Day 181

Today was one of "those" pregnant days. I hated everything in my closet. Nothing fit. The stuff that did has stains on it. (I'm notorious for ruining clothes, usually by painting or whatever. Mostly from cooking, which is why I bought an apron that I almost always forget to use!) I felt big and gross.

I needed to go grocery shopping but instead, I laid in my bed and didn't feel like moving. Pity party! When I got hungry around lunchtime, I threw a fit and started crying like a baby when I realized my lettuce had gone bad. UGH. I really wanted my salad.

Hormones were out. of. control.

Then of course, right after that, our a/c went out. Yay. In the middle of record highs, perfect timing. Steven's parents had just left for their vacation, so they said we could stay over at their house. I loaded the kids and our bags into the car, stopped at Sonic for slushes and we went swimming at my parents' house.

Steven met us there later, then after dinner we went to his parents' house. Ahhh! It felt like we were at a vacation home. :) May have been a crappy day, but I went to bed happy that night!

And praying whatever was wrong with the air conditioner didn't cost an arm and a leg...

Day 180

We did some crafting and decorating for the Fourth yesterday.
 

Glitter fire works!

Some of our décor.

We have some other knick-knacks around the house and little flags lined around our front yard. Love being festive!
 

I finally got around to staining the baby's Moses basket stand. I'm a DIYer/crafter, but surprisingly, this was my first time using stain. I was a little nervous, but love how it turned out! And can't wait to do more staining projects. :)

I did the arrows too, so they'd match and stand out more.

I also took everything out of the bassinet and organized it a little better. While I was doing so, I felt like I was going to cry. It was a strange feeling. I just can't believe how soon this little person will be here, I started feeling a little worried that I'm so not ready! And thinking about how we've been a family of four for so long, we're so used to this, how things are right now. It's what we know.

Everything's about to change! The time period between Aiden and Rian being born was so quick, we never really got used to only having one baby. But we've been this way for over three years, for some reason it's so hard for me to imagine us with a new family member! A family of five.

But I know once the baby's here, everything will fall right into place. And I'll wonder why it took me so long to have the little one that will complete us.

Day 179 (Iced Peach Green Tea)

Our summer's starting out way hotter than it usually does. August is typically the hottest month and we're already getting those temperatures, our high for the next two days is supposed to be 118-120. OMG.

Around 3pm, I started feeling sluggish, I usually do lately. I needed a pick-me-up! I'd been hearing a ton about the new Starbuck's peach green tea and really wanted one, but not bad enough to put the kids in the hot car and drive there. Too much work for this hot and tired girl!

I have green tea (always) and I had peaches, so I Pinterested (that sounds funny! Pinterest, the new Google. :)) a few recipes and ended up combining a couple.

- peel and chop a fresh peach
- added the peach and two tea bags to the boiling water, boil as long as the tea bags say, along with some honey
- blend together
- strain the mixture (I guess I could've left it, but I wanted a smooth drink)
- add a bunch of ice or put in the fridge to cool

 

YUM!
So easy!
So refreshing!

Day 178

Baby bump arm rest!

Day 177 (30 weeks pregnant)

I'm twenty-nine today! Yikes. My last year in the twenties. Nuts.

My morning started off with a text from my brother (it's always a surprise when he remembers birthdays!) and one from my mom saying she was on her way with muffins. Lucky me! :) We had a nice girl's breakfast: Mom, Rae, Rian and me.

Aiden wasn't going to be dropped of til around 2:00, so Ri and I just had a quiet day at home. Jeanette stopped by to see us and I got lots of calls/texts/facebook messages. So much love! Steven had a meeting tonight, so he surprised me with an ice cream cake last night.

He was bummed when he found out AJ wasn't home.

