A Lazy Day and Baby Plans

The two big boys are sleeping... the little one in my belly is not.  He is so active now, moving around like a little acrobat, sometimes startling me with his sudden bouts of energy.  Owen refuses to be called little now. In his words- he is HUGE. And the way he says it makes me smile, thinking one day he will be, but for now I still think of him as my little boy, my snuggler. And Elijah now says that he is the Biggest boy, knowing that he will always be the oldest and there are two now that are smaller than him. (although we've long known that Owen will most likely pass him up at some point).

Elijah woke up with a fever, and has slept most of the day. He ate only a small bit of applesauce, watched sesame street with his brother, and then returned to bed.  So it's been a day of playing "Army Men" (which Owen will not let me call soldiers, for some reason he doesn't understand that those terms are really synonyms), and Legos... and some made up game where I am a mommy Elephant with Owen. We've all stayed in our jammies... and I'm thinking pizza and a movie will follow, to the end out this lazy day.

I know, I'm suppose to be eating healthier- bulking up on protein and fiber, and cutting down on sugars and large meals. All of that is a challenge.  I just want to eat what I want when I want it, and not feel guilty or worry about gaining too much. Yesterday I hit the 24 week mark.  Part of me feels like, I've been pregnant for such a long time now, and I am ready for this baby to come as soon as possible.  Then there's the other side, as usual, thinking wow there's only four months left... am I going to be ready? There is so much left to do... projects, and organizing, cleaning and preparing. Here are some of my goals:
Owen needs to be completely potty trained. I was so sure that by now, we would be under some easy breezy routine where I tell him to go and he does. Not so much.  reality is- I mention going potty, he screams out in refusal and I fight him for ten minutes to get him on the toilet seat.  He eventually does it, with some creative coaxing, but it is in no way easy. I'm exhausted by it, I am sick of buying pull-ups, and frustrated that he isn't farther along in this little journey.  Lately I've been trying to encourage him by showing him the past sticker charts he has completed for going potty. He seems proud of them and wants to get more... sometimes. Other times he just really doesn't care... and wants to play instead.
Transitioning Owen to Elijah's room.
We bought the mattress yesterday for the bottom bunk where Owen will be sleeping, but I think we'll wait a few more weeks to make the big move over.
Painting the Nursery!
This will be a fun day I think...friends are coming over to get it all done!
Car Seat Needs to fit.
Since we don't have a car seat yet, we're not sure if all three are going to fit in the back seat of our Subaru Forrester. It just depends on how big the base of the infant car seat is, I think. Somehow they are all going to have to fit, b/c a new car is not in the budget!
Other baby projects...
I'm working on a mobile
Martin will be making baby a special hat once I find him the right knitting pattern
 Art work for the wall- I'm assigning to my mom and brother.  The idea is from a book I have called, "It's Time To Sleep, My Love" and the picture I want done on canvas is of a huge hot air balloon in front of the sunset with all sorts of animals in the basket part of it.  It's really beautiful and whimsical
Block Shelf- I got this cool shelf at a yard sale that I'm going to paint blue/brown the room colors and put his name in antique block letters on it, also books etc.
Growth Chart- I thought it would be special to make all of the boys a wooden growth chart so that if we ever move, the "lines on the wall" won't get lost. The wood needs painted and measured for markings.  I also got the first letter of their names to put at the top.
Marble book ends- I saw this idea somewhere, just mason jars full of colorful marbles! I thought how perfect!
Baby book/scrapbook- I pre-made one for Owen when I was pregnant so that after he came all I had to do was put pictures in it, but this project is particularly challenging and time consuming... I bought a back-up already made on just in case I don't get around to doing it all myself.
Photo-Shoot- I want to take some maternity pics maybe next month (I'm also getting ideas for great newborn shots).
Changing Table- I have this old desk that I'm hoping to use as a changing table. It just needs painted, and maybe a security board ledge tacked on to it for safety.

