The Connolly Family

Mama’s Little Helper

Liam has been a bit of a nightmare since we got back from Virginia.

He’s basically had a contrary response to every request that’s made of him.Â He had his first potty training accident in weeks (although we’re not quite sure if he was trying to tell us he needed to go or not since Matt and I were in our bedroom in an epic — and completely commonplace — search for a shirt that would fit over my belly and wouldn’t make me look like a vagabond).Â He’s spent more time in time-out for things like hitting than he has in the last 3 months combined.Â The only two outings I dared to take involved complete meltdowns over things like the deli not having cheese samples available and Liam’s outfit preferences for a friend’s baby.

The list goes on and on and on ad infinitum (and ad nauseam, frankly).

From what I can tell, the only positive developments he’s had since we left town are that his language skills are even better than when we left and his hair has grown (Matt really liked the short cut, I wasn’t as big of a fan…).Â Here’s an example of those language skills that took place in the entrance to the Publix:

Shannon:Â [Searching desperately for the grocery list that took me half an hour to put together before we left for the store.]

Liam:Â Whatcha lookin’ for, Mama?

Shannon:Â I can’t find my grocery list, and Mama has a hard time remembering anything anymore without a list.

Liam:Â The grocery list is on the floor in the living room.

Shannon:Â What?Â Are you sure?

Liam:Â Yes, Mama.Â I saw it on the floor before we got in the van.

Shannon:Â Awesome.

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We arrived home to find the grocery list right where Liam claimed it was, in the middle of the living room floor.Â I’m not making any bets on how it came to be there, because although I can’t blame him for something I didn’t actually see him do, I know that of all the places I could possibly have put the list and the middle of the living room floor isn’t on the list, so to speak.

Math

(1500 miles/6 days)

3 nights of fitful motel bed sleep

A 9.5 hour trip home that should have taken 8.5 hours

Painful contractions and a complete inability to find a comfortable space in which to BE

Power outages at home during our time on the road

An ancient thermostat that apparently has decided that “hold” is an optional temperature directive and which decides to set itself on a temperature that’s 4 degrees warmer than normal

Tossing, turning, and sweating all night

Matt waking up at 5am in a pool of sweat unable to fall back to sleep

Shannon waking up at 6:15 in an ocean of sweat wondering why Matt’s not in bed

Shannon and Matt both needing copious amounts of (caffeinated) coffee but being both too hot and too lazy (and one being too pregnant) to make any

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Welcome home!

Week 35

This week has been brought to you by the Eisenhower Interstate System (and a “Future Interstate” or two).Â We’ve only got one more long drive ahead of us before we meet Baby Girl (fingers crossed) as we head out from Virginia tomorrow morning.Â I have learned a few things about myself traveling while massively pregnant:

1)Â I will swell.Â Period.Â End of story.Â Water intake doesn’t stop it.Â Getting out of the car to walk every two hours doesn’t stop it.Â It’s happening.Â Get over it.

2)Â My tailbone will feel like it’s breaking in two after several hours on the road.Â The only thing that helps this is leaning forward and since this is very difficult to do while riding safely in a van, it’s just another thing to get over.

3)Â Having a “wait and see” attitude about my next meal is no longer an option for me.Â The result is a (literally) paralyzing hunger that leads to me spending four hours in a hotel room with a broken television remote and 2 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups while slowly developing the shakes and a massive headache and waiting for Matt to come home and save me.Â This is not advisable (and necessitates two plates of food at the meal that follows).

4)Â Never go anywhere without at least 3x the number of snacks and beverages you anticipate needing.Â You may not need any of it, but if you don’t have it with you you’ll definitely need it and the result is Bad News Bears.

5)Â Going to a wedding full of thin, good-looking people while 35 weeks pregnant means that blending into the scenery isn’t an option.Â Most people are very nice, but those girls who were afraid to sit next to you because you were taking up more than your allotted share of seated space, those girls you could do without.Â Move your chair over a foot and get over it:Â they’ll be more comfortable and so will you.

6)Â When someone offers to bring you water or food:Â take them up on the offer.Â Immediately.

On with the pictures!

