Oh Sugar! I'm 28 weeks!

Pregnancy #3.

Progressing along at a rather steady pace now.

And reporting in at a whopping 28 weeks!

The good:

Feeling the baby move. Like crazy. Every night. And sporadically throughout the day.

Realizing the reason I look so wide this time around is because the baby is actually in a side lying or transverse position. Whew! That's a sigh of relief... pfft!

Going through all the girly websites thinking about having two girls to buy for. This would definately be on the bad side for the Hub...

Being energized enough to maintain a clean house. Even the laundry!
And finding time to cook some homestyle meals too.


Paying only shipping for a {very easily could have made it myself} fabric sling that retails for $48!



The not so good:

Having regular bouts of heartburn.

Suffering from sleepless nights.

Due to an inability to find a comfortable position, and being woke up in the middle of the night by an olympic swimmer doing relays... for hours.

Suffering from instant grouchiness after trying to put on shoes from any position.
Feeling breathless if I lay on my back. If even for just a minute or two.

Snug fitting shirts.

Tight pants.

{Feeling gracious for  s t r e t c h y  cotton these days.}

Realizing that when I smile, my eyes are disappearing in pictures, because there is so much water weight {already?!} in my face that my cheeks are big enough to make them go away.

 

Not to mention the fact that I feel like the Hub looks at me like MotoMoto in Madagascar, although he won't say it.

His eyes... "oh you big! you chunkayyyy!!!"
His mouth... "you're the most beautiful pregnant momma... ever?"

Getting on the scale last week at the doctor and realizing I only have 8 pounds before I hit my total weight gain for both previous pregnancies... with more than 3 months to continue growing.
{Hope no one minds... because next time I am checking in naked.}



Consuming sugar and sweets like it is a major food group.
I am already excited about stealing the kids trick or treating goodies next week.
Oh sugar!
{I call dibs on ALL the Butterfinger!! Seriously.}


And then of course, the whole name game we play every night.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ.

Oh.
The joy.
The ride.
The stories I will tell.

To be, or not to be... an N

So.

I've been thinking.

And droehming.
{again}

Of baby names!

I liked Henley.

Mallory. {meaning was bad omen/luckless... no thank you}

Finley.

And, Hazel.

But nothing seemed right. Between the two of us.
There was no "ooooooh, ahhhhhhh" feeling that was mutual.
And a definite "yes! that's it!" was never agreed upon.

So now I am back to picking a name that follows suit.

Yes.
{I know}
The dreaded N.

Where do I even begin.
I loathe all the typical N names for girls.
Which leaves little room for anything but foreign sounding names on the list.

So what is a mother to do?
Because I for one...
have literally been lying awake at night putting syllables and letters together in my head.

 To come up with these.
{in no particular order}

Navina
Noryava
Nyra
Nivian
Nitzel

I mean it is just a name.
Something that will stand for the person they will be called for
the rest.of.their.life.
No pressure.


Right?

Meet Moses

Meet our new dog.

 

Moses.

#19 Swim in a Lazy River

This past Sunday we checked into our hotel at Kalahari Resorts.

Just a short little drive over into Ohio...

and we were ready to start the relaxation/rejuvenation even a short vacation can provide.

The kids were anticipating the trip almost as much as we were.
We had been to Kalahari one time before... when Nolan was just ten months old.
So we kind of knew what to expect.
But being able to share that with both Nolan and Nev now... was going to be even better.

After arriving Sunday evening, we hurriedly changed into our bathing suits and got down to the waterpark about an hour before they were to close. We played in the kiddie pool, the wave pool and floated down the lazy river. Twice.

It was everything that I remembered. And the kids seemed to really enjoy it.


By 9pm when the waterpark closed, we realized we hadn't eaten since we left home... so we ordered a monster sized pepperoni pizza and some cokes.
{which gave me instant heartburn}

Then we hit the sack in preparation for a long day the next day.

Monday came and we spent nearly all day at the waterpark.
Doing much of the same things as we did the night before.
We got dumped on by a huge bucket of water at the kid play area, rode some waves, and Nolan even got the courage to try the waterslide by himself. And ended up loving it!

We also spent a great deal of time in the on site "game room". Something the kids loved doing. And I do mean all three of them.
{wink wink}

We watched Cars2 in our room that afternoon, while Nevaly napped.
Then decided to eat outside of the hotel for dinner, and drove down to Red Lobster to have crabcakes and all you can eat shrimp!
We came back to fill up a bag of candy at the hotel's Candy Hut.
Then finished the evening by playing another round of games in the Game Room.

