Thanks so much!

Thanks, sweet friends and family, for a beautiful shower. I sure do enjoy seeing everyone and wish we could see each other more often. I will never forget this day. Thanks bunches!

Ike and Kitty

Bill went to the store the other day and came back with a new sweatsuit for Ike. Ike was thrilled! "Awwww thanks! You are the best dad in the whole wide world!"

~

Kitty calling for me to come get her at the top of the stairs: "I wuv you. I wuv you." For some reason, I answer to this.

~

While snuggling Kate, Ike came over and gave us a big group hug. "Awww, my girls!" he sighed. And boy do we love being your girls!

~

Today I forgot that it was costume day at school so little Ike went to school in regular clothes.

"I'm sorry, Buddy, but I forgot your costume."

"That's okay. It was just an accident, Mom."

Cottage Dining

Bandaid Mess

How that bandaid got stuck to the back of her sweater . . . I'll never know.

Our favorite blog of the day

http://www.frkshabbychic.blogspot.com

They think they are puppies . . .

Coffee Date

37 Weeks

Today I'm dreaming of holding my new son and kissing his little cheeks.

I'm dreaming of rocking him to sleep . . .

And snuggling him in soft new blankets! I'm so ready to meet him!

Love This!

Ike Strikes a Pose

This boy has been getting silly when the camera comes out.

Good Morning, Kitty!

Baby Booties

The girls from church threw Baby Three a shower yesterday. These booties were made by one of my favorite girls (who can just make about anything by the way.) Anyway, when I came home from the shower Kate went through the bags, found these, and became quite in love with them. I love them too! Hopefully her brother doesn't mind sharing . . . she doesn't want to take them off:)

Thanks, ladies, for the amazing party and all the work involved.

27 More Days . . .

I started feeling a little queasy while standing in the Starbucks line. It's not an unusual feeling, I just lean against the counter and within a few seconds I feel fine again. After ordering and paying I found the nearest seat to sit my plump self down. While sitting I started to break out in a sweat (I don't even sweat when I work out . . . that is IF i did work out I wouldn't sweat). Everything started spinning so I laid my head on the table (totally disregarding what germs may have been left from the person who sat there before me.)

The lady called my name to let me know my coffee was ready, but a kind white haired man asked me what I ordered and brought it over to me. I thanked him a couple of times and he asked me if there was anything he could do. Another woman came over and offered me her bagel and asked if I was eight months pregnant. I thankfully declined her bagel and nodded that I was indeed eight months pregnant. She smiled and walked away. I laid my dizzy head back on the table and the spinning continued. Eventually my ears blocked the noise out and my eyes closed.

After a few minutes I sat back up and the concerned white haired man asked me again if he could do something and mentioned I was white as a ghost. For those of you who know me, you know that I don't often get referred to as a "white" girl, but usually get asked if I speak Spanish or what country my ancestors came from. I managed to say I was fine -- after all, I'm always fine. Another kind soul asked me what he could do; and he proudly mentioned himself being the father of seven children. I think that was to let me know that he knew well what sort of symptoms we pregnant women can get.

Michelle then turned around the corner with the kids and got me some ice:) Ahhh. There is something about ice that makes a pregnant lady happy and it did help cool me off and feel much better.

Thanks, sweet mall people who were so quick to help me out. And thanks, Michelle for tolerating another pregnancy episode with me:) And thanks little pregnancy widget for finally being in the twenties!

Monkeys

Went into my room last night to find two little monkeys watching Mickey Mouse. They get along so well . . .

Cousins

Class Infraction

This morning Ike was looking over the newsletter his teacher sent home for the parents. On the back of the newsletter is an example of a ticket you can get during class for talking, tattling, touching, speeding, arguing, or anything that may qualify as a "class infraction."

"Look, Kailey!" Isaac exclaims. "It's a class inFECTion!"

Trying Out the New Rocking Chair

Bedtime Stories

A Mutt Sounds Good

Yesterday I thought it would be great fun to take Ike and Kate to the pet shop (as we often do). I'm not much of a pet sort of person though I thoroughly enjoy other peoples' pets. The thought of training a puppy while potty training my soon to be two year old and breastfeeding and changing diapers doesn't exactly thrill me. I do, however, adore the look on Ike's face every time he sees a pug puppy. For some reason, he wants a pug puppy -- nothing else. I would have considered it . . . eventually, but out of curiosity I asked how much the puppy would be. TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. I was shocked (but those "Financing Available" signs all over the pet shop certainly did make more sense). I still don't know anyone who would get financing for a dog . . .

I don't know about you, but $1200 for something that's going to pee on my carpet, shed, bark, chew, and basically destroy everything in sight just doesn't make sense (poor financial decision in my opinion). My doctor bill coming in the mail soon will resemble those numbers and I'll get to take home a BABY. Hmm. This baby will do much of the same, but at some point this baby will clean it's own messes and talk to me. If I'm to pay $1200 for a dog, that dog better be able to talk. I'm just sayin' is all . . .

Because Christmas Really Never Ends . . . Here's Silent Night

Happy Laundry Day

I'm not sure how I'll keep up with the extra laundry and extra load of diapers when Baby comes next month. However, I do know that it has been done before by many mothers and fathers. And besides, if laundry has to be done, it may as well include cute little diapers, spit rags, and miniature clothes:)

And just for the record, I have a stash of paper diapers for "those days" that sneak up on you unexpectedly.

Baby Three

I must give off some sort of negative vibe with this pregnancy (I have to admit, pregnancy doesn't make me feel my best). Since the get-go I've been asked time and time again if I'm excited about this new baby or if I'm okay with it. Maybe people are prone to feel sorry for you if you've passed the limit (that limit being just two kids). But I assure you, some blessings don't come planned, but are still very much desired.

Through the past few years I've come to realize that motherhood is a beautiful display of love (though never a perfect love) -- and a lot of that love with newborns is the long-suffering kind. I've got to admit that waking up a few times in the night, changing smelly little bums, getting drenched in a fountain of urine, smelling like sour milk yourself, and barely feeling half alive isn't the glamorous part of motherhood (is there a glamorous part?), but it's a part we mothers do joyfully because we are most definitely, hopelessly in love. Somehow that little bundle that cries and spews sour milk at us is perfect in our eyes.

With a month lingering on the tail end of this pregnancy, I'm ready to meet the little face of the one I'm already consumed with love for. I'm ready to snuggle him in my neck and remember what comfort and peace a baby can bring to our lives. (Yes, despite all the chaos, babies do bring with them a fair amount of peace and tranquility as well.) I'm ready to show him to his awaiting brother and sister and see how they take to their new sibling. I'm ready to see how small he looks in his Daddy's arms . . . And I do adore the way that man turns into a gentle giant as he talks all soft and in high-pitched tones, getting to know his newest love.

I can't say it any clearer. We are looking forward to our baby's arrival with great anticipation and great humility. What a gift to be given a child . . . and how blessed we are to have been given three.