37 weeks

One week ago today, I thought I was looking extra pregnant (probably the shirt) and snapped this picture.  Today I am 37 weeks.  I have my c-section scheduled for 2 weeks from today, January 4. Two more weeks.

I am really ready to be not pregnant anymore.  Everything this time around has been just more.  More morning sickness, more aches and pains (back, sciatic, pelvic), more heartburn, more fatigue, more dizziness, more weight gain, more of every wonderful pregnancy symptom.  I think the one and only thing I had less of was migraine headaches.  I guess what they say about advanced maternal age is true.

But on the other hand, my mind is in such a different place than it was with my other pregnancies.  The idea of a baby in my arms still seems very abstract.  My other pregnancies, especially the last one, were preceded by years of longing to be pregnant.  And while this baby is every bit as longed for and wanted, I really am in a different place emotionally.  Or maybe it's just that it's the third pregnancy.  Or is it the fact that I am chasing after other kids and forget that I am pregnant sometimes.  Whatever it is, the reality of this pregnancy is more vague than before.  I'm sure the reality of it all will hit soon enough, like when we have a newborn to take care of. Wow, when I stop to think of it, I do get really excited to snuggle that new life.  Yay!  A newborn is coming soon!

November in review

I feel like November can be summed up in one word: exhaustion.

Let's see.  I've been growing a baby--tiring by itself.  I've been chasing after 4 kids, including 2 preschoolers and a toddler.  And we found out we are moving.  Which led to 10 straight days of massive decluttering and cleaning, followed by keeping my house clean every day for the last 2 weeks.  So yes, I'm tired.

What about this move?  Well basically Dan was at a national sales meeting for his company the first week of November and called to tell me the company had announced some plans to restructure.  Basically for him, it meant that if he still wanted to work for them, he would be moving.  We were very lucky that they were accommodating enough to get him a territory back in Houston.  He started his new position December 2, and will be back and forth for two months.  The rest of us will head down as soon as I can travel after having the baby, so probably the end of January.

I've been pregnant 3 times.  The first, we moved when I was about 14 weeks pregnant.  The second I moved locally at about 10 weeks, and then across the country at about 18.  The third pregnancy I will be moving about 4 weeks post partum.  Yes, we move a lot.  Yes, I hope we are done with the moving.

Anyway, that was our super exciting November.  We fit in one trip to the zoo.  I took one picture on Thanksgiving (which was actually super nice and as always delicious.) And in addition to the cleaning, we did the usual running around, grocery shopping, carpools, and so forth.  I know--so exciting.

Halloween, just a little late

This is just to prove that we really did celebrate Halloween this year.

We made Halloween gingerbread houses with grandma.

We went to our neighborhood party.

We carved pumpkins.

And we did dress up (I did go for the pregnant nun this time around.  I've wanted to do it every pregnancy!) and go trick-or-treating.  (Tyler and the twins just ran off with their cousins.  Jackson stayed by mom and dad, and was absolutely adorable in how he said "trick-or-treat" and "thank you.")

The Pinewood Derby

Dan Tyler was so excited for the pinewood derby this year.  Dan got a little carried away preparing for it, and spent a little too much time and money trying to figure it out, but Tyler had fun in the end.  They really did enjoy building it together, and Tyler's car came in 6th overall out of 23 cars, so they didn't do too bad.

And like I said, Dan went a bit overboard, including a practice car.  But it worked out because we told the twins it was for them and they took painting it very seriously. 

First Day of School

7 weeks ago, Tyler went back to school, and two weeks after that the twins went to back to preschool.  So this is only a little late.

My fourth grader:

 

My kind sister (who moved in around the corner from us this summer) and friend volunteered to do carpool, and just let Tyler tag a long.  So I am the major moocher mom who just freeloads rides off people.  But the best part is that every morning, the other three kids have to say hi and bye to the carpool.  They stand at the door and wave, and then Jackson usually tries to sneak out.

And here are my preschoolers:

When we went to get in the car, Brady climbed on this rock.  I told Carter to go stand by him and this is the picture I got:

It's enough to melt a twin momma's heart.

