we've decided ... finally

Chad and I have been debating ... over what to name the baby. Over the past couple weeks we decided on a first name. So at least that was solidified. And tonight, we finally decided on a middle name! Yay!

You'll have to stay tuned to find out what that name is, however.

Sorry! :) Don't you hate when people do that? I just like for something to be a surprise when the baby comes! At least you don't have too long to wait ...

one more week ...

... till I bring our new little baby girl home. At least I'm told it's a baby girl - lately I keep having these thoughts like - what if the doctor was wrong and a BOY pops out? Well, whatever the Lord brings us will be great. But if it's a boy, he will have to do without a name for a few days or so ... anyhow, random thoughts ...

So this time next week it should all be over. Well, let me rephrase that, it will all have just begun! We're pretty excited about what's to come, and I'm looking forward to be through with this pregnancy, although it has been a very smooth one altogether.

Just a few pictures of what we've been doing to pass the time this past week ...

Taking Audrey to swim class

Visiting the Upper Schuylkill Valley Park (aka "the farm")
Carter LOVED these baby pigs - can you tell by the big smile?

Picnicking with friends

Making big sister/big brother shirts. I was looking for some and they were all so expensive ... so we made these with some plain t-shirts and iron-on decals. Under $5 each! :)

I'm also keeping busy trying to squeeze in all the last minute projects and visits (ALONE!) with friends while I still can. Also trying to savor one-on-one time with each of the kids and Chad too. I know that I will "get my life back" eventually but the next few months should be pretty busy ... Keep us in your prayers!

Mommy Guilt

I am having major 'mommy guilt'.

I am two weeks away from baby's birthday, and I sure am feeling it. I am tired. I am lacking energy. If I get down to clean a spill off the floor, it is hard to get back up. There are oh-so-many things that I simply cannot do these days. Or REALLY don't feel like doing.

Here is why, I am huge now!

Really, Audrey is the source of most of my guilt. It is not purposeful, it's just that she can articulate all her disappointments to me, and she likes to talk. So she reminds me that we bought a slip-n-slide a month ago, and have yet to get it out and use it (... because I don't want to blow it up OR get down on my hands and knees and stake it in the yard). Or she says - why don't you ever pick me up anymore ( ... umm, because you weigh 41 lbs ... although Carter weighs about 35 lbs. and I still pick him up, but don't tell her or I will feel more guilty ...) And she wants to stay after her swimming lesson and swim "for fun" ... but I really could do without a) putting on a bathing suit or b) trying to corral 2 kids who can't fully swim in the huge pool at the Y or c) trying to wrestle 2 kids and myself out of those swim suits and into dry clothing in a crowded locker room, where I am sure to flash my half-naked 9 month pregnant body at half the world and my son is more than likely to run away from me in the process. REALLY don't want to be running down the hall partially clothed ...

I was telling Chad about this all last night - how tired I felt, how the kids just wanted me to play with them when all I wanted to do was take a nap, how it took all my effort to take them out to play in the late afternoon ... and he said "well, they just have to understand that you can't do everything right now" ... to which I replied "I know, but I'm like a broken record, I say that all day long! Plus, they don't really care about that, they just want me to act like a normal mommy!"

Here is the fortunate part of all this. And for me it feels like a major victory, because it is a change for me - I have mostly been sane and not a major grouch through this time. Usually when I get really tired, I get really grumpy and then I feel bad because I end up making the kids feel bad for asking for more milk or something. Which of course adds to the guilt. But I have truly been praying hard that God would just help me to enjoy the days and the moments, and not get caught up in the little irritations. And I can feel Him speaking to me throughout the day, reminding me to choose to be joyful even when I don't feel great. Thank you God!

This attitude makes it so much easier to be pleasant when Carter pads into the room at 7 am and shoves a yogurt in my face, saying "Hi Mommy, I have wogutt?" (Yes, he gets up, heads to the kitchen, opens the fridge, gets out a yogurt, and brings it into our room every morning now ... ugh.) It's a good thing he is so darn cute about it ...

My 2 cuties!

photoless wednesday ...