Those are some of the things swirling through my head that need to get done.  Yesterday I cleared out the corner of our bedroom for where baby will most likely spend most nights for the first few months. We're going to put the swing there for him and have a little shelf for a humidifier, diapers, and a few small things he might need at night. Oh yeah, I also found the perfect and most adorable little blue rocking chair yesterday! It was a little more than I wanted to spend though, so I figured I'd wait to see if they lowered to price.  It's kid size so I thought it would be nice for the boys to sit and read in while I'm nursing. (of course they'd have to take turns, so this could be a problem)!

Nesting Much?

I never knew I would be so excited about a color.  Well, maybe I should take that back... I have been a little obsessed with colors since the age of two when I knew all of their names. "That's not pink, it's peach," and so on.  It's amazing how certain colors can affect you- some make you relaxed, others energized... and then there are the ones that make you so completely content, so sigh-with-satisfaction wonderful that you need that color to be a part of your every day life.  When I think of my favorite colors, I think of the sea and sky coming together.  I think of the the very beginning of all time when God planned out the most overwhelming beauty... the sand next to the ocean waves... the night sky- a canvas for stars to play on.  I think of blues: turquoise, aqua, teal, cerulean.  That's me. I'm blue to the core, and who would have thought I'd get three boys... to channel all of my blue into.

I tell you all this as I am finally getting the opportunity to paint a nursery.  With my first, we lived in an apartment- no painting the walls there.  With my second, well we did technically move into our current house a few months after he was born, but by then I had no energy for painting.  The nesting period was way over... and I was just in that survival kind of mode. So now that I can do a nursery justice, well I couldn't be more excited! Today I finally found the perfect blue. It sounds silly comparing a stack full of blues so similar I know there are some of you out there who may not be able to tell them apart.  But it matters to me. We decided on a color called "November Sky." Martin actually made the final decision (can you believe it)? It's on the lighter side and in the tones of a classic french blue.  Not the kind of blue on a clear summer day... more of a blue you might see towards the end of the day just before sunset, and in the fall. Or a blue the peeks in between the clouds on a rainy day, teasing here and there- it's just the perfect balance between peaceful and sheer joy!

The brown accent color we are using was easy.  I knew almost instantly which paint sample would be absolutely top notch. It's called "Missouri mud pie"... a very dark brown. My first instinct was a color called "bittersweet Chocolate," but that turned out to be just a hint too dark.

So the colors have been chosen, I've drawn out the plans, and even have some friends committed to coming over to help paint!!! My nesting juices are running wild. I lay in bed at night thinking about where I'm going to hang the moon and stars shelf, and where I'm going to keep the tummy time blankets. Sometimes I almost jump up put of bed to go and move something in the room, then I remember we haven't moved Owen out yet, and that I am being ridiculous.

It's been exactly 3 weeks since we found out that we are having a boy, and since then I have been on turbo power with lists of boy names and decorating the nursery.  There is something about both of those things that bring joy and reality to the surface.  He really is on his way... we're past the half-way point! And we are going to have such a special place for him that is all his own.  Every day I get more and more excited about meeting him and seeing how he will change our family.

Mostly Pictures

The boys were really sad that they didn't get to keep the balloons.

So here are the blue balloons representing "boy."

Serious thinking time at the park.

You can't see the kite, but he sure had a fun time flying it!

So I wanted to add these pictures to the last blog. I thought you all might enjoy them. Some of them are of our BIG gender reveal, some at the park playing with the boys flying kites and at the playground. Owen was cracking me up with his serious mood that afternoon. I was just grateful that he wasn't super grumpy from skipping nap, but he climbed the faux rocks and layed on the top with this surly expression. I went over and asked him what he was doing. "I thinking," he said. (but the way he says thinking sounds kind of like there's an "s" in front- sinking. Then I asked where his smile was, and he said, "My smiles are all gone away." It was so funny and cute because it wasn't like he was mad or upset, he just wanted to be serious on top of his rock.

Ultrasound Day!!!

