She's Here!

Samantha Jane 

Arrived Friday, December 14 at 4:13 in the afternoon.

7 pounds & 9 ounces

19 1/2 inches long

We are back home and doing well. 

More pictures and maybe a little story coming soon.

ignore this (pregnant lady brain explosion)

I'm just sitting here at my dining room table looking at kitchen faucets, cabinet hardware and flooring. Oh, did you think I might be gazing at a newborn? I wish.

Anyhow, today is my niece's birthday and maybe this is selfish, but I don't want my baby to have to share a birthday with her cousin... so she can remain cozy until midnight. This weekend is really not that great with the timing either. Tim and D are participating in our church's Christmas play Pageant (apparently there is a big difference) on Sunday and it would mildly inconvenience some people to have to replace "Benjamin" at the last minute. Although I hope they have at least considered that this might have to happen. D is singing ONE whole song with the children's choir and let me say he is a very talented ventriloquist, but would really be missed.

I scheduled a checkup for tomorrow (even though last week my doc said there would be no need). I am not sure what to expect. Will I be asked to schedule an induction since tomorrow is my due date? How does one decide a good day for birthing? Oh, wait a second... I do that on a daily basis. Okay, today is not a good day baby, wait until tomorrow. Or, this is the perfect time little girl! I'll do some jumping jacks for good measure. The past few afternoon & evenings I've been timing contractions that eventually just stop and so now I'm very skeptical of any contractions and worry about actually knowing when I should head to the hospital when the real thing is happening. I believe this is called "prodromal labor" or false labor. In about 2 hours I'll probably start tracking some contractions only to have them disappear by 8pm. (This is so different than my other pregnancies and makes me feel a little bit crazy.)

Last night I ate almost an entire fresh pineapple by myself (I don't encourage this as my tongue was really sensitive/irritated afterwards) and made pizza with extra basil and lots of jalapenos. Nothing but some heartburn (which I knew would happen). I am not in the circle of pregnant women who take castor oil to get things started. That is gross and I'm not that desperate. I am beginning to think that this baby is just trying to be considerate and wait until the 21st to come because that's D's last day of school before winter break. I wouldn't have to worry about him getting to school or driving or anything really if she waited until then.

I know she'll come when she's ready and I actually don't mind waiting a little bit longer because all the kitchen stuff I mentioned? It would be cool if it were done before she arrived. It's just the "false" labor that is irritating. And finally being mentally ready for her and now she's just hanging out like she has all the time in the world. I bet she's just worried about her hair looking good. Honestly, I'll never be able to protect her/shelter her like I am now. She's cozy and happy (? I assume) and once she's born I'll just be fighting against the world for her to stay close to me..... And this is how we know I'm super pregnant-hormonal. I'm not a sappy person so I have to go hang the clothes up before I start bawling my eyes out. So ridiculous. Hope everyone has a cheerful day! I'm going to have a peppermint patty now.

39 weeks

Today is Tuesday, so I'm 39 weeks + 4 days. I figured there is no point in being serious about these bump pictures anymore since I'm only getting bigger. And the baby is only getting bigger, too. Mostly it's the baby- not me.

Pretty sweet picture, yes?

I'm actually feeling pretty good and the heartburn seems to have backed down over the last few days. Each day that I show up to drop D off at school I get the "you're still here!?" look and questions. I found out that I've been added to the teachers' prayer list (they have devotions in the morning).

I haven't been having any consistent contractions or anything to make me believe labor is in my near future. It'll happen when it happens... or as my mom said this morning, "Well, I guess she'll be born on her birthday." Hmm, I guess she will be, but what day is that?

I don't think I have anything else left to say about being pregnant right now... I will say that I'm making this white chili for supper (in the crock pot) and it smells awesome. Now I have to dash out the door and pick up D.

Still here

and still very pregnant. We did have a false alarm Thursday night and went up to Labor and Delivery only to be sent home at 2am. I was afraid that would happen, but better safe than sorry. I was having contractions 4-6 minutes apart... they just weren't doing anything productive. My doctor reluctantly sent me home and told me to skip my appointment Friday morning and not worry about scheduling one for this week. (I'm calling on Wednesday if I don't have a baby by then.) Oh, and the nurses were really nice about the whole thing. Friday and Saturday I pretty much thought I was going crazy waiting. I have never felt like that at the end of a pregnancy before and I really don't ever want to feel that way again. Not to mention that we put everyone on alert and then all weekend Tim was fielding text messages and calls about our status. Definitely not doing that next time until I am for sure admitted and getting the epidural.