I've noticed a number of bloggers who have a "wordless wednesday" post - you know, where they just post a picture and nothing else? Well, I really don't have any exciting pictures to share, so I will just be using words today :) Besides, lately our days involve rearranging furniture, running errands, sorting clothes, getting rid of extra "stuff," and kids playing inside (and wishing they were outside). Not really the makings of any beautiful photos.

Our house seems to be one big pile of half-finished projects right now. Not because we really want it that way, but between getting ready for baby, busy weekends, and not getting enough sleep ... well, the progress has been slow.

And I am tired. The reality of carrying around a nearly full-term baby is setting in. Not that I'm complaining - the tiredness and discomfort really last for a short time - but I just am not moving as quickly as I have been. And it is getting harder to keep up with the daily stuff PLUS the other organizing I want to do before the baby arrives.

On Monday I also found out that I have "borderline" gestational diabetes ... basically one of my four blood draws from the extended test came up too high ... so I am having to change my diet for a little while. As I told Chad, I am not allowed to eat all my favorite things! No cake, candy, cookies, and the worst of all? No ice cream. I said to the doctor "You can't take ice cream away from a pregnant lady!" But she did. :) I have to say - I'm not missing stuff like soda, lemonade, candy, etc. but I AM missing my mint chocolate chip. Anyhow, again, a small price to pay for a healthy baby and a healthy me.

All in all, I am just really grateful to be able to have this third baby. Back in the day, after I miscarried the first time, I wondered if I would be able to even have a second child. So this third child is just icing on the cake for us. I am getting excited to see what God has in store for this little one.

And I am additionally really thankful for friends and family who have been more than generous with us - with lending clothing, helping with home improvements, babysitting our kids, buying our kids' bunk beds, sharing their wisdom ... you know who you are. We love you.

"I thank my God every time I remember you." - Philippians 1:3

a baby shower!

For the past two years, Chad & I have been part of a "small group" through our church, Grace Valley Fellowship. A couple of years ago, after having been a part of another small group, our pastor encouraged us to think about starting a new group, one that would incorporate some of the newer members of our church. At the time, I found the idea of that a bit overwhelming and I admit to having a number of "fears" (mostly unfounded) about doing so. I actually wrote about it here. But I am oh-so-glad that we took on this ministry because it has been a blessing and a joy to us in many, many ways. First and foremost being the people that are a part of our group. They have become treasured friends and surrogate family to us. We have grown together, prayed for each other, learned from each other, laughed together, cried for each other, rejoiced over answered prayer together, etc, etc. I just love these people, can you tell??

This past week, our group had decided to have a barbecue to "kick-off" the summer. Only ... unbeknownst to us ... our friends had also decided to make this a surprise baby shower for us! I have to admit ... they got us good. I had no idea. Actually, when I walked in and they yelled "surprise" I was wondering what the surprise was for ... Duh. We had a great evening at Daniel & Julie's house, and they definitely have the gift of hospitality. It was a ton of fun!

I happened to bring my camera so I actually have photos! :)

Cake & goodies

Talking, eating, and hanging out on the deck

More talking, eating, and hanging out inside

Katie came up with a baby shower game - The guys were timed on how fast they could diaper and dress a "baby" while holding a phone and being distracted by friends ... we figured most of us girls were pretty much pros at this, so only the guys had to do this game! I won't say who, but someone was disqualified for picking the baby up by the head :)

Erik won this game. You can tell he has two kids already ...

Opening gifts

Modeling the clothing :) We received some really cute girl stuff. And I'm going to blatantly promote my friend Patti's business here ... she gave us the most absolutely beautiful baby memory book. Handmade. It's like a scrapbook and baby book in one ... and all you have to do is fill in some pictures and information! And she sells them and you can check out just how great they are right here at http://jack-and-lucy.com.

Thanks so much, friends! We are so thankful for you.

Unmet expectations

Today I had convinced myself that it would NOT be a good day.

I began my day with an early three hour trip to the Phoenixville Hospital lab to take the extended glucose tolerance test, because yes, ladies and gentlemen (okay, just ladies, I don't think any men really read this except maybe my husband) -- I failed my one hour glucose test. Yup, maybe I should have just kept putting it off after all! :) Anyhow, I was absolutely sure that I would feel sick, dizzy, and have a massive headache all day long from the blood sugar rush. As I walked into the hospital I realized how anxious I was feeling about the whole thing, so I just prayed that I would be at peace and endure whatever happened to come my way.