This is our last baby for sure, which means two things. 1) I want to cherish everything even more... Every little movement I am thinking- I will never experience this exact moment over. I'll never be pregnant again after this. This is it, no more mornings alone with Owen, or afternoons with just Elijah while Owen is sleeping. No more wondering how this cute little outfit will look on my tiny little baby. There are so many things I will miss... things I'm glad I get to experience again for the third time around. What I am most grateful for is how God shows himself to me in a special way during this part of my life. Everyday I am reminded at how He has planned everything out perfectly... and from the very beginning, which just gives me goosebumps. I am in awe... a very good place to be. I am more emotional (duh) but somehow that fact makes me more open, more sensitive and aware of things I might normally miss. This entire journey from conception to birth is a miracle that I get to play a leading role in. It has changed me. Especially this time around... I feel more gratitude, more faith... I asked, and He answered. We thought we were done with babies, but last summer I prayed hard. And then I waited. I knew how Martin felt about it- he was done. So I waited. Then out of the blue, one night he tells me, "I want to talk about babies!" And that was it. He was ready, God had shown him the need of my heart to love another child, and to add to our family.

This being our last baby also means- 2) I'LL NEVER HAVE TO BE PREGNANT AGAIN!!! I know that sounds like a complete contradiction of what I just said, but let's be honest... it's tough! It is beautiful and I am so thankful, but I will be glad in a way when it is all over and somewhere along the way, some how, I will get my body back! I think there will be a complete sort of feeling after we bring the baby home, too. That I am so looking forward to.

So, moving on... Tuesday was Ultrasound day... we were defintely finding out the sex of the baby. Mostly that was my desire, Martin wanted it to be a surprise, but I just couldn't handle dealing with those kinds of extra emotions on delivery day. The appointment was set for noon with my pre-natal visit following, so Martin took half the day off from work so we could go together. I also dropped both boys off at Elijah's school for the day (big day for Owen... he loved bring his own little back-pack and staying with the 3yr. old class like a big boy)! So I had the morning to myself, which felt really odd at first, but all I could think about was the baby. I wanted to do something special. I thought about buying something for the baby to wear, but that wasn't great because obviously I didn't know the gender yet, and clothes only last a short time. When I got the the store, I knew exactly what I wanted to do because right in front were rows of beautiful flowers. How perfect, I thought, I will plant flowers in honor of the baby... to symbolize the growth that is happening and the life that is changing. So I filled my front corner with flowers that morning, and dedicated them to little twiddle-bug!

In the meantime, I was drinking lots and lots of water because of course, the day before I was instructed to come with a "full" bladder. Martin met me at home and we jumped in the car, full of excitement. About five minutes into the drive... I could barely hold it... I had to pee NOW! yep, I arrived with an empty bladder, and had to guzzle an entire new bottle of water so that we could all see baby clearly and mostly so that my pelvis could be measured, that's what the technician said any ways.

First of all we were a little disapointed that it was not going to be a 3-D ultrasound like we had last time with Owen. Apparently those are pricey to replace when they break. So it was just the old regular kind... but it works, we saw what we needed to see. The one improvement was I didn't have to keep turning me head to the side to see what was going on, there was a large screen right in front of me that the ultrasound was being projected on.

First, we went through all of baby's anatomy. It was amazing to see every part so developed for such a little thing. Of course baby still has a long way to go, but everything is there... just growing and beccoming stronger... the spine, the heart, bones, fingers, toes, the brain, eyelashes, lips, ears, and nose... what a miracle! I was feeling a lot during all of this. Of course, the joy of seeing my baby, and then there was the discomfort of having a now full bladder being pushed and prodded so that every part could be seen, and lastly, my heart couldn't decide what would bring me more joy... a girl or a boy. I didn't feel weighted either way, I was only anxious for this little baby to move it's legs the right way so that simple question could be answered. Boy or girl, boy, or girl boy or girl? I felt like I was holding my breath... and then... the technician froze the frame at just the right moment before little twiddle bug could hide those nether parts again. And I knew before anyone said another word. I would always be the mom of boys, there was no mistaking it... baby boy number three is on the way!!! Then the technician typed in those three little letters -BOY, with an arrow. So I will be the only girl in the house...(Martin says I get to be Queen-spoiled and taken care of by all my little men).