Now for the exciting news... D has his first loose tooth! It is so wiggly and I can't believe how excited we are about it. He had been very quiet all day yesterday and then finally revealed to Tim his tooth was loose (I think he was really nervous about it). Anyhow I need to let the tooth fairy know that she needs to be prepared to drop off a gift of some kind... anyone know how to get in touch with her?

I'm going to do some grocery shopping and just go on with life as usual. That's really the only way to stay sane right now. I would post a 39 week picture, but my camera is in the car right now... maybe I'll do that tomorrow. Adios for now.

38 weeks

+ 3days.

It's funny to me how everyone is starting to get so anxious about my impending labor. I was asked yesterday if it was true that I had a contraction (rumors)... No! It could be any day now (the other 3 kiddos were all about 10 days early). 

The heartburn is still hanging around and I can no longer even have a sip of juice without setting it off. I've been drinking lots of milk instead. And water. As far as cravings I really wanted cookies last week, but didn't bake any so it sort of went away. I don't think I've been having many cravings lately. Little Lady still feels like she's residing in my ribs, especially while riding in a car and the lower back/hip pain is back. 

Early on I predicted we'd meet this girl on December 4th, but I am leaning more towards the 7th now. I also think she'll be around 7 pounds 8 ounces. If you want to leave a guess in the comments please do! It will be fun to see if anyone's guess is right.

That's all for now as I am sort of in nesting mode and trying to make sure everything is in order around here. Happy Monday!!

37 weeks

was actually last Friday, but I am finally able to post a picture today. 

and a few other pics...

top left: the mustang statue & 3 lil' Texans
top right: kids running up the steps... preggers couldn't keep up
bottom left: The Fearless 3 & saber tooth tiger
bottom right: preggers poses next to massive oak tree (did not make her look smaller) while offspring try to climb (they were terribly unsuccessful... obviously related to chimps)

Happy Wednesday to you!

36 Weeks

 It's hard to believe I'm only 4 weeks away from my due date.... especially considering I've never made it past 38 & 1/2 weeks. Every once in a while if I look at the calendar or really think about the time I have left to get prepared I sort of freak out a little.

Even though I'm getting uncomfortable carrying this little lady I am totally okay if she wants to hang in there until due date or even later. (I know, it sounds crazy!) The fact is, we are trying to get a major project completed before she gets here. If she comes early I doubt we will be done, but give us 4-6 weeks and I think everything will be ready. (It's a house project, okay? I'm sorry I'm keeping everyone in the dark about it! It's a little nerve racking.) Even if she does come early, it will all work out fine, it would just be nice to have the house stuff completed and out of the way.

Only half a smile because it's very windy outside and it's cold(ish).

On we go with actual pregnancy details. Yesterday I had an appointment... the not highly anticipated 36 week appointment (let's just say it was not just a weight and blood pressure check- more invasive). Anyhow! I didn't gain any poundage which shocked both me and my doctor (I've never not gained for an appointment), but there were no concerns about that. The nurse commented that I was "really looking pregnant" and I thanked her (I don't know why) and said that I was feeling really pregnant which made her laugh and have to retake my blood pressure.

The little rib jabber is still head down (and had better stay that way) and still in a pretty high station. Progression? Yes. (Not gonna go into detail here, ladies you probably know what I'm referring to.)  I am to see the doc in two weeks because unfortunately they will not be hosting a Thanksgiving party for all the preggy ladies next Thursday. At that appointment I will be one day shy of 38 weeks. (I bet I will have gained some weight at that checkup no thanks to pumpkin cheesecake.)

Still having lots of flamage which has caused me to wake up in the middle of the night and chug some milk and I waddle unless I'm in public and then I suck it up and walk normal. I think? I may have waddled through Target yesterday I really don't know. Oh, and a new one- snoring. I slept decently last night, but Tim claims I snored all night and he didn't sleep. I said "no way" and "now you know how it feels". (Love you Honey!)

I feel like I have rambled enough and it's time to hit the publish button and walk away. So I will do that. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

35 Weeks + Packing the Hospital Bag

It's time to pack up that hospital bag! I've got five weeks left until my due date...

