Nursery

We started the nursery and today we put up the crib!  Seems so REAL now!  The kids were all very interested in helping dad and Pa set up the crib.  Here is the room so far - we love how soothing and calm it is.  We will add the finishing touches once the baby (HE OR SHE) arrives!

33 weeks

Here I am… 33 weeks pregnant. Homestretch. I'm trying to really enjoy these last few weeks of being pregnant as it truly is a blessing and I will never experience this again. 

We went and saw the doctor yesterday. My doctor had scheduled an ultrasound to make sure the baby was growing according to my due date. As of the last few weeks my tummy has been measuring five weeks behind so they scheduled a growth scan. And what do you know… History repeated itself.... this baby is already 5 pounds when it is supposed to be between 3 1/2 to 4 pounds. (They scheduled a growth scan for grant for the same reason and got the same results!)I just have wide birthing hips and the baby gets nestle down low. 

The doctor also said there's a strong possibility I can be induced in December given my history of going so early and having big babies. She also noted that the baby is head up in the breached position.  Not to be too concerned yet - but it should be head down.  Hopefully it moves down in the engaged position in the next week or so.

Because of the position of the baby the ultrasound tech could not get a good picture of the baby's face. He/she truly wants to be a surprise not even giving us a glimpse of what it looks like. I did notice chubby cheeks and a pointy chin. And the ultrasound tech said it has hair already. The picture is extremely blurry but it's the best we have.

Getting super excited!!!!!!

Baby Sprinkle for #4

I am beaming today!  Filled up with love and excitement for our new baby!!!  My heart could explode!  I am so thankful for my girlfriends who threw me a BABY SPRINKLE last night in anticipation of number 4.

Never did I imagine when I sent my daughter to school three years ago I would develop a sisterhood of friends as well!  I am so grateful for my Saint Susanna community.  My beautiful friend, Kelly Palmer hosted the most touching celebration in my honor last night.  I am so grateful for her friendship.  She inspires me as a mom, wife and friend everyday.

The evening was filled with great conversation, good wine, excellent food an abundance of gifts and a prayer dedication just for my new little baby!

Olivia was the special guest of honor!  She is so excited!!!

My favorite part of the evening: Each woman wrote me their own special prayer blessing.  We took turns one by one sharing each persons prayer.  After each woman read me their prayer they handed me a prayer bead to thread on a string.  After every prayer was shared I had a personalized prayer bracelet representing each persons blessing for me.  Their thought was I could take this bracelet into the delivery room with me so I would be lifted up in prayer for a safe and healthy delivery.

This was by far the best gift I received from the evening!

And then it was time to open the gifts for the baby!  Bedding, blankets, diapers, binkies, bottles and everything in between...

I am so filled up!  I am so thankful.  This baby is going to be so loved!  

17 weeks

Here's the baby bump!  I am 17 weeks along now!

I'm feeling the baby move now which is super exciting!  I even believe I felt the baby's hiccups when we were on vacation!  I googled it and it confirmed that baby can have hiccups at 15 weeks!

The kids are still super exited!  Grant always lifts my shirt and presses his face against my belly and says, "Are you a girl or a boy, baby?"  And then Grant will report, "He is a girl baby!"  Whatever that means!

Only time will tell!  We love the suspense!

We have purchased a new stroller/car seat for this baby and the rest I am hoping to borrow from my friends.  Everyone's been so generous already - giving me their old maternity clothes and baby items.  It's starting to feel real!

Almost half way through this pregancy already!

I'm feeling great!!!!

Pa's 61st Birthday Party

Hard to believe this good looking man turned 61.  Wow!  I hope his lack of aging -on both the inside and outside - rub off on me!  We had a nice celebration in my dad's honor this past weekend!  It was a fun get together with the family.  The grandkids were so happy to help their Pa blow out the 19 birthday candles they placed in his cake.  They sure do adore him...

excitement is in the air...