After the appointment we had a great afternoon and evening celebrating in lots of ways. Martin and I had sort of a lunch date since both boys were taken care of. We ate sandwiches at a local deli, talked about names and just how happy we are. Then we went to buy blue balloons, which we put in a giant box for the boys to open. I think they had more fun playing in the box than actually opening it, go figure. After school we all went to the park, flew kites, and had a great time. Then my family that lives close by met us for dinner so we could share the news with them. It was a wonderful day, and I can't wait to meet my third little guy!!!

p.s. still haven't decided on the name. I thought I would know as soon as I knew the gender and saw the baby on the ultrasound, but there are still several names up in the air.

Blue or Pink- What do you Think?

nine. eight. seven. six. five. four. three. two. one... boy or girl?! The date is set- nine days until we find out little twiddle bug's gender! I can't wait! I wanted to have perfect names picked out for both, so that when we found out, we could start calling baby by name, but I'm having trouble with a boy name. There's one or two that I like, but are they fitting and perfect enough for this little one? I don't know. I open to suggestions at this point since it seems I have exhausted my sources. Girl names, on the other hand are no problem for me. I guess it's because I don't have a girl yet, and I haven't used up my favorite names on that account.

Me to Elijah: "so do you want a sister or a little brother?"
him: "baby sister!"
me: "How come?"
him: "Well we already have two boys, and I would like the sister a lot."

Owen wants a boy. He still pretty much calls everyone a "he." I'm guessing he doesn't see a huge difference between genders at this point.

I sort of like the idea of having a third boy... I know I'm asking for trouble, and more messes, monsters, and a whole lot of wild! But raising boys has been a lot of fun this far, I think a third boy would fit in so easily with these rambunctious little superheroes I already claim.

I also have to admit... I kind of like being the only girl in the house. I send the boys out with their daddy to do "boy" things like fishing, wrestling in the yard, or just digging in the dirt. Boys have a special way of loving their mommy... of course I'm sure girls do to. They protect me, and "make me feel better," when I'm sad. I guess I get pampered a little more than I might if our house was full of other girls... who wouldn't love that?

But... on the other hand I've never had a girl to do girly stuff with. I imagine all the things I would love doing since I am completely girly to the core! Painting nails, big frilly hair bows, SHOES, boy talk, purses, secrets, movies, books, crafts, the list goes on and on... Yes, a little girl would be fun! I also know how much Martin would love a daughter! He has a natural tenderness that would make any little girl blossom to see in her daddy.

So Blue or Pink, no matter what I think, God has already chosen this child of ours specifically for us! That alone amazes me. He knows everything about this little person who isn't even born yet, this little twiddle bug that I am dying to meet, He understands completely. Now all that's left to do is wait.

The boys won't be coming with us to the ultrasound, so I am thinking up a fun way to tell them about their little sibling. That gives me a project to distract me from madness... oh yeah and find a few more boys name to consider.

The "Hugest" Brave!

Today's Highlight's...

The things they say:

Owen's latest thing is whispering in my ear, or grandma's, or daddy's, "Do you love Jesus?" He's very serious about it too, I just love it! Then today while he was sitting on the potty(side note: yay he's sitting on the potty!!! We made a new potty sticker chart today with dinosaurs on it. He loves putting Elmo stickers on. But the potty training has been torture! He fights me almost every time and sometimes I end up chasing him down with him very upset, but of course he is very capable, so I don't feel even a little bad about that. He's just stubborn. Only most days I don't have the energy to do what this long process takes. So... we are slowly but surely seeing progress in that area). So while on the potty he started making up his own song, which he does pretty often, both boys do probably because I do that all day long! It was so cute he was singing, "I love Jesus, and he cares for everyone!" and smiling and kind of giggling about his clever little tune!

In one of the books we read today the little girl says, "I am brave as brave can be," and every time we get to that part of the story, both boys make their own comment about how brave they are! Owen tonight said, "I am the hugest brave!" and Elijah said, "I am braver than anyone ever, well a little bit."