When I turned around and saw the candles, I thought "whoa!" they totally took me off guard. Since around the time Aiden's been born, I've had a hard time remembering my age. Sometimes I have to think about it! I guess that's when you realize it doesn't matter anymore, because you're just getting older. I could live without the changing body and wrinkles, but other than that, my life has only gotten better the older I've gotten.

30 weeks!

Today's June 26th, I found out I was pregnant December 26, I've known about this baby for exactly six months, for 26 weeks. They've gone by soo fast! I can't believe after this week, my weekly countdown will be in the single digits. Ahh!

- Some days I feel really, really big. And not just in the belly area, everywhere.
- My hip pain is surprisingly better. Still there but not even close to as bad as it was, there was a point where I didn't know how I'd be able to walk at the end of this pregnancy! I'm beginning to wonder if the stress of watching a baby that cried all the time had anything to do with it?
- So much hunger and so tired! I haven't been getting much sleep though, up all night peeing and with a baby that likes going nuts once 11pm hits.
- My feet hurt by the end of pretty much every day.

Today's had two huge reminders for me how quickly time passes. I was looking at old pictures and watching old videos earlier. There was one from about five days after AJ turned three, him and Rian were doing puzzles in his room. They were so cute and so little. At that time I thought they were so big! Aiden has the cutest little talk, talking about going to Papa's to play with his truck and taking Daddy an Icee with Papa. And everytime Rian (20 months at the time) put a piece in the puzzle, she'd shriek "I-da-di!" ("I did it!") with so much excitement. There was another one from the same time period and Aiden was telling me he got Rian her boots for her, he called me Momma. It was so sad for me when he made the Momma to Mommy transition. Really, it was! And at the end I told Rian to tell him thank you and she says, "Thank you, sissy!" I totally forgot she used to call him that! :)

My babies

(July 2011)

Day 176

Story Time at the library started a few weeks ago but because I was babysitting, then we were out of town, we weren't able to go until today. It was the kids' first time going to the library, I was so excited to take them! I've always been a huge reader and I love that they are too. :)

 

We got there early so I got them their own library cards and we browsed the books for a few minutes. Story Time was fun! She started out with singing songs, read a book (today's theme was dinosaurs), sang more songs, read another book, and closed with more songs and parachute fun- I loved the parachute when I was little! Both of the kids were shy and didn't want to sit on the carpet with the other kids, Rian stood for a few of the songs but Aiden just sat. Hopefully they warm up next time. Afterwards they chose and checked out their own books.

 

Steven's dad has to work tomorrow afternoon, so he asked if he could pick them up today instead. Rian didn't want to go. This girl! Stuck to me like glue. We ran a few errands, started dinner and made muffins for tomorrow's breakfast as supper cooked.

 

We're fairly healthy eaters (I grew up that way, Steven didn't eat many fruits or veggies til the last couple of years) but the last six months or so we've been so much smarter when it comes to our food than we used to be. We buy as much fresh and organic food as we possibly can. What's going on in the food industry these days is insane and so, SO scary. I wish I lived where I could grow my own food. :\ My dream more so now than ever before. I should add that we're not perfect, and definitely have our weaknesses to junk/unhealthy food! But we're getting way better.

Chocolate chip banana oatmeal muffins.

 

-3 mashed bananas (the riper the better)

-1 cup vanilla almond milk

-3 cups oats (not instant)

-2 eggs

-1 tbsp baking powder

-1 tsp vanilla extract

-3 tbsp mini chocolate chips

 

*Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes

 

 

So easy and sooo good. And super healthy! The texture might put some people off though because the base is bananas and oatmeal, so there's nothing "cakey" about them.

 

They're so delicious.

 

AJ ended up spending the night at Grandma and Grandpa's so we had a nice, quiet night with one kid. They're so different when they're not together. Life with one kid is so easy, can't imagine how crazy my house will be when the baby's about six months old!

Day 175

This morning I had a baby check-up. It's been six weeks since my last one, (my midwife left!) so I was a little nervous about my weight gain. Another 8lbs, so 16lbs total. Not too bad especially considering the amount I'd gained with my other two!

