'a supp-ize!'

As Ryan was putting Maya into the car yesterday, they were 'secretly' talking about the 'surprise' in the bag in the car. Ryan was telling Maya, "now, don't tell Mama about the surprise we got at the store for her for Christmas. Remember the present in that bag?? It's a secret. We'll bring it in the house when we get back and wrap it." As I got into the car, I said, "Maya, do you have a surprise for Mama?"
With her very serious, big eyes she said "supp-ize....inn-nair."
I really like surprises. I hate ruining them. But without expecting true details, just to continue the conversation... I asked, "Maya, what's in there? What's the surprise?"

"Brace," she said proudly. "Supp-ize." Big smile.
Ryan wearily shook his head and sighed, both of us laughing. Yes, it's a bracelet.

But apparently she tried to trick me, to save some of the suspense... by claiming that it's 'yellow.'

This morning, I've been cleaning up the office/Sophia's room.... For a while, Maya kept yelling "OH! OH! OH!" out in the hallway. She chatters a lot these days....so I didn't really stop to wonder too much...until she wandered in and handed me this puzzle piece.




And just now, when I looked for the 'O' to take those pictures.... it was gone. I asked her to get that 'O' for me again. And amongst all her books, random puzzle pieces and toys, she brought it to me again.

Scary.

22 weeks are gone, only 18 (or fewer) remain...

...until Sophia arrives.

She now looks like a miniature newborn, at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

Our doctor told us today that the ultrasound pictures from November looked perfect. Sophie's developing organs look just right. He also told me that the 8 pounds I've gained so far were good too...that 10 are actually recommended by now, so I've stopped feeling fat for today :)

I just feel so much 'bigger' than I felt with Maya. Probably the fact that my muscles had just over a year to go back to where they belong and back into shape... makes my now five-month pregnant 'belly' less able to hide Sophie as I could Maya.

I wish I had more time to just sit and think about Sophie's arrival. It doesn't really seem like it's only 18 weeks away! My mind is unable to focus on much beyond the many upcoming deadlines and performances ahead for Christmas.
But in just 9 more school days (3 weeks), I'll be home with Ryan and Maya, celebrating Christmas, enjoying visits from far away siblings, and dreaming about April.

For now though, I have a program order to type, several forms to fill out, a kitchen to clean, a diaper bag to pack for the morning, and a bed that is calling my name.