Week 35 in my pregnancy with Liam (apparently we like to play it fast-and-loose with the 36 week deadline for travel — these shots were taken at Big Canoe on our last pre-parenthood vacation):

Week 35 in this pregnancy with Baby Girl (It’s still amazing to me how much bigger my belly is this time.Â At the time I never thought it could possibly stick out farther than it did last time, but clearly I was wrong…):

Bonus Shots:

Here’s what I look like after an afternoon on the road (34 weeks, 5 days):

This was taken with my college roommate Courtney also at 34 weeks, 5 days (The contrast between the tininess that is Courtney and the pregnantness that is me is kind of incredible, I think.):

This was taken tonight (35 weeks, exactly) after getting back from Ben’s wedding (a good example of what spending 6 hours outside does to my hair and my face — between the frizz and the puff we had a great time, believe it or not…):

And now it’s time for some shut-eye before another 8.5 hour drive tomorrow.Â Three cheers for earplugs!

Peeing & Pressure

Things I have learned in the last day and a half:

1:Â Rest Stop bathrooms were designed for people who are 4’9″ and can pee faster than a speeding bullet.Â Extremely pregnant people (apparently) cannot a) get off the toilet without cursing a blue streak or b) pee fast enough for the automatic flusher to go off fewer than 4 times during the process of an attempt (in case you’re wondering, which I’m pretty sure you weren’t, this did happen and I did eventually give up, wash my hands and go back to the car, non-emptied bladder and all).

2:Â Taking a toddler to a midwife appointment, even a quickie one, is not advisable.Â I ended up with the highest blood pressure reading of my life after my son decided that opening the door to the hall while I was in the process of attempting to pee in a cup was an excellent idea.Â Let’s just say there was yelling and I’m glad I had disinfectant wipes in my purse.

Oy vey.

Week 34

Being on vacation this week has been lovely.Â Baby Girl’s newfound love of sitting directly on a nerve on my right side in an extremely painful manner is not so lovely.Â Let’s put it this way:Â I found myself lying down on the floor of the Ann Taylor dressing room in a futile attempt at getting her to shift over to my left side.Â The perspective was interesting (the footwear choices of others are not something I necessarily look at in so much detail), but it’s not something I ever wish to do again.Â There was also the squatting down in the aisle of The Granary and the time I spent in the Baby Gap dressing room sitting on a bench covered in Liam’s fall clothes while my mom brought me options for Baby Girl.Â I can’t believe I still have 6 weeks to go.Â On with the pictures.

Week 34 in my pregnancy with Liam (Slippers…ahh…how I miss slippers.):

Week 34 in this pregnancy with Baby Girl (My belly is definitely bigger this time around and as I mentioned earlier, I’m feeling it.Â Big time.Â Also–the shirt that I wear in all these pictures is very close to not meeting the waistband of the pants I wear in all these pictures.Â Apparently y’all are about to get some midriff shots (which is what I know you’ve been aching to see…).Â Other than that, the pictures speak for themselves.):

Bonus 34 Week shots (from this pregnancy):

Here’s what happens when Baby Girl sits on my last nerve and I run for the bed desperately seeking some relief (pillows thrown asunder, bedclothes everywhere, massive amounts of kvetching, etc.):

Does this dress make my bump look big?

6 more weeks?Â Really?Â Seriously?

Marie Selby Gardens

We spent the morning at the Marie Selby Gardens.Â Long live the reciprocal program where we can use our Atlanta Botanical Gardens membership card to get in for free (and apparently get in two guests for free as well)!Â We came home slightly melted, but had a great time.Â Here are the pictures:

Being this pregnant means that the majority of the shots I got were of people’s backs…

Koi pond:

Apparently these fish are used to being fed…

Liam rings the bell:

Monkey see:

Monkey do:

Liam explores the banyan tree:

And…he’s off!

Family picture time:

I contemplate the best extrication method:

Mo and Pok cop a squat:

“I SEE DAD!!!”

Liam joins Mo and Pok:

Off we go again:

Very relaxed squirrel:

Spending a little time at one of Matt’s favorite places:

“Oh!Â Look who’s coming!”

“This way, guys!”

“Come on!”

Showing off his treasures:

Liam gives directions:

And now it’s time to take a break for some shrimp!

Siesta Key 2010 Roundup (2)

Here’s another huge roundup of pictures from the last several days.Â We’re continuing to have a great time and I find it hard to believe that we have to leave in a few short days.Â Here goes.

In case you were wondering what happens when you put your camera in a plastic bag before taking pictures in an attempt to fight the humidity (for the record, I wasn’t wondering at all, but a certain someone else just had to find out…):

Liam does his barbell dance:

Gran gives Liam a lesson in Hokey Pokeying:

Daddy time:

Liam shows us just how HEAVY this barbell is!