Here I am at 9 months pregnant.  This is the last shirt that really fits and I tore a hole in it this weekend.  Go figure!  To be honest, my OB can't believe I am still pregnant.  I have been having contractions for a week now and am 4 cm dilated and 80 percent effaced as of Friday.  The baby also dropped.  Which makes walking more of a waddle.  Justin and I went to the hospital on Friday, but were sent home because I wasn't in "active" labor.  The triage determined this after monitoring my contractions for one hour.  So we came home a little relieved as it would be 3 weeks early, and a little bit bummed as we are so ready.  It's back to the waiting game. Our bags are packed, the car seat is installed, the camera is charged, and our parents are on stand-by to help out with Olivia and Jack.  I am really excited to give birth to our baby.  This is such an exciting time for us.  Also, nerve wracking as I am uncertain when it will be go-time.  He's keeping us on our toes!!!!

Home stretch

Here I am, at almost 35 weeks pregnant!  I am officially in the homestretch!  My appointments are every week now - and they will continue to check my cervix to see if labor is around the corner.  I am a bag of mixed emotions still.  Mostly excited, but still find myself anxious about labor and delivery, and most importantly, about bringing the baby home.  Justin keeps reminding me that I can do this with my eyes closed as I've done it twice before.  But truth be told, because I KNOW what to expect - I am the most nervous this time around.  I remember everything that is involved at the hospital and I remember just how much work newborns are.  But, I also remember how sweet their newborn heads smell, how often they peacefully sleep, and just how special it is to have my sleeping baby lay on my chest while I feel their sweet breath under my chin.  I am also so very excited to walk in our front door and introduce Olivia and Jack to their newest sibling for the first time when we come home from the hospital.  We are very excited to meet our son and have our family feel even more complete. 

Below is a profile pic of the baby from our last ultrasound.  I know, kind of hard to make out.  The good news - he is head down and ready for delivery.  He is also measuring in at almost 6 lbs already when he was anticipated to be about 4 lbs.  The doctor was shocked - especially since this ultrasound was scheduled because my belly  was measuring a few weeks behind.  The tech also made mention of seeing hair on his little head.  Curious to see if that hair will be red at birth like the other two.

And, below are pictures of the nursery!  I am so very pleased with the way his room turned out.  So light, fresh and soothing.  I can't wait to rock him in that glidder.  Soon enough....

Oh, and the kids are awfully excited!  Jack is so fascinated with my ever-expanding belly.  He always wants me to lift up my shirt so he can rub it....and sometimes smack my belly.  Here he is showing us his baby belly.

And Miss Liv is all smiles when you bring up the arrival of HER baby...  She tells me all the time that she can't wait to hold him.  On the couch, though!

Well, here was the latest new baby update. Next post about him - will be us introducing him to you....

32 weeks

This pregnancy is moving right along.  And I can't do anything to SLOW it down, either.  This baby's a coming!  By far my fastest pregnancy yet!  I guess I am preoccupied with my kids and not too consumed with passing time.  Getting very excited.  Olivia is awfully pumped too.  My appointments are every 2 weeks now.  We have a scheduled ultrasound on Monday to see if he is head down yet.  Sleeping is gradually becoming more difficult. But,  I am trying to soak a lot of it in!  Unfortunately I caught the stomach bug this week - and that was pretty miserable.  There is nothing worse than the stomach virus, except being 8 months along AND having the stomach virus.  Yikes.  But, Justin and my mom took good care of me and the kids.  I'm curious if this baby will come early like the other two did.  We are on call for February!

You're JUST a mom?

Uh yes, I am a Mom! That makes me an alarm clock, cook, maid, waitress, teacher, nurse, handyman, security officer, photographer, counselor, chauffeur, event planner, personal assistant, Referee, ATM..... and I even scare away the boogie man! I don't get holidays, sick pay or days off. I work through the DAY & NIGHT. I am on call 24/7 for the rest of my life. I may not be anything to you but I am everything to someone.

Ha!  I just read this somewhere and had to share.  It's so very true - us mom's wear many, many hats & juggle many roles.  Throw in wife, sister, friend, daughter, ect in the mix and it can become overwhelming at times. 

