When you're in the last weeks and days of pregnancy, it can be difficult to care for an active toddler. If you're anything like me you feel big, slow, and tired - very tired - and that can be challenging when you want to make the most of your child's last days with your undivided attention.
Here are a few tactics that have worked for me and 22 month old Baby. I have not been at my best, but I don't think Baby has been impacted by it, thankfully. The main idea is to make even the littlest parts of your day a special event.
1. Take any opportunity to rest.

Sleep with your toddler, rest when he rests, and make reading and singing a horizontal, cuddling time.
2. Make meals fun.

Do whatever it takes to make meals fun - whether it be pancakes for dinner, making pizza bagels with Dada, or letting your little one eat favorite foods that are bound to make a big mess.
3. Plan one fun activity outside the home for every single day.

It is especially helpful if you make plans with other people or attend events where you had to sign up or RSVP; you're much less likely to cancel then! No matter how exhausted I am, I make sure we have a fun activity on the calendar for every day - a surprise ice cream date, a free puppet show, a town seed planting activity, storytime at the library, sing-a-long at the local bookstore, the playground, a playdate, playing at an indoor playspace, taking a spin through a different grocery store that has red truck grocery carts, long walks, outdoor cafe breakfast dates, etc.
4. Make activities special in your own home and yard.

Even the simplest activities at home can be enhanced with the right amount of enthusiasm and creativity. Hunt for dandelions, play with water, color cards for the grandparents, catch bubbles, sing to the cat, build with empty boxes, etc.
5. Prepare for the new baby together.

I have been blessed with a child who is obsessed with doing laundry so washing clothes for Little Sister has been a highlight of many of our days for Baby. He loves to help Mama and Little Sister so much. We also look at lots of pictures and videos of Baby when he was an infant and talk about what that time was like. We read books about being a big brother and talk about how much fun we'll have when the new baby arrives.
6. Do lots of art, singing, reading, and movement activities.

Baby's art, singing, and movement skills have developed so much over the past three months, and these kinds of activities are so easy to set up - plus they provide hours of stimulating play time.
7. Plan more ambitious, fun activities for the weekend when your partner can help.

No matter how badly you feel, you don't want to waste these precious last weeks as a family of three. New adventures await as a family of four, but I've loved making the most of this time in our lives!
For more information on healthy pregnancy, visit Healthy Child Healthy World.