And here's Jackson while we were getting the twins' backpacks together.  He doesn't like to be left out of anything.

Lauren comes to visit

Our last hurrah for the summer was when my niece Lauren came for a visit from Texas. She was super helpful, but we also tried to cram in as much fun stuff as we could.  I have tons of pictures from her visit, but here are just a few of the fun things we did.

Tie-dye

This is the Place

I still can't get over how much Jackson loved petting the sheep.  I have never liked petting zoos!

Temple Square

The Zoo

We also hit BYU Campus and Creamery and had a picnic up the canyon.  See? We did keep busy, and enjoyed her company so much.  We hope she'll be back to visit soon!

Park City

We didn't take a vacation this year, so thank goodness for Grandma and Grandpa's time share in Park City so we can get away for a few days.

We had so much fun riding the Alpine Slide and Alpine Coaster.  We got to do some fun activities/crafts at the resort.  The kids had so much swimming, even Jackson who wouldn't touch the water last time we went to a pool.

The funniest? most embarrassing? moment: see that picture up there of the twins riding on the airplane ride?  Maybe 30 seconds later they were being kicked off the ride for unbuckling and standing up.  Only my kids.

Pregnancy Update--25 weeks

25 weeks.  Wow.  Almost the the third trimester.  As usual, time has gone by quickly.  And you know the next 3 months will fly by with the holidays.  We are so excited to welcome the new baby.

First, we are having a BOY!  AT 15 weeks I had an ultrasound to check on the subchorionic hemmorahage (which was gone), and while the umbilical cord was in the way, the doctor thought it was a boy.  Then at 18 weeks, for my birthday, Dan took me out to lunch and to a visit to Fetal Foto, where it was very obvious it was a boy.  I would post the ultrasound pic, but that seems a little weird to post your sons private parts on the internet, even if it is in utero.  Just imagine 2 legs making an upside down V, and a very obvious part right in the middle.  At 22 weeks I had my second trimester ultrasound with the doctor.  Everything looked great, and again we saw a boy.  I was relieved that everything checked out; I was feeling a bit nervous now that I am of advanced maternal age.

18 weeks-caught in mid somersault

22 weeks--perfect profile

As far as how I'm feeling, everything this time around is just a bit more.  That's what happens when you're 37!  I had more morning sickness, more fatigue, more aches.  I'm only 25 weeks, but feel like I did when I was a good 5-7 weeks further along.  I have sciatic nerve issues for the first time too!  But there is still the awesome parts of pregnancy--feeling the baby move and knowing there is a life growing inside.

And a few belly pics.  People keep saying I look small, and someone today at church told me they weren't even sure if I was pregnant when they saw me today.  Ha!  I feel like a whale.

22 weeks

this morning, 25 weeks

July in review

It was during the month of July that I finally started feeling better--no more morning sickness! Here are a few of the things we did.

Fourth of July

I still miss Texas, and at least once a week long to move back, but spending the Fourth in Utah is my favorite.  My dad is a master at cooking in the dutch ovens, and every year we go up the canyon for the world's yummiest breakfast.  And while my dad has the food down, my mom is the best at bringing the party.  Every year she has the decor, not to mention activities for the kids to do.

Then we get to spend a really lazy afternoon, this year it may or may not have included a nap and patriotic sno cones.

For dinner we have a BBQ.  This year we did pulled pork sandwhiches, all the sides, and for dessert, sugar cookies and strawberry trifle.  And then as soon as it is dark enough, we set off fireworks in the street.

The Zoo

Since we bought a pass, we made it back again.  The day was cloudy and we got sprinkled on just a little, but that meant that it was cool and not too crowded.  It was a really fun trip.

 

Float Preview Party

The big holiday here in Utah is Pioneer Day, the 24th of July.  We have discovered that going to see all the floats that are in the big parade, is even better than a parade.  The floats are awesome to see up close, there are balloons and face painting, and then we grab lunch.  Such a fun morning.

And finally, our neighborhood had a block party with bike parade, games, and homemade ice cream.