Well, Larry and I have hatched a plan to start a weblog for our family so that our friends and relatives all over the place can keep up with us. While we can't promise to update it every day, we will try to stay as up-to-date as possible.

Let's start with today, then! The major excitement for our family today came when we bought ourselves a digital camera (for the very purpose of being able to easily add photos to our blog). We are kind of behind the times around here in some ways, but it's going to be nice to be able to keep up with events such as Benjamin's arrival (any day now) and Mae's birthday (coming up in early September) with photos.

Larry is in the midst of a whole bunch off essays. He has finished two so far this term (and he's doing a really great job, I have to say...I believe he got a high distinction on his first one!!). The man is amazing. Considering what a great dad he is, and that he always has time to take care of his excessively pregnant, hormonal wife, I can hardly believe he's even passing sometimes!

We have recently started Jonathan's homeschooling adventure -- in fact we started this week. We received his curriculum late last week and we were all looking forward to beginning. He is using a curriculum called Sonlight, which is very much literature-based. He seems to be enjoying it so far, although he has requested "more activities, and more treats". :) I have told him this will be happening for sure once I have had the baby! Activity isn't exactly top of my list right now, funnily enough...

As mentioned, Mae is turning three in a few weeks! Given the timing with Ben's due-date (they are/were both due August 25, although Mae was 10 DAYS LATE!!) we are probably going to have to put off celebrations for a while. October is when the weather starts getting nicer around here, and Mae has a cousin turning three in October, so her birthday party may be held then. We are thinking a tea-party would suit our little princess Mae-Mae quite well.

Grace is just a bundle of energy -- and some whining. She has a couple teeth coming in, plus is struggling to get over a bad cold (as is her hugely pregnant mama). She is still, for the most part, a joy to be around. She's a cuddly girl and with some coaxing will give out lovely hugs and kisses. I think Larry is having trouble coming to terms with the fact that she soon will not be the baby any more. Personally I am getting used to the fact that around 18 months is the age when our babies become older siblings, so it's not so much a shock to me.

And Benjamin! He is a wiggly little baby, apparently of roughly average size, and I think he's going to look like Mae. Something about his ultrasound pictures just screamed "MAE!" to me. He is due in one week, although I have planned to go into labor (spontaneously of course) tomorrow...we'll see how that goes, I guess...

We are having Ben in a birth centre attached to the hospital where I had the other three. The environment there is more family-oriented -- in fact we are able to have the kids there for the birth (although we don't plan to as I don't want to scar them for life! ). Larry and Grace will be able to stay overnight with Ben and me. The other two children probably could, too, but we decided it would be easier to have them stay with one of my sisters, and they will enjoy that much more anyway.

The flipside of the birth centre plan is that there is no chance of pain relief during labor -- not that I had any with the last two, but it's a little different knowing you have no option. Of course, being attached to the hospital, if there is a problem or I decide I just can't get by without an epidural or something, they can transfer me in a jiffy. I plan to avoid that with all my might.

As for me, I am about ready to be done with this pregnancy. I have had a lot of back/hip/pelvic pain (Larry says discomfort so as not to scare anyone, but it's straight-up PAIN) in the past couple of months and it's getting difficult to do anything. I also wanna hold my little baby! I have made his quilt, assembled his diaper stash (we use cloth), decorated his nursery (the first time we've really had a nursery!), packed our bags, accepted the fact that this house is just not going to get very clean right now...I'm ready to go.

Now to try and figure out how to post pictures here...

God bless, everybody!