So it's exam time again. Sigh. Not my favourite part of the school term, but at least when it's over, we get to have a 3 week long winter holiday. And after that, we have about a week before baby comes. Such exciting times ahead!!
Mr N started off well with the exams. Sometimes the work is allot, and I really feel sorry for him. It takes quite a bit of my time as well, because I have to query him every now and then so that he can see if he knows the work or not. It doesn't always go without a fight. Poor boy. But he's handling it well, and after tomorrow we're a third of the way. They write 3 subjects every week, for 3 weeks. Total of 9.
Boeboe is doing well. Some tantrums again the past few weeks. I honestly think she's just very very tired. She always get like this towards the end of term. I have no idea how she's going to handle exams and that work load next year. But for now, I can't worry about it. Her magnesium is done, so at the moment I'm not giving her anything for her stomach. I'm a bit at a loss and wanna see how her stomach is without any meds. Because even on the magnesium, we've had so many accidents that I'm not sure if it was worth it. I just wish she could handle it better by herself already. I feel like it's still my responsibility, and to be honest, at age almost 9, I feel like she should be responsible? Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon. It probably depends on the child.
Monkeyman is also growing up fast now. He's getting a will of his own, so he doesn't always listen to me anymore. But that's okay, it's normal and not too much to handle. Unfortunately it does mean that he's being disciplined more, which I hate. He's still my baby!! And he's spoiled by his mommy and daddy because he has been such a good little boy. :)
So that's our update. Oh, and of course. The pregnancy. It's going very well. We've been for a 3D scan, and baby is just gorgeous. Fat little cheeks, round small face, bunch of hair, very defined lips and straight little nose. Looks quite a bit like Monkeyman. We're suspecting it's a boy. It looks like a boy! Fortunately (or unfortunately) the sonographer couldn't see the gender, LOL. The kids were adamant that they still wanna wait until the birth, so it's all good.
So it's going really well with baby. Last week he already weighed 1.3kg. With me it's going well too. I had a bad month with a UTI causing some very strong contractions. It wasn't particularly nice. But the antibiotics seemed to have help, and I feel good. I don't even have the normal pregnancy tiredness. Not even the 3rd trimester tiredness. I simply cannot believe how lucky I am! Unfortunately it seems like my liver is struggling a bit. I may have pregnancy cholestasis, which means bile salts are being depositted underneath my skin. My symptoms are severe itching all over, especially at night. And nausea. Really no fun, but at least now I know why I'm still nauseous at 30 weeks pregnancy!! The c-section date is scheduled for end of July. Just 8 weeks left!! Can't wait to meet this little one. And see what gender we're having. :-)
So I've been thinking about something this past few weeks. Why do some moms brag SO much about their children? Honestly, it grates me sometimes. I try to understand, but I find it difficult. Oh believe me, I love my kids, and I'm superproud to be their mommy. But I don't think of them as the most beautiful, cleverest, cutest, whatever little kids there are. And I certainly don't go around and tell that to everyone everytime I see them. I'm too much of a realist. Mr N is such a good boy, but he's not an angel! I'm not unaware of the fact that he can push the boundaries and do typical 10-year old boy things like leave 3-day old cooldrink glasses in his room. Or hide the note from the teacher that complained about his homework not being done. When I look at his face, I see his gorgeous eyes, his shy smile and his high forehead. But I'm not blind. I also see his freckles, his prominent upper jaw and his Prince Charles ears. I don't mind any of that. I love him with and including everything. The good, the bad, the beautiful, the cleverness, the shyness, the happiness. Anything and everything. His whole make-up. Personality and looks. And together it makes Mr N. My Mr N. My wonderful boy.
Same with Boeboe. I know she's sometimes lacking in logic. I know that she's not very gifted in sports, academics, cultural activities, etc. I know all of that. But I also know that she has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen in any little girl. I know that her giggle can sent other kids into fits of laughter because it's so contagious. I know that she must be the most emotionally strong little girl that has ever walked the earth, because of what she had to cope with in her life. I know she's sweet, super kind, gentle, instinctual, intuitive. But I'm not stupid or blind. I know her. Inside and out, and I love her, inside and out.
Monkeyman...yes, our calm river. I absolutely adore that about him. His wife is probably going to call it being lazy, and I know she won't love it. But to me, as his mommy, I find it super adorable that he is so laid back and relaxed and chilled. Nothing phases him. He's so contend. So happy. So easy-going. But I realises that it takes some packing explosives to get him moving! His poor teacher one day. I also know that his toothless smile may be cute to us, but other people probably find it repulsive. I also know that he's quite average looking. There's nothing particularly outstanding about his little face, and also nothing particularly bad about his face. He's just...there. Normal, human, boy. He'll be one of those faces that could just dissapear in a crowd. He's not tall. Or big. Or anything noticable, except his stunning eyes. But for those that knows him, his fine sense of humour will be a source of so much joy. His love for the people in his life would surround everyone with a sense of happiness like it does with us. His sharp wit, his high intellect and his quick grasping of how things work will help him make a success of whatever he tackles one day.
So yes, I'm not blind to my kids "normalness". Or their "averageness". So that's why it grates me that when you talk to certain mommies, they always just brag about how quick, how fast, how clever, how beautiful, how amazing their kids are. Why is this? Do they think we won't notice it if they don't keep on telling us? Do they think that we won't realise the exact extend of how cute their child really is? Or how beautiful? Or how amazingly fast he's developing? When I speak to people, I'd rather talk about the complaints. The issues I have with my kids. How they won't listen, or how they get so much homework, or how they're eating me out of the house. I don't like to tell them "oh, have you noticed how absolutely stunning Boeboe looks in that dress?". Or "did you know what Monkeyman's teacher told me last week about how very clever and advanced he is in maths at the age of only 4?" or "did you know that Mr N was in the top 10 for Maths AND English last year for his grade?". I don't feel any need to tell anyone that. It's enough that WE know about it. Me and their daddy. I don't need other people's nods of acknowledgement to know how amazing my kids are. And I can't wait to see how clever and amazing this 4th one is going to be!!
