8 weeks to go, WI summer, and shielding my 2-yr-old from meanies.

I haven't felt very write-y.
But, I can't let that stop me.
8 1/2 weeks until my due date.  It's felt like a short pregnancy.  Maybe this is because much of my pregnancy was during Wisconsin's short-feeling summer.  Summer is gulped here.  Where people living in milder weather can spread their frivolity out over most of the year, we have about 4 months.  Maybe.  Resorts are booked all summer.  As are any tourist towns.  Wisconsin Dells and Door County are overrun with hoards of people needing to thaw the winter off of themselves.  We usually do our getaways in spring and fall, desiring to miss out on the overwhelming-ness of the tourist season.

I suppose, though, no matter where one lives, summer is the time to have fun.  Kids are out of school, and places of interest can charge double what they would in the "off" season.  Maybe we Northerners just appreciate it a tad more.

Speaking of being prego.  I'm out of breath easier, and I move slower, and I can't get super comfy at night.  I've always lain on my arms - which are under my pillow.  At this point in pregnancy, my arms fall asleep in this position now.  Which is just annoying.  I'm reach tiredness faster, too.  But, other than those few things, I'm really loving being pregnant!  I couldn't say that at all with pregnancy #1.  This time, after about 14 weeks, the nausea faded.  I had some severe emotional issues here and there.  Maybe once a month or a little less.  Now, since reaching the 3rd trimester, it's been pretty awesome.  Oh.  And heartburn.  That too.

Ava.  I've never been able to figure out how to record her awesomeness.  I want to find words.  And enough words to describe her.  And how I feel about her.  She's only been on this earth for 2 years, and it's ridiculous how much she impacts mine and J's life.  And the lives of others!  She brings light and joy wherever she is.  I get so sad when her feelings get hurt now - this is a fairly new development, being aware of other kids' insensitivity.  Older kids get annoyed with her sometimes.  Or they want to boss her around.  Usually other kids are pretty great, but there are moments...  And she picks up on it.  And she reacts with frustration.  The other day, a boy about age 10 didn't want her to play with him at the park.  He kept telling her 'no', 'don't', and 'I think your mommy wants you'.  My heart just busted all apart.  She was just saying 'hi' and waving and trying to play the wall-mounted tic-tac-toe with him on the playground.  When she finally understood that he was annoyed, she plopped sadly on the ground.  "Come here, Ava."  I sing-songed sweetly.  "No!"  and she flopped her hands about, frustrated and hurt.

I can hardly handle it when these little things happen.  I don't know what I'm going to do when there are far deeper emotions and hurts in her life.  I want to shield her, and I also want her to face it all and learn to be strong, and rely on Jesus.  Her truest Friend.  Right now, I mostly want to shield her and keep her away from kids who don't appreciate her.  And I want to tell kids how awesome she is, and that they just need to be kind and patient.  That she's little, but she's not dumb.  She's sensitive and feels their rejection.  *sigh*

For now, I'm glad I get to be her best mommy-friend.  She, once in a while and out of the blue will say "You're my best friend."  And for now, I'm soaking it in.  I'm loving being fully accepting of her (as I always will!), and praising her, and building her up.  And disciplining her with lots of love.  And just being glad that, if no one else truly knows her, I get to.  For now.