(smuggling an out of season watermelon while gazing into the distance... no one will even notice)

Nothing really exciting going on this week. Heartburn is now a 24/7 joy and I have been sleeping like a baby- up every two hours. Enough about the bliss of the third trimester....

And now on to what I've packed for our little trip to the hospital where we shall have a baby. (To my male readers- please skip this and go watch some football highlights. Okaythanksbye.)

For Mama

Lip balm
hair ties & brush
Shampoo & Conditioner (or dry shampoo)
Body wash
Deoderant
Toothbrush and paste
2 pairs of comfy, no skid socks (& possibly flip flops for the shower)
Yoga (lounge) pants
1-2 nursing tank tops
Lightweight cardigan or wrap
Undies that you care nothing about (the hospital usually provides mesh undies that are excellent)
Lanolin or equivalent (I'm taking this one - I didn't care for the pure lanolin last time around.)
Nursing pads
Phone & charger
Camera with memory card and fully charged battery
Maxi pads (the hospital usually provides these, but just in case pack some of your own- ginormous sized- you'll need them at home anyhow)
Mascara (I've never packed any makeup, but it won't hurt to have it in case I want to look nice for guests. Guests? I mean visitors, of course.)
Face cleansing wipes (before you're able to get up to shower at least you can freshen your sweaty forehead)

For Baby

Car seat (it's frowned upon if you don't have one)
Newborn "scratch mittens" (or if you're being super frugal a pair of socks will also work)
Swaddling blanket (the hospital has them, but I always thought they felt rough)
Hat (you'll probably get a standard issue pink & blue knit from the hospital)
Heavier weight blanket to use on the way home (over baby in car seat since it'll be December)
Burp cloths (I use pre-fold cloth diapers most of the time)
2 sleepers (newborn and 0-3 size) to go home in
Socks
Hairbrush (just in case baby shows up with a generous amount of hair)

The hospital will usually supply diapers and wipes, but go ahead a pack some of your own (you never know).

I have never packed snacks, reading material, my own pillow or my boppy. My hospital has been generous with the amount of pillows they give me and unlike a lot of places (apparently) they are usually fluffy and not flat. Obviously you can throw one of yours in the car (make sure you put a colorful pillowcase on it) and if the pillows at your hospital are sub par you can have someone bring it in to you.

If you anticipate a lot of visitors pack an extra bag (like a reusable shopping bag that won't take up a lot of room) because many visitors will bring a little gift and it's much easier to put it all in one bag than to have to handle 10 gift bags. Whoever is shlepping the stuff to the car will thank you. Also! You might get to take home a lot of hospital provided things that have already been opened (like diapers). Ask your nurse if you are allowed to take stuff if you feel weird doing that. My nurses usually opened up the drawers on the bassinet and threw stuff at us to take home because they couldn't re use anything that had been opened.

When I look in my bag it seems very... sparse. Maybe that's because the bag itself is so big. It's good though, because I can throw any last minute things in there that I think I'll need (maybe some stuff for Tim). I hope this is helpful to anyone that stumbles across this. Experienced Mamas feel free to add to the list in the comment section the items you found essential or the things that were useless. And good luck to all you expecting moms- you look beautiful! 

33 weeks

Tomorrow I'm 33 weeks, not that I think 12 hours is really going to make a difference here.

I feel like this baby is huge. This girl is frequently hitting my ribs and making me wince with her very painful jabs. She is head down (and has been for a while) and growing nicely. Apparently she weighs four pounds and I am gaining (supposed to be, anyhow) a pound a week.... half a pound goes to her and half a pound is "water retention" that goes to me.

I've been slowing down on my eating everything in sight routine. I just don't feel as hungry anymore, although there are certainly times when I feel famished. No particular cravings to mention, but I do find myself gulping cranberry grape juice any chance I get. Heartburn loves me. Interesting little fact about that.... old wives tale that heartburn during pregnancy was a sure sign that the baby would be born with a nice head of hair has been scientifically proven. I read that article and instantly thought back on my previous pregnancies and I have concluded that it is indeed true. I didn't have much heartburn with my first and he was not completely bald, but close to it. My second and third I could not go to bed without taking tums first and eventually backed off eating trigger foods. With this one it has been bad for quite a while and I have tried my best to not eat anything after 4pm that will set off the flames (I miss salsa). I hypothesize that this baby girl will have lots of hair.

