Fun with Rice & Almond Oil

Now that my tummy is expanding even more, its a bit more work than I'm willing to put out to take Nicholas and Celia out of the house alone. I try to avoid going out alone with them if I can. I am getting more out of breath now. So, this means having to be more creative at home with their activities.
Last week I took some uncooked rice and let them work with it. They had a cookie sheet to catch spills with an empty ice cube tray, bowl of dry rice and a spoon. The used the spoon to put the rice into the ice cube tray holes. They really get absorbed in this activity. They can focus for a good amount of time, but it quickly can turn into chaos. So, as soon as they start to get silly its usually time to get them ready to be done. Otherwise there will be rice everywhere. Thankfully rice sweeps up well. :)
excuse the dull pictures. I didn't take the time to fix them up.










I've been giving Nicholas and Celia massages at night with lotion. My goal is that when the baby is born they can help give him massages sometimes. I've read that this can help them feel important because they are helping the baby and just as a parent can bond with a newborn this way, so can older siblings. So, a few nights a week my goal is to give N&C a massage. After bath time they go in their room which is warmed with the plug-in heater (so they aren't chilly). I also put on the 'waves/ocean' sounds from their white noise machine. They willingly will lay on the massage blanket and I'll give them a massage and sing to them. I've been singing the 'I love you so much' song to them when I start.
Well today I had a chance to run to the natural foods store in town and buy some almond with vitamin E massage oil. Its supposed to be really good for your skin (its what massage therapists use). Tonight Nicholas laid down on the massage blanket eagerly and asked me by humming to sing the 'I love you so much' song. When I started singing it he got this big smile on his face. It was so sweet to see him ask for that song. When I sang it to Celia for her massage she just stared up at me. Its so sweet. :)
Once they have their massage they get their jammies on and we read a few books and then its a drink of water and into bed. Since the nuks were ended they have been so energetic before bed and bedtime keeps getting later and later. I really think they are over tired cause then they wake up earlier and their naps are so short. So, we're going to go back to a 5pm dinner and bed by 6:30/7 to catch up on sleep. With this 1/2 hour long relaxation period before bed they go to sleep faster and without any whining.

On a funny pregnancy note. . . when I was at the natural foods store in town looking for the almond massage oil the two ladies that work there saw me and said "Oh! Looks like a baby on the way" I said "yup"
Then they asked when I was due. When I said "the end of May" they seriously both gasped and grabbed their chests!!! How big am I people??? Geez Louise! I will admit I'm pretty big to have a good 10 weeks ahead of me, but lets have some tact ladies. LOL Oh well, it honestly doesn't bother me. It was funny.
And I've been massaging my own baby belly with the almond oil tonight and it feels so nice. It is so clean and smooth-feeling - not oily like mineral oil. I suppose its good for your skin too since it has vitamin E in the almond oil.
I'm now 28 weeks along!
We have our doula hired (Vanessa Earhart). We start our private prenatal classes when I am 35 weeks.