The way they think:

Elijah picked up this Star Wars comic book I think from Grandma, which is very long with lots of words and most of it he really wouldn't understand anyways, but he is always begging me to read it to him. Well I always say, that one is too long, let's pick something else. Tonight he put up a good fight for it, so I said I would read a few pages. He was still very disappointed that we didn't get to read all of it, so I told him, "you know when you get better at reading you will be able to sit up and read the whole thing all by yourself at night just like mommy reads at night." His eyes kind of lit up. Then I told him that I had just finished a book that was about four-hundred pages and he said, "wow, mommy, that's even more than daddy's measuring tape goes up too, and I know because I was using it today!" That just cracked me up! The way he thinks of big and small and scales things.

Their first Happy Meal

So as usual, I was STARVING at the exact moment Martin got home from work and I hadn't made any dinner. We got everyone in the car because we needed to go to the hardware store (details of this will definitely be a different blog) We are re-painting Elijah's room this weekend. So across from the hardware store is McDonald's. Why not? They have a play place, the kids can run off some steam... great! Martin ordered them happy meals... we've really never done that. I guess I'm a little cheap sometimes and just get them the $1 whatever, wherever we go out. So we brought our tray out to the play place and the best part was watching them open their happy meals! Everything they took out of that bag brought on excitement. The funniest to me was, "oh wow, I got my own napkins!" I loved watching them be so full of joy... it really did make them feel special. They almost looked proud sitting their, sipping their own chocolate milk with a cheeseburger in the other hand! Of course not everything got eaten because the other huge excitement was getting to play in the play place. To make this possible for Owen Martin had to buy him a pair of socks. (did you know that they sell socks at Mcd's?) You should have seen him... he is such a crack up! First of all he was wearing bright green Toy Story Jammies... and sandals. Yes, sandals. He's been trying to wear last summer's sandals for weeks and I keep telling him, "they don't fit you." (and well, it's kinda freezing outside)! But he was determined today. Right before we left, he proudly announced, "look mommy, they still fit, see!" He was so proud and he had done it all by himself, Velcro and all, and technically all I had told him was "put your shoes on," so I let it slide... they were wearable. Then you add the Scooby Doo hat that came from his Halloween costume from a year and a half ago. Are you getting this image? I should have taken his picture! I think he made everyone smile, though. He waves at everyone wherever we go, such a friendly little guy... just like daddy! He really is the "hugest" brave!

Gotta Have a PICKLE!!!

I'm actually now 16 weeks, but wanted to update anyways. I am growing so much faster with this third baby! I can't believe I already have this round tummy popping out!!!

Sunday I definitely felt the baby move a few times. It wasn't "hmmm... that could have been something," it was, "whoa... yeah that was a little human inside me making it's presence known." For me that is one of the most joyful parts of pregnancy, especially in this early stage when the movements aren't yet kicks or rolls or acrobat moves. We were in the car when it first happened and I looked over to tell Martin with the biggest smile. He told me I was glowing and it was good to see me so happy.

And I am so happy. Even though so far everyday is a challenge trying to be mom of two of the busiest little guys around, and take care of myself, and well forget the house. I did vacuum today though and got some laundry put away, so that should count for something right? Martin has been my hero all along. He is just great that way. He keeps up on the dishes mostly. Last night I actually watched him fold two baskets of laundry and put everything away while I had a snack. Amazing, right!

Pickles really are awesome. I'm not really a pickle fanatic, but now I finally get the craze of a pregnant woman needing some pickles. Yesterday I stopped at Jimmy Johns and they sell huge pickles... you can actually go through the drive through and order just a pickle! I got a veggie sandwich too, but how awesomely amazing and convenient is that?! Now I kinda want one...

Part of me wishes pregnancy didn't take so long. I am already so anxious to meet this little person growing inside me and introduce him/her to the rest of the fam. I love hearing the boy's add the baby into our life when we are going about our day and talking about things. Today Owen mentioned that we would bring the new baby to the beach to have a picnic with us. (They are both anxious for the beach and picnics... Elijah said he wants his Great Grandma to come and make a pie, because she makes the best pies). They also will periodically kiss my belly or Owen will give me a kiss (he likes to hand out his kisses rather than actually kiss your cheek) and say this one you can save for baby. They will both be such great big brothers to this new little one!