The doctor I saw today was the same doctor I saw my entire pregnancy with Aiden, and who I saw at all my regular gyno appointments before I had kids. I forgot how nice he is! He's so much more personable than the other doctors. He wanted my next appointment to be scheduled in three weeks, but when I asked to see the other midwife, it got pushed back another week. So another 4 weeks til the next one.

On the drive home I started thinking, does it really matter who I see next? I should've just kept seeing him. I really don't like that the doctor on-call is who delivers your baby, but I understand that it makes it easier for them. It just sucks not knowing who it'll be. But then again, I didn't care at the moment while giving birth the last two times. My main reasons for going with a midwife this time were because: 1. I wanted to know and build a relationship with who would be with me when I delivered, and because typically, they're much more caring than doctors. 2. I wanted to avoid being induced as much as possible.  

But here I am, almost 30 weeks pregnant, I'll be two days away from 34 weeks at my next appointment, and I've seen a different doctor/midwife at every appointment, except I saw the same midwife twice in a row before she moved. Because the midwives are the ones that deliver their patients babies, you can't really keep your appointments on the same day of the week, which is what works out best for me since I know Steven's day off. And my second reason is also kind of irrelevant now as well. After talking to the first midwife I saw (who will be who I see at my next appointment) I decided to agree to be induced at 41 weeks if need be. With the history of my babies' birth weights, I really don't want to put either of us at risk, trying to deliver a huge baby. And to go in every single day after 41 weeks for monitoring, not possible to do with two other kids!

I don't regret/wish anything about my other two deliveries were different. So at this point, I'm not sure I really care who I see at my remaining appointments, doctor or midwife. I guess I'll just see how the scheduling for the next appointment goes. A healthy baby (and mommy) are all I really care about, no matter who delivers/how it happens.

In other news, the self-leveling concrete was laid in the dining area today! That means the next step is my flooring. YAY! Steven's dad is going on vacation for two weeks though. Steven knows how to put it in, I wish he'd just do it. I'm getting anxious about it finally being done!

Cheers!

Living room lunch while Grandpa and Daddy work.

Day 174

As I said a few posts ago, Rian is back to her extra clingy little self. She's been going to church for a few months now, but this morning she was back to crying the entire time I got ready and didn't want to go. Well, she didn't want to go to the kid's church, she wanted to go in the big one with me. Which wasn't happening! So she cried.

AJ went home with my mom afterwards, and her and Rae took him to watch Monster's University.

Which meant I spent the day giving my girl lots of cuddles!

 

Obviously I love the fact that she's crazy about me, but it worries me for her future, like her first day of school- yikes! Or trying to get her involved in activities. She wants to be with me every single second. She was perfectly fine with me babysitting, I hope she's the same when our baby gets here.

She was playing with my hair, I love that she's at the age she wants to do it! And it made me fall asleep. I could feel her still doing it, but was really surprised when I woke up and looked in the mirror! It made me laugh!

 

Hairsyles by Punky

Day 173

I went crazy on my bathroom this morning. It has to be too early to be nesting, but that little room drives me nuts. The walls are horrible! They're scratched, badly repatched and have Rian's nail polish art work all over them. I'm pretty sure we'll be putting bead board in there, midway, up the walls. I found some pictures I really like on Pinterest.

Something like this, but probably not that high.

Another.

One of these days! The list of things I want to do to this house keeps growing! It's taking awhile, but I've been having fun along the way. When it's all done, I'll be so happy, but probably really bored. ;)

We went swimming at my parents house, came home for dinner, then spent the rest of the evening outside, we did yard work and the kids played in the sprinkler.

Punky even spoiled me with a shoulder rub! :)

Day 172

Since I opened a pack of Newborn diapers a few weeks ago, every so often, I pick one up and am in disbelief that I'll have a little baby wearing them so soon.