Nesting has not picked up any. I am still slowly packing my hospital bag and I think I'm about done with that. Next month I plan on making some freezer meals so that I'm not forcing everyone to eat pasta or cold cereal for supper for a couple of weeks after the baby is born. Any suggestions for me? I plan on throwing in some ready for the crock pot meals, too (stew, potato soup, honey bourbon chicken).

That about wraps up this little journal entry. I thought about making a pumpkin cake today, but it might be too late for that. Whatever, I'm making it anyway. Adios my good friends.

p.s. happy birthday to my very sweet mother-in-law!

streaming live from preggo brain

My blogging has been lacking lately. When I have time to write I find myself obsessively researching hospital bag packing lists and what I still need for the baby and reading birth stories.... as if I haven't done this 3 times already. I really need to chill out. And when I'm not stressing about that stuff I'm stressing about managing everything I do with a newborn. Everything I do.... um, mainly just making sure we are all presentable to drop D off at school. Yesterday I saw a mom at school with two preschoolers and a newborn. They were all dressed and they were on time. It gave me hope that I can do it, too. It sounds sort of ridiculous when I say it out loud (like I did to Tim yesterday and writing it here), but I've been in a pretty good groove with these three so I'm just praying this little girl is a cooperative team player and takes it easy on her mama. 

I read a lot of posts on message boards and blogs that the mom-to-be is saying how she wants to have the baby early (well, full term- 37 weeks) instead of later (due date or later). I was sure with D that I would go past due, but he came 10 days early. With Ry I wanted him out! I waddled around dilated for 3 weeks and he came before his due date, too. When I was pregnant with Rose I just knew she was coming before her due date and I predicted the date (I was right!) ten days early again. This time around I find myself in no hurry for the baby to arrive. Don't get me wrong, I'm so excited about her and I can't wait to have her here in my arms instead of kicking me in the ribs, but I feel much more relaxed that she'll come when she's ready. I probably won't be forcing spicy foods and fresh pineapple down my throat and all the other things women do to speed up labor starting. I did it once before and I don't regret it, but I was in such a hurry that I don't want to do that again. (Talk to me again in about 8 weeks, I might change my mind.)

I'm preparing for a baby in eight-ish weeks in case she follows her siblings and wants to be "early", too. I'm predicting that she'll be long (at least 20 1/2 in), I'm not sure about weight... maybe around 7 pounds 6 ounces (random or what?). That seems to be about the middle of road with mine being from 6.15 -7.15. And although we are pretty much all Monday babies (except Ry- Sunday) I'm thinking a Friday for this girl.

Well, I'm stopping myself before this goes on forever. I promised a kid or three that I would make cookies today so I better get on that while I have the time. The grocery store didn't have reese's peanut butter chips... like I even care. (I care. A lot. It was quite the let down, but no worries I found the little reese's pieces candies to put in the cookies. Not obsessed.)

28 weeks

To be technical I'm actually 28 weeks 3 days. And we all love that pretty picture, don't we?

I guess now that I'm in the third trimester my body decided it was time to loosen up. If you've been pregnant before then you know I'm referring to the relaxin hormone that makes all your joints... relax! Basically my hips are falling apart preparing for the arrival of this child. My lower back is in a constant state of "ouch" that is only relieved by laying (lying?) down. I asked the doctor last week if there was anything I could do about my back pain and he suggested a support band for my growing belly. (I laughed.) He also told me that this little baby was going to triple in size over the next three months. Oh, right, I knew that. But it's not the baby! It's my joints! I feel so old. My second pregnancy was the most painful on my body, but this one is well on it's way to taking that title. And now I will end my complaining. Can I have a cookie?

Am I craving anything lately? Not really. I am slightly obsessed with all things pumpkin, but I think that is due to the Season of Pumpkin and not pregnancy. I had a pumpkin smoothie, pumpkin bread and pumpkin pancakes this weekend. Totally normal. (This child might be orange when she's born.) Mainly, if it's edible I will probably eat it. Unless it's jelly or raisins... or jello. Gross times three.

Still on an emotional roller coaster, which is Tim's favorite! Just kidding, but that guy is seriously so patient with my random crying and moodiness. I am baking him a cake this weekend (mostly due to his birthday).

