It's a good thing Mehdi and I have young, energetic mothers, because any grandma not in top condition wouldn't be able to last a weekend with Anissa. She loves the company of Memere or Mama Jo so much that when they're around, she demands 110% of their time and attention. We had the pleasure of Mama Jo's company these past five days: when Anissa had to go to the bathroom, it had to be Mama Jo and only Mama Jo help her; when Anissa needed a glass of water, it had to be Mama Jo and only Mama Jo get it for her, and so and so on. I'm certainly not complaining - it was a mini-vacation from motherhood for me!

We had bad weather most of Jo's visit, and the only sunny day (Saturday) didn't start off so well. The four of us headed off for a visit to the York zoo in Maine, but when we got there we discovered a half-mile line-up of cars outside the gate. After waiting 15 minutes and realizing the line was not moving, we had to break the news to Anissa: there would be no zoo. Heartbreak ensued...but thankfully, a short tearful drive later and we came upon a lovely beach with a nearby playground and old-fashioned ice-cream shop. It was not really beach weather, and we were not at all equipped for time in the sand and water, but in the end we had a lovely afternoon and the zoo was forgotten. Who needs bears, monkeys and elephants when an adoring grandma is around?

I can't believe I took so long to write about this, because it was such a big moment for the whole family. Even though it was over a week ago, the moment is still fresh because I've been playing it over in my mind since. It went something like this:

Mehdi and I sat Anissa between us on the couch and told her we had some news for her. Her eyes got big, she was very quiet and serious. Mehdi did the talking.

"Well, Anissa, we just wanted to tell you that Mommy has got a baby growing in her belly. You are going to be a big sister."

Her expression was still very serious. She looked at my belly.

I jumped in. "Yes, sweety, we're going to have a baby in February. We have to wait quite awhile, for the baby to grow bigger, and then you can help us take care of your new baby sister or brother. We don't know yet if it's a boy or a girl."

A smile slowly spread across her face, she leaned closer to me and put her hand on my stomach. "There's a baby in there? "

"Yes, there is. A very tiny one."

A bigger smile. "I'm going to be a big sister?"

"Yes, you will. And we're sure you'll be a really good one."

Mehdi asked, "Do you want a baby brother or a baby sister?"

She didn't hesitate. "A baby brother AND a sister!"

We laughed and assured here there is only one, then we showed her the ultrasound pictures. She couldn't, naturally, quite figure out how the fuzzy images could be a real baby...but she said anyway, "I love my baby. I love my baby so much."

Then we all jumped off the couch and re-enacted a scene from one of Anissa's favorite Dora eposiodes, when Dora becomes a big sister: we all held hands, jumped up and down and chanted, "A baby, a baby, a BABY!"

Anissa spent the next few minutes chattering about all the things she is going to do with and for the baby, like bring it toys and bring clean diapers for us to change and sing it songs and so on. Then she asked to call Mama Jo, Memere and Pepere to tell them the big news.

It's been so much fun seeing her excitement. She has been telling everyone this past week that I have a baby in my belly (and even told one friend, flustered in her excitement, that SHE had a a baby in her own belly!), and keeps touching my stomach and asking if the baby is growing.

And, to add to all this excitement, Anissa's friends from Montreal, Clara and Leo (plus parents Marc and Laurel, of course) came to stay last week. We all had a great time hanging out, and since I sadly have no photos to show for it, I will send anyone interested to Laurel's wonderful account of the visit: http://www.clarabandleo.blogspot.com/