The Latest (and Greatest!)

I remember a few months back, talking to my sister about this blog, and she said to me, "I would never have anything to say in a blog!" Some days I wonder if her view on that has changed now since having Hayden and watching her changes, milestones, and new accomplishments. In the moment, you promise to never forget how old they were when they said "mama", or where you were when they learned to use the potty, or when they got their first tooth (or lost it!). You always believe that your family trip will stay fresh in your mind and that their first soccer game will be a memory forever. But, let's be real.

 

With both of us working full time, trying to keep up with house chores, cleaning up after two kids, and hauling them to every activity under the sun... I can't remember any of it! So, that's why I started this blog years ago, and while I'm not always the best with posting regularly, I do try to capture a few of my favorites. Everything from the funniest things that come out of the kids' mouths to my baby sister's big day is recorded here.

 

So, you wonder what the latest is?

 

 

We're on to #3, and couldn't be happier! We found out just before week 4, and quite possibly I started showing that same day. Seriously? Who does that happen to? I thought maternity clothes came out of the closet in the 4th month, not the 4th week!?!?!

 

We also decided not to inform the kids right away. There is such a risk of them telling everyone in the grocery store that "mom is having a baby!!!" that we decided to wait until we were really ready to spread the news. However, my mom came over one day during week 4 and asked, in front of the kids, "how's the baby?" Immediately, I had four eyeballs staring me down and asking, "what baby?," "where's the baby?"

By week 5, I was in bed by 8:30 and ready to scream it from the roof tops! How could I honestly hide it any longer? Beyond a little fatique and this "bump" (which my mother informed me my belly button was already popped out) I haven't felt anything - no nausea, headaches, cramps - nothing.

So, week 6 is a different ballgame. I could stay in bed all day. I wake up with the requirement of water and saltine crackers. I am obviously pregnant to the outside world now, and the kids have blatantly asked if I have a baby in my tummy. Yep, they even honestly expressed that "it's bigger" and that is how they knew. Ah, the frankness of a 4 year old. Jarin and I decided to tell them this week. We read the book Baby Bear and the Bundle of Joy, and they were pretty excited to be getting their own bundle soon. The reality is that Cade just wants his room downstairs so that he can watch the 70" TV whenever he wants!

Fast forward to week 7 and I've now announced it at work! Done hiding it. One, I'm so excited, and two, I can't button my pants. I pulled out the belly-band now and have run out of baggy dress clothes in my closet. I go to the doctor next week, but it isn't until 12 weeks that you even get to hear the heartbeat. I might have to figure out a way to get an early ultrasound. Shoot, enough people have asked if I'm having twins.... you'd think that'd work.

During week 9, I started reading the books that the doctor sent me home with last week. And by the first night, I slammed them shut. They told me that twins were most common in women in their early 30's AND I shouldn't be showing until 20 weeks. Yeah, well, see for yourself what 9 weeks of pregnancy looks like on me:

 

Week 10 and 11 went by pretty fast, although it's amazing the amount of pressure I'm already feeling. The vericose veins are starting to pop out of my legs, and I see TED hose in my near future. Already wearing the maternity pants... finagaling the rubber band around my pant buttons for the last 5 weeks is getting old.

 

We headed out the doc during week 12, and it was confirmed that everything being bigger, worse, more painful, and more exhausting was just a sign of having a third baby. Holy crap. How do those crazy moms of 8 kids do it? Heartbeat was strong and solid at 158 beats per minute. They couldn't guarantee that there was only one bambino cooking though, so we headed for an ultrasound on Friday. And here is the beautiful profile....

 

 

Jarin scoped the screen trying to identify the gender, but it couldn't be determined by our expertise :) Heartbeat was 146 though, so our guess is boy. Either way, there is only one, and the baby was bigger than anticipated -- due date is now moved up to March 26th.

 

15 weeks down, and 25 more to go! ... if I make it that long.