that I can pass out on the sofa?" Outdoor play, while not failproof, does up the odds.  And I'm all for upping the odds on naptime!

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I think we've finally said good-bye to summer weather.  The days have been cooler and even rainy of late.  This has meant some last minute fall shopping.  (I know I should've been thinking ahead, but it's hard to get motivated to buy long sleeved shirts when you're letting kids run around in swimming suits and diapers.)
 
I picked up a t-shirt with a matroshka doll on it for Kathleen, since she has always loved the doll we bought in St. Petersburg, Russia, before she was born.  She insisted that we take her photograph with the shirt and the doll.  I think her happiness is evident.

Nan and Grandpa happened to be here the first day of rain, and they witnessed the sad suiting up of our children.  Everyone's coats had unintentional three-quarter length sleeves.  Whoops!  The grandparents (rightly) insisted we rectify that situation.  Consequently, the girls are now the proud possessors of new, pink raincoats.  And rainboots.  (I should really have photos of those, because the girls might love them even more than their raincoats.  If that's possible.)

This purchase has meant that the girls can be allowed to play in the backyard even when it's raining.  And that's bliss for just about everyone.  (Except for John David.  One day you'll get boots, too, little boy.  We promise.)  Oh, thank you, Nan and Grandpa!

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Random, but true: here's how I found Madeline when I went to wake her from her nap this afternoon.

Completely asleep!

Two things I'd like to point out: (1) she managed to fit under there even though we're storing the second crib under that bed and (2) she's wearing her socks on her hands. 

I have no explanations.

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Crowns are sort of big deal around here.  The girls wear them a lot.  And I mean a lot.  We have a fairly wide variety, and they're worn to dance class and the commissary and the bookmobile and the park.  As proof, I offer two photographs, just from today.

Kathleen in a crown.

Madeline in a crown.

And maybe everyone else saw this coming, but it still catches me by surprise.  Two more photos.  Also from today.

Indy in a crown.  Or two.

I think this boy needs a brother!