Pumping some more iron:

A VERY rare moment of downtime:

Matt shows off his basketball spinning prowess (and Liam is much more interested in his boat):

The mark of one of the greats is the perfection of the tongue-of-concentration:

Liam’s favorite pool activity:

“Hey Liam, what would you like to do now?”

Gran takes a turn:

“Hey Gran, will you throw me up there?”

Gran’s version of Liam’s favorite pool game isn’t quite the same as Daddy’s:

Pok actually set foot in the pool area!

We ate dinner at Big Olaf’s and Liam took part for the first time:

He was a very quick study:

Serious business:

This method was much easier:

The sugar hits his bloodstream:

Woolf men:

The Beach Bazaar is still a wonderland for little ones:

Rubber chicken!

Per tradition Liam got to choose one tchotchke (he was very excited):

Liam’s first golf club:

Matt’s new favorite picture:

Readying his stance:

Backswing:

Follow-through:

Celebrating a job well done:

A little lesson from Daddy:

Daddy comes back from his walk:

Best greeting a Dad can get:

World’s Cutest Golfer:

Scrunch-face lives:

Here’s to another three days filled with this much fun!

Siesta Key 2010 Roundup (1)

Here is a massive assortment of some of the pictures we’ve taken since we arrived.Â I find it nearly impossible to edit my selections these days and this post will be no different.Â I recommend getting a snack and settling in (or skipping it altogether…my guess is that this type of post appeals only to a very small group of people, about half of whom are here with us).Â Here goes.

Liam learns to use his new camera:

Mo shows Liam why he might need a bath before it’s acceptable to play on this particular bed…

Liam has spent the past 6 months talking about going to the beach, building sand castles, finding shells, spotting parasails, playing in the ocean, and “swimmin’ in da pool.”Â Here is where his long-awaited adventure began:

Little ducks, all in a row:

Liam shows us that his middle name is not just for show, it’s truly in the DNA (for at least 5 seconds or so…):

Off to the water with Dad:

Matt smiles for the camera, but Liam’s far too interested in the water:

Liam learns to “jump” the “waves”:

Whee!

Granddaddy takes a turn:

Pure joy:

Gran gives Dad a break:

The moment we’ve all been waiting for (AKA Mo and Pok arrive at the beach):

First parasail spotting:

“Hey Dad, check it out!”

“There it is!”

Excitement:

Liam enjoys the spotlight (and the sand):

Liam learns the hard way that throwing sand isn’t the best idea (now if we could only get him to retain that lesson…):

Burial:

We’re so glad that Mo and Pok are here!

Liam helps Pok build a sandcastle:

Liam takes a construction lesson:

“Taaaa!”Â (Ta Da! to those of you not in the know…)

Pok takes a destruction lesson:

Taking a break to share a smile with Mo:

One for the memory books (and a frame on my wall):

Family picture (AKA: The last time you will ever see me in a bikini):

Profile in Pregnancy (and in courage):

Back to the sandcastles:

Foot burial:

Four happy faces:

All in a row:

Now if I could just get him this interested in order when we’re at home…

This is what happens when I teach Gran to use our camera…

Backward “wave jumping:”

Mo shows us how it’s done:

Now it’s time to stop posting and start floating!

Your Morning Liam

Here are a few pictures to whet your appetite…

Liam, my son, thinks any cord (like headphones) plug into your belly button.

LL Cool L rocking some tunes in his “Best Friend” pajamas

Week 33

This week has been epic.Â Too many things to do and not enough time in which to do them apparently results in frequent painful contractions and many, many tears.Â I’m still planning things as if I have the ability to push through the wall and continue to be productive.Â I can’t.Â Now when I hit the wall I bounce off and end up on my hiney in a puddle on the floor.Â The good news is that we made it to Siesta Key (YAY!).Â The bad news is that it took about 9.5 hours and resulted in massive amounts of swelling (which you’ll no doubt see in the pictures).Â I just hope I can drink enough water to get myself back on track so that the swelling doesn’t continue.Â I’m thinking that floating in a pool day after day will help.Â I wish that floating in the pool with a Corona in my hand was an option, but they keep telling me about this FAS business…anyway, on with the pictures.

Week 33 in my pregnancy with Liam (It looks like I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve surpassed my former self when I compare these pictures.Â I’d like to think that that’s related to 9.5 hours in the car with a pent up toddler, but I’m guessing that that’s not entirely true…):

Week 33 in this pregnancy with Baby Girl (I feel like the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man and it shows.Â September can’t get here fast enough…):

Sweet dreams, y’all.