They are SO tiny.

 

I'm so used to my big kids and their big butts! I remember when Rian was born, the very first time I changed AJ's diaper at 16 months old, I couldn't believe how huge he looked. And now I have a three and soon-to-be five year old. They're going to be giants!

 

I've known I was pregnant for a few days shy of six months, and most of the time, I still can't believe I'm going to have another baby. I don't think it'll even really, really hit me til that baby's in my arms.

Day 171

Back to reality.

I made the kids donuts this morning. The glaze tasted weird by itself, but on the donuts it was so, so good!

 

I'm not sure what was going on with this girl today!

She was munching on ice like crazy. I seriously think she was having sympathy cravings! Seriously, I had to put the lock on the fridge ice machine so she'd stop. Crazy.

Day 170 (29 weeks pregnant)

Today we have to go home, booo. I wanna stay! We would've stayed longer but AJ already missed two days of VBS and we wanted to get home a little before he had to be at church.

Rian didn't want to leave either.

Right after I took this, the sun popped out!

 

Zonked out not even 5 minutes into the drive home!

(AJ picked up two maps during the trip, one of San Diego and one of Legoland, he's obsessed with them!)

 

We stopped about midway home for lunch, as soon as we stepped out of the car, I felt like I was melting. I was so ready to hop back in and never go back home! (Not really, but you catch my drift.) And of course my parents had to get the kids a toy at the Disney Store, spoiled!

 

I was so not happy to be home that night, I was so.dang.hot. I couldn't cool down, no joke. It was really annoying. We were all really tired, but AJ still wanted to go to VBS, which was 5-8pm, so we managed to stay awake long enough to pick him up.

 

I'm 29 weeks pregnant today! I didn't take any belly pictures though. But I have one from a few days before, and I'm sure I'm not any bigger today then I was then.

 

28w,3d

 

Day 169

Day two of our pre-baby getaway! It's a little weird thinking next time we go anywhere, we'll be a family of five- eek!

Last night the kids were way too wild, so we had to separate them and they slept in separate beds.
 

They were both knocked out cold the next morning.

 

After breakfast, the kids played on the playground for awhile then we all left the base to the little touristy area for window shopping and lunch.

I like Rian's mismatched patterns, but the shoes I brought along came apart at the sole, it looks funny with her red Tom's!

Hotel del Coronado

Rian had to pee, she was in NO mood for a picture!

My dad and I used to get these pennies everywhere we went! Both of the kids made their own. :)

It was so cute everywhere, I wanted to take pictures of everything!

 

We had lunch at a Mexican place, soo good. I had a shrimp burrito- yum! Then we went back on base and to the commissary for some snacks for the beach.

 

While we were there, out in the distance, we saw a ton of dolphins. It was amazing. Too far to get any good pictures, but the fact that we saw them was so cool!

 

Building sandcastles

Rian had the best time chasing birds around the beach, she did it so much.

 

AJ got in on it too.

(Look how close we are to the beach! There are tables, grills and fire pits when the beach ends. Then a little further up, between the rooms and the beach, there's a pool wish a splash pad area and a playground.)

Aaaand so did my weird husband. He had a cracker in his mouth and Rachel threw a bunch around them to see how close they'd get to him haha.

Papa and his shadow.

My peeps!

After hours at the beach, we were all crispy critters and freezing, so we headed back to the table area and ordered pizza. They were having a family movie night up on the rooftop but we were too pooped out to join. We all got cleaned up and snuggled in bed...

But not without some bed jumping first!

Day 168

I didn't sleep too well again last night, but this time it wasn't because my body hurt, I was just plain excited! Our little San Diego getaway starts today!

We were meeting my parents at the last gas station before the freeway at 8:30, my alarm was set for 7:00, but my eyes popped right open at 5am. At 7:20, everybody else was still asleep and refusing to wake up.

Momma was ready to go!