Well ... it truly was not bad at all. I ended up chatting with another mom through part of the first hour ... then one of my neighbors happened to stop in over the second hour so we chatted awhile ... I did some reading ... I watched all the interesting people that came through during my time there ... and I left ... WITHOUT a headache or any side effects. I was hungry, that's about it.

I went on to have a perfectly lovely day with the kids at the park, where we enjoyed an impromptu picnic and I felt as energetic as any other day. I was so elated to NOT feel bad. I even felt extra patient with the kids all day long.

Hmmm. Maybe I should expect that every day will be awful, and I can be pleasantly surprised by my average stay-at-home mom day more often? :) Or perhaps I should more eagerly put my day in God's hands, and ask Him to help me to be at peace and endure whatever might come my way.

Change is in the air ...

This week has made the arrival of our baby girl seem a WHOLE lot more real.

For starters, I scheduled a "birthday" for her. It seems a little strange to me to pick something like that, but such is the life for the c-section mom. So ... July 16th it is. Why that day? Well, it had to be a Tuesday or Thursday (the days that my OB practice does their "scheduled" sections), and it's right before my due date of July 20th. (I also prefer even numbers, but I'd rather not get into my weird idiosyncrasies ...) I'm really not in a big hurry for the baby to come out super early either. I guess I just don't really mind being pregnant, and I want the baby to be fully "cooked" so to speak. Plus I need all the time possible to get my act together. There are less than 7 weeks left till delivery day! Yikes.

Meanwhile, we have been busy nesting around here. While Chad was off for the week, he painted our bedroom. I still have a lot of work to do there, including ordering some new bedding and putting stuff on the walls. The kids' bunk beds came the other day, and Chad put them together this morning. Audrey is at this moment spending her first night on the top bunk ... and oh so excited to be up there! Carter is still in his crib since we have yet to get another mattress for his bottom bunk. (Yet another unfinished project ...) And this afternoon my Dad and Chad installed our new pantry/hutch that is taking up most of one of our kitchen walls. It has SO much storage space. AND it is beautiful, and handmade by my Dad. AND it matches the rest of the kitchen. AND ... did I mention all the storage?? (Having 2 and soon to be 3 kids in this modest home makes me absolutely SWOON for storage!) :)

If only I had more energy and kid-free time, I could get so much more done... but it is what it is right now. So we are plodding along and trying to get as much done per day as we can.

Oh, and to throw a monkey wrench in it all ... I got my results back from that darn glucose test, and my sugar levels were elevated. So now I have to go get the 3 hour test. I am SO not looking forward to it, although as one wise friend pointed out - when else am I going to get 3 hours to myself? ALL TO MYSELF. So I'm hoping to at least get in some reading while I'm there. :)

I'll try to post some pictures of our "updates" soon. But I can't promise anything right now ... :)

I think I'm losing my mind ...

I apologize ... this post is very "stream of consciousness"...

...so today I was FINALLY going to do something I have been putting off for a LONG time. No really, I should have had this done 5-7 weeks ago. Drum roll please .... it's my favorite pregnancy test ... the dreaded glucose tolerance test. When I was pregnant with Audrey, I almost blacked out at the midwives office during this test (the problem with drinking that incredibly sugary disgusting drink is the blood sugar DROP shortly afterward) so I have some lingering issues with it all, I suppose. :) Anyhow, finding the time to do this has been tough. I sure didn't want to bring my beloved but wiggly 2 year old along for the 1 hour wait! And I feel like I have asked too many people to watch my kids lately (and I'm saving my favors for AFTER the baby, haha!), so I don't know, maybe I was hoping I could just skip it? Pretty please? I have to admit I am a little lax about everything this time around. Anyhoo, at the last appointment, the doctor says - "Can you go take this test... Please? Like, this week?" Okay, that was 3 weeks ago now, but this week Chad is actually taking vacation so I can go. I have no excuses. So I figured I'd go while Carter naps, Audrey "rests" and then Chad could finish painting our bedroom with few interruptions. So I leave the house around 2 or so ... then vaguely recall - doesn't the lab close around 3pm? Would I have time to do it? Maybe if I hurried .... so as I am walking from the car to the hospital, I remember ... I don't have my paperwork from the doctor's office with me. (Although I DID remember the orange syrup stuff that has been in my fridge for about 3 months now!) I decided to try to plead my case since we live literally down the street from the hospital and I could run home and be back in 5 minutes flat, but the nurse in the lab was having none of that. I guess she actually wanted to go home on time ... how dare she! :P So ...I went to the car and promptly burst into tears. I am so .... pregnant! What about this situation makes me want to cry?? It makes me laugh thinking about that now. I think I'm losing my mind ...