Baby girl is between 2 and 3 pounds now, likes to jab at my ribs and roll over or turn, I don't know, but it's uncomfortable. Braxton Hicks contractions are abundant, especially if I get up really fast or have to carry or hold Rose more than 10 minutes.

The baby does have a name, but don't worry, I'm not sharing it until the big arrival post. I'm seeing the doc every two weeks now and I have an awesome goal of not gaining more than a pound a week. I don't know if that's even realistic. Especially with 7 birthdays, Halloween and Thanksgiving between now and due day. Laughable.

That's all for this update. I'm off to indulge in a salad now. (My fav!) Everyone else needs to have a piece of cake for me. Oh, and I passed the glucose test, just got that call from the nurse. Happy dance.

well, it's Wednesday

Trying on baby shoes

My sister in law gave me some baby clothes and shoes yesterday. Just in time, too, as I was thisclose to loading an online shopping cart after I counted the 4 body suits and 4 sleepers I purchased a few months ago and having a mild panic attack about the clothing situation. Seeing as how I only have about 12 weeks left to the due date (and I have never made it to a due date yet, so I'm aiming to be ready two weeks early) I am starting to get a hint of the nesting instinct. Just a hint.

Tomorrow I get to do the very fun glucose test at the doctor's office. Thankfully my doctor has never made me drink the orange syrupy stuff that I've always heard about. Instead of doing that I get to fast all night long and then arrive early at the office have some blood drawn and then I am sent off to eat a high sugar breakfast before getting my blood taken again. It's the only time that it's very much okay and encouraged to eat a giant cinnamon roll or doughnuts or pancakes with lots of syrup. After that I am back to my well balanced diet of cookies, pumpkin muffins and cheerios  scrambled eggs, salads and lean meats. Sounds so appealing doesn't it?

There's not much else to say. I am about to go pick up my big kindergartener and then make supper. Oh, we survived chapel today. Barely, but we did and it felt like success.
Wiedersehen!

Baby Needs What?

Oh you guys, shopping for baby stuff is fun. It's also intimidating for first time parents, especially when they walk into a big box baby store and start the registering process. I remember registering with my first and thinking there was so much that I needed. I mean, I didn't really know any better, being a first time mom, so I followed the registry guide. By the second baby I had figured out what I needed and what was an extra. Third baby came along and I pared it down even more. And now I have a list of what I need right off the bat.

You can find all sorts of guides for what you need, but I click a lot of links and found that there is some ridiculously frivolous things listed as necessary. So, from my experience, I'll make a list of things I have found useful and "essential".

Diapering

First you'll need to decide if you're going with disposable diapers or if you want to use cloth. Some people use both. I have just stuck with disposables although I have thought a lot about trying cloth. 

2 packs of newborn sized diapers. Baby may grow out of Nb fairly quickly so I want to have enough for the first week or two, but it also depends on Baby's size and that's not something you can be certain of before you deliver. More can be purchased if you need them when the time comes. I prefer pampers swaddlers.

1 case (each) of size 1 and 2. Again, you're prepared for the next size, but purchase more when or if you need to continue using them. I was happy with pampers swaddlers and Huggies little snugglers.

Size 3 diapers. This is the size my kids wore the longest during the first year. (basically any brand will do, although one of mine had more rashes with a certain brand so when switching between brands you might want to buy a small pack first before you invest in a huge box)

Diaper rash cream/ Skin Ointments I like Aveeno diaper cream and Aquaphor Ointment, but store brands have been just as effective and a lot cheaper. I will say that Aquaphor is awesome for all sorts of uses for adults and baby and it lasts a long time. I bought a few travel sizes for purse, diaper bag and medicine cabinet and they lasted for months. 

Wipes I avoid any scented wipes because I never know if my kid's skin will have a bad reaction. Our family seems to have sensitive skin so I only buy Huggies Natural Care wipes or the store brand equivalent.

Clothing

If you're having a baby shower be prepared for an excessive amount of clothes up to around 6 months. People can't resist cute baby clothes. If you have friends with babies ask if they will let you borrow clothes that their baby has outgrown. In any case be sure you have at least these items...

8 body suits (onsies) Depending on season long or short sleeved. Try to find a few kimono type (side snap) for baby's first dressings, no struggling with getting anything over a wiggly baby's head.

8 sleepers Sometimes referred to as "Sleep-n-plays" they are full body, footed pjs. If your baby is a summer baby you might not need 8 as you may use more onsies.