 

All set for the ride!

 

We had lunch plans with our friends, AJ and Philip, when we got into town, so we stopped a little more than halfway to put the kids in my parents' car. Of course Rian didn't want to leave me. She's back into her extra, extra clingy, "I want Mommy" stage. Oh boy.

 

I needed some new eyeliner, so we stopped at the mall for it and got Ri a snack since we'd be having a late lunch. Going from 110ish degrees to the 70s is the best!

 

That face.

 

We met at AJ's cute little barber shop, he probably wouldn't appreciate me calling it "cute," but it totally is!

That bookshelf to the left is a hidden door to the back room.

 

Not only was the barber shop really cute, it was in the cutest little area! Right next door there was a pretty little house, complete with a white picket fence and flowers growing up the walls- love! And across the street was a cute little produce shop. I would've gone picture crazy, but Steven's phone was about to die and of course, I left my camera at home. Boo. We walked to a meatball restaurant that was nearby- yum! Eating is one of my favorite things about going out of town. It used to bother Steven that I never wanted to eat at places we had back home, but he's starting to get it now (finally.) Food is a huge part of vacationing!

 

Philip and Steven are best friends. I've known him as long as I've known Steven, but I didn't get to really know him until we got married. Within the last year, he found out he has lupus and then a few months ago, he found out he has lymphoma. Poor guy just can't catch a break. He was set to start his second chemo session the next day, we were both a little nervous about seeing him. Of course, he's still the same ol' lovable guy. I don't know how I'd act if I were to be in that situation. He's definitely an inspiring person. Our kids adore him. Rian is ridiculously shy, but she gave him a hug and a kiss when it was time to say bye. I hate that these things happen to some of the best people I know.

 

Lunch with Nana, Papa, Auntie Rae and Joe.

 

We met back up with my parents at the hotel, on Coronado Island. My dream is to win the lottery and move there. It's gorgeous, some of the most beautiful houses I've ever laid eyes one. We got rooms, right on the beach for sooo cheap. Military perks! Aiden was at the pool with my sister and her boyfriend when we got there, then we all decided to head to the beach.

 

We buried Steven in the sand. :) Joe had the idea to make him a mermaid, I was laughing so hard I peed! The seaweed hair got me.

 

S+R

The water was freezing but they had no fear, they loved running from the waves!

 

We enjoyed the beach for a few hours then grilled some hot dogs and hung out til pretty late while the kids played on the playground. Us girls (and Joe) were all freezing so we decided to call it a night.

 

A super fun first day!

Day 167

On Friday we did some easy, fun crafting for Father's Day. Our guy loves sweets and I found cute sayings to go along with two of his favorite candies.

I found a printout for the kids to fill in the blanks about Daddy and we put them inside their cards:

Play on his head is because she's always hugging and grabbing his head.

AJ must've been overly excited, even though I swore them to secrecy, he spilled the beans when Steven got home from work that night. He took him to our bedroom and told him there was a bag with stuff in it for him. Ha that little butthead! I was so sure that if either them of told him, it'd be Rian!

Friday night, early Father's Day!

We also spoiled him yesterday and took him a giant Starbuck's drink. We love letting him know how much we love and appreciate him!

I had a horrible night's sleep last night and since Aiden was up early, we headed to the store to get some breakfast foods that we didn't already have so we could make Daddy breakfast. (Later that day my Mom asked him if he made Steven breakfast in bed, he replied, "No I made it in the kitchen, but he ate it in his bed." :))

Made with love!

There's something so special and amazing about the man you love being a Dad. I hear a lot of people on the radio, etc. saying Father's Day is pretty irrelevant but I disagree. This guy's worked his butt off for almost 5 years, right before he became a Dad, so he could provide for his family. He gives and does so much for us. When we first became parents, we definitely had a rough time finding our way. We're stronger because of it and I couldn't ask for a better Dad for my kids.

We love him!