Here is a picture of me at 29 weeks pregnant.  Still feeling pretty great, however, I am in panic mode about this pregnancy now.  All of of sudden, it seems so real and so right-around-the-corner.  I lay in bed at night stressing about what needs to be done to prepare for the arrival of this baby.  We haven't done a thing.  Haven't started the nursery, I haven't gone through any clothes, haven't cleaned out the old infant car seat/stroller/swing/ect.  I am starting to panic.  I often wonder how am I going to manage three kids so very young and close in age.  I hope I can divide myself up evenly and give everyone the love and attention they deserve.  And still make some time for myself.  These are the thoughts that are filling my mind.  Motherhood is by far the most demanding job I have ever held.  It continues to be a work in progress.  I am still learning as I go.  But it is the greatest and most fufilling journey I have ever been on. 

That I know. 

And that's what comforts me when I am up at night.

Nursery Inspiration...

I am excited to design our new son's nursery.  I went ahead and purchased this adorable Nautical/Whale bedding for him.  I love it.... it reminds me of Hilton Head.  Jack's room is also a nautical theme - so we have lots of sailboats and navy blue accents to pass on down.  Justin is also going to nail up some board and batten similar to this room.  I am so excited to have a vision for the room.  I am even MORE excited to welcome our newest addition.   Getting our baby boy's room and clothes together makes me feel connected to him.  I am enjoying that with this third pregnancy - as we went the surprise route with the first two.  We are also in the process of converting Jack's room into a Big Boy room so the new baby can have his nursery furniture.  Lots of fun winter projects ahead!  Feeling very excited!  Very!

Here I am at 20 weeks along.  Feeling great!  Exceptional actually!  I am enjoying feeling the baby kick and move around a lot.  Waiting to feel hiccups soon.  I love that.  This is the phase of pregnancy where I think, yeah, I could do this again....  I guess thats why they refer to this stage as the "honeymoon trimester."  Feeling very happy at the moment.  My heart is full.

It's a......

A perfectly healthy baby boy!!! 

Still soaking it all in :)  I have to say - I wasn't too terribly surprised.  A girl and two boys seems to be the theme in my family!  I will be the third generation that had a daughter first and then two younger sons.  It worked out well!  It will be awfully exciting to watch Jack and his brother be so close in age.  24 months to be exact.  If you look at this picture, Jack's face is sheer delight and he is holding a ball.  I am sure these two will play lots of ball together in the yard.  As for Olivia - she will remain the princess of our family.  Everything is exactly how it was supposed to be.  Thank you Lord for another healthy baby.  We will welcome him with open hearts and arms.  Feeling very Blessed!

Some Big News....

...Jack is going to be a Big Brother!

Surprised - well, so were we!  But, I know this was all in God's Plan for us.  We are thrilled to welcome another little one to our family.  We think it is great having Olivia and Jack so close in age.  They are the best of friends and playmates - it's only fitting that our third is just as close in age and thrown into the mix!  They will be the three amigos!

I am 12 weeks along.  The baby is due March 3rd.  (although both my kids came two weeks early, so I am thinking this will be a Feb. baby)  But, as we mentioned to some, Baby Number 3 is due 3/3.  I guess it is lucky number three, after all. 

It was a rough first trimester - lots of symptoms that left me feeling defeated.  But, that seems to be all behind me now, leaving me with nothing but excitement and anticipation for our baby.  We are going to do things a little different this time.  Justin has convinced me to find out the sex of the baby.  We were surprised with the first two, and I absolutely loved that route.  But, the pendulum swung in our favor both times - blessing us with a daughter AND a son.  We have one of each, so the rest is gravy!  Olivia is really keeping her fingers crossed for a sister.  She says, "I want a baby sister, I don't want anymore brothers that will pull my hair!"  But, I am sure if Jack had an opinion, he'd love a brother.  Either way, it's a win-win. 

With Olivia being in Pre-school this year, and Jack being 24 months when we welcome this baby - it's going to be a tough year.  I know this.  3 kids three years of age and under is going to be a lot of work.  But, anything worth living for requires hard work and dedication.  And when it comes to my family, we have lots of dedication and support. 

We are excited to share the news.  We are excited to expand our family.  What a blessing this is!