BIG Warning: Unattractive Belly Exposure

When I heard Kate Gosselin of TLC's "Jon & Kate plus 8" mention that the age of three is proving more difficult for them than the terrible twos, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I realize they have five more toddlers to contend with, but I find it hard to imagine any one of their sextuplets passionately crying "PLEASE GOD HELP ME!!" from his timeout corner in the laundry room. That would only be our Jude. Where does the melodrama come from? A mystery, I know.

In terms of discipline, last weekend was probably the roughest with Jude that I can think of. It's sad that when we're disciplining him, Eli is always hovering close by most likely expecting to see Mount St. Lisa explode right in the middle of the dining room. You'd think the disobedience was about something normal like refusing to share a toy or hitting another child, but with Jude it's about not wanting to feed himself a simple meal. Jude has very little interest in food and I have only myself to blame, because that's exactly how I was growing up. All the eating of the food gets in the way of all the important playing that he feels must get done each day. He's relatively good but there is not a week that goes by when I don't have to force him to eat his dinner at least once, and what do you know, this causes him to whine or complain that his tummy is grumpy. One time I think he said his hand was too tired to pick up the spoon. So unpredictable, that one.

But when we're alone with Jude one on one, he's still the most adorable little three year old to me. He says the cutest things and warms my heart. These days on our way to school, we'll stop by the donut shop, sit, and enjoy each other's company along with a tasty breakfast treat. I love listening to his stream of consciousness. I treasure these times and secretly wish he didn't have to go to school and I didn't have to go into the office.

What does Eli have to say these days? The other day he turns to me, pinches his own cheeks, and says, "Cheeks.... TOO BIG." I was so startled by this, didn't know where he had learned such a thing, and immediately corrected him, "No Eli. Eli's cheeks are JUST RIGHT."

So I think I'm somewhere around full term. I can technically deliver any time now, but I have two and a half weeks until my official due date. It might sound silly since my two boys were full term, but I don't take this milestone lightly. I am once again grateful to the Lord for bringing us this far along. Hopefully, I won't pop while at work... but wouldn't that make for an interesting day at the office? Even though it's just my belly, I think this is the only way I can prove to people that I am actually pregnant... and big:

As a bonus, I can use this photo as evidence that I in fact did bear these kids that look nothing like me. I might casually take it out on a day they are being especially rebellious teenagers to show them just how much I went through for them and why they must always obey me. Call it unreasonable parenting. I prefer to call it strategy.

Kidding. I'm kidding.