We were set to check out at 11am on Tuesday, and had planned to stay for most of the afternoon in the waterpark again, but Nolan developed a fever Monday night that lasted into Tuesday, so we let them climb around in the Tree Top Playset for 45 minutes... before heading for home.

The trip was short, but sweet. In more ways than one.
{which reminds me... I have my 28 week sugar test tomorrow! eeek!}

And, just like that.... another 30 Before 30 is done.

#21 Organize the Outgrown Baby Clothes

I spent most of last week rearranging things.

I finally got the brand new fan in Nolan's room to work.

{okay, I didn't actually do it... but it's done}

And, I also went through all of the clothes to find out what, if anything, I would need for another baby girl in January.

Turns out I had a lot more than I thought I did!

Besides a rainbow plethera of hairbows... these girls have way too many clothes!

I have stuff in 3 various sized boxes right now, ranging in size from 3-6M all the way up to 18-24M!

The newborn up to 3M clothes I rearranged into one of the dressers for the new baby.

Then Nev's dresser got rearranged for winter/fall.

And all her dresses got hung up in the closet.

I also moved the crib and added the vintage rocker back into the girls room.

I need big totes to store the clothes, but I can officially say that all the clothes have been organized!

So there you have it.

Another important 30 Before 30 has the COMPLETED stamp on it!

A Two Year Old Pumpkin

It is amazing, and sad really, how fast our world turns.
Like many mothers, I can recollect both of my children's births... like they happened yesterday.
Each one down to the nitty gritty details.

Going day to day.
Pedaling through our routines and patterns like we do.
Makes me forget sometimes, just how very fast...
they are growing up.

This month alone, we become the proud parents of a two year old pumpkin!
Who I am delighted to spend my whole day with. Everyday.

She has brought such whimsy and laughter into our little world.

She has been known to sing the sweetest version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. In the car. At the dinner table. Or after I tuck her into bed.

She can create the largest birds nest in her {blonde?!} hair after a nap or an evening of sleep. And then refuse to let me brush it out even if I use detangler.
 She loves putting on shoes. Even if they are not hers.
She is completely obsessed with stickers. So much so, that we felt compelled to buy her entire books for this years birthday.
She loves brushing her teeth. By herself.
She plays Batman with her brother. As Batman too.

Loves her grandparents. All of them. And will include each one individually in our prayers at night.
Will giggle uncontrollably if you tickle her neck or armpits.
Likes wearing "jewelry" and getting gussied up in tutus. Or a horse costume.

Loves to play outside. And would swing for hours if allowed.
Will often climb behind the wheel to drive her brothers oversized power wheel even though she can barely see over the dash, and doesn't know how to turn it.
Rarely takes baths. Not because she doesn't like them, she has just always taken a shower.
Loves listening to music. And will tell you if she doesn't like a song on the radio.

Loves to watch me make things in the kitchen. And will often request to "help"... by tasting my creation.
Enjoys coloring. On everything.
Sleeps sideways in our bed. Every night.
Will count to three. And knows a variety of her colors.
Says she is going to the grocery or Hobby Lobby, as she waves "bye" from the front door.
Likes to help water the plants, just to get a drink from the hose.
Will share her treat, but will remind you to take only a tiny bite.

Has only twelve of her teeth so far. But will make the prettiest "cheese" for pictures if you ask her.

Has riden on an airplane.
Seen the ocean.
Swam in a pool and a lake.
Traveled to Florida and Michigan. And soon to Ohio.

She loves to eat. And will often be the first and the last person to the table. You know she has had a good meal when it is splattered all over her face or clothes.
Prefers cheese and yogurt. Any kind of fruit. Pizza. Noodles. Peanut butter sandwiches. And rainbow sherbet over any kind of ice cream.
Loves her babies. But sleeps with a bunny.
She loves to read books. And can often be found up in the closet with a pile of books scattered around her.

Loves to tease her daddy by beating him up one minute, and then giving him lip kisses the next. And will fall asleep in the crook of his armpit or the curve of his spine.

Her brother... is her best friend.
Loves animals.
Sings her ABC's closer to the tune of "E.I.E.I.E.I.O.A.E."...
Likes to watch Dora and Spongebob. And will sing the wonder pets "the phone is ringing!" randomly around the house.
Will fall asleep in the car, even if she is eating something.
Will hold a worm.
Loves Jesus. And will say her mealtime prayer by folding her hands and adding the 'Amen' as we conclude.

She can throw me into a belly laugh, by just being herself.

She is amazing.
And beautiful.
And I am beyond grateful to have her in my life.

I delight in your ways, my sweet girl.
Happy 2nd Birthday!

Love, Momma