More information about my day than you ever wanted to know!! :)

Most random post. Ever.

I am having the hardest time getting my bloggy act together lately. It feels like time just went into fast forward for me. Last week we had a quick visit with my in-laws who were here from Minnesota, we bought a new (used) minivan, I had a doctor's appointment, I was a "mystery reader" at Audrey's preschool, I put a scratch on thenew minivan (more on that later), I went out two evenings in a row with friends, I made $85 selling extra stuff at the Charlestown sale, etc, etc.

All this activity totally exhausts me these days. I can't believe that I used to go out on work nights and stay out till 2 am, then get up the next morning by 7 am to get to work the next day! Now I stay out till 10pm and I am wasted the next day!!! Oh, those were the days. Then again, I also wasn't pregnant back then (or even married) so I guess I have an excuse these days to be totally, absolutely lame. :)

Well, I totally planned on having a post and pictures of my cool new minivan ... but alas, every time I had time to take a picture, the van was parked in the garage, and now it will be parked in the garage all this next week since it is raining cats and dogs around here. Oh well, you all know what a Honda Odyssey minivan looks like anyhow ... there are only like a gazillion parked at the grocery store every day. Mine is silver. Use your imagination. :) And here's a shout out to our friend Eric who works at CarSense ... we had a GREAT experience there. If you're in the market for a used vehicle, go there!

Speaking of the garage back there ... I had a small mishap with the van & the garage ... on the third day of ownership. Eek. The short story is that we have a small garage ... which leaves about 2 inches leeway on each side of the van as you back it out. Literally. I am still a bit petrified every time I have to back this thing out, but anyhow, despite my caution, I scraped a bit of the front side of the minivan on the way out. I said out loud, "Oh no, Daddy is not going to be happy about this one ..." From the back Audrey pipes up in an anxious voice "Mommy, is Daddy going to say that he's never going to be your friend again???" (I guess this is the worst thing you can say to someone when you're 5 years old!)

Well, Chad did NOT say that he would never be my friend again, and in fact he was pretty good about it. The best part? Mostly the scrape was paint from the garage that had transferred onto our van, so he was able to buff it right off. Honestly, you can't even tell anything happened unless you look REALLY closely (or unless you're Chad). :)


So ... oh yeah, by the way ... I'm pregnant. I know, I keep forgetting cuz I'm too busy to remember that this baby is coming in about 11 more weeks. AAAHH! Just kidding - how can I forget when my belly feels like it's about to explode? I am definitely feeling pregnant these days. But despite my distraction, I am getting excited! A friend at church recently had a baby, and when she brought him to church, I thought "That's going to be me soon! Yippee!"

Here I am last week (around 28 weeks). After Chad took this picture, I said "Do I look as tired as I feel?" And he said "Umm, yeah..." Keep that in mind as you look at the bags under my eyes.


On Sunday we went to Audrey's preschool "Spring Sing" at Great Valley Presbyterian Church. She did a great job and was so excited to sing! Too bad this is the only picture I took before the batteries died in my camera ... fortunately we have video of it all :) At this point, she was not interested in Mommy being obnoxious with the camera, and was far more interested in the cake and goodies in the fellowship hall ...

Well, Chad is home now and we're talking and then watching 24. Sorry for the randomness. I have a feeling this is how my blogging might be over the next year ....

20 weeks

Today we had our 20 week ultrasound. I have been dying to know what exactly is growing inside there. I know, I know, a BABY is growing inside there ... but what kind??

And the answer is .... It's a GIRL!! We are thrilled. I am relieved that all seems to be normal and baby is growing and developing just fine. We are so very thankful!

16 weeks

This pregnancy is moving right along. I can't believe that it's been about 4 months. In about a month we'll be able to find out what we're having! (And I can't wait!)