3 shirt and pant outfits Probably not essential, but nice if you want to "dress up" baby for any outings. Pants are nice to pair with onsies.

6 pairs of socks Make them cute!

2 hats 3/4 of mine are winter babies so hats/caps were essential. The hospital will probably provide one knit cap. Summer babies might want a sun hat of some sort if you are the outdoorsy type.

Feeding

Your baby won't eat solid foods for at least four months. Do not worry about spoons, baby food or serving bowls for bringing baby home. You can buy these things as you get closer to that time.

4 bottles (+ bottle brush) Even if you plan on breastfeeding have a few bottles on hand. You may want to pump and let someone else feed the baby and it's nice to be prepared in case you suddenly need to bottle feed. Even for formula feeding, which I did after a certain point with all mine, I didn't need 12 bottles.

Formula This one totally depends on you. I always had a couple sample cans hanging out and I breastfed, so I didn't worry about it until I had to. My kids didn't need a special kind so I don't have a lot of experience here besides that I used one can/container per week when they were about 7 months old.

Burp Cloths (10) I love using prefold cloth diapers for burp cloths. Very absorbent and versatile.

For Breastfeeding

2 nursing bras I wouldn't buy more than two right away because of fluctuating size. Buy towards the end of pregnancy and talk to a sales person! They will (hopefully) be very helpful. I liked having a regular one and a sleep bra which looks a lot like a sports bra and is very accommodating during that first week of nursing.

Nursing pads Leaking is going to happen. Don't be alarmed- be prepared. I would recommend washable pads; they are softer and more economical than disposables.

Breast Pump & storage bags or bottles I was able to pump with a medela handheld manual pump (I received at hospital when my second was born) with wonderful results. I had a terrible double electric with my first and trashed it. Research, think about how often you'll need to use it and decide from there. Ask around if you have friends or family that have recommendations, too. They are often the most helpful and honest. I loved the bottles with caps that you can freeze and then warm and top it with a nipple... no transferring the milk between a storage container to a bottle.

Nipple Cream/Balm There are many options out there and I had good results/relief with Lansinoh.

Nursing Pillow If I didn't have something to rest/prop my arms on while holding a baby for 20 minutes or more my arms would have fallen off. I used a boppy and loved it, but I'm sure any fluffy pillow would be helpful.

Health/Safety/Grooming

Infant acetaminophen

Gas drops  You never know when baby will get gassy so it's better to have some stashed away than be driving to the store at 2am.

Pacifier(s)  Have a couple of different styles... We were fortunate to receive a Soothie paci at the hospital and then I had been gifted other kinds. They worked for around 6 weeks until my kids decided they liked their thumbs better.

Nail Clippers or Emory Board These are my favorite and I have 3 pair because I am always misplacing them!

Baby Shampoo/Body wash/ Lotion Any gentle cleanser will work. You should sponge bathe until your baby's umbilical cord stump falls off. (Here is where I will say that baby towels are cute and so are tiny washcloths, but guess what! Full sized ones work just as well if not better.) As for lotion... I liked Aveeno.

Gear (must have)

Car seat It's required by law. I recommend going gender neutral on this.

A place to sleep It doesn't have to be a crib, you could use a pack-n-play for six months like I did with our third baby before you purchase anything else.

Blankets  Though a little pricey (to me), my favorite swaddling blankets are these. I bought a four pack after I had my second baby and I love them because they are big and you can swaddle longer with them. I never bought more because I always had an abundance of other blankets. We have an excess of cozy blankets (my fault), but one or two soft plush blankets are very nice to have.

Extra Gear

Everything else is extra, really. A baby sling/ carrier is nice if you actually use it. Baby bath tubs are convenient, but you could get by without one if you have a real bath tub. A swing can be a lifesaver if your baby loves it (mine did- it's on my personal must have list). Strollers are, once again, convenient especially if you go out frequently. A high chair or some sort of booster seat (we'll be going with a space saving type this time) is a good investment, but you aren't going to use it right away so that's something to plan on purchasing when your baby is 4 to 6 months old.

I feel like I'm forgetting some things, but that's what I have written down on my list for this baby and I've checked it against other lists... Anyhow, all this to say if you're expecting your first or your fourth there is no need to be overwhelmed with registry's or feeling like you're skimping if you don't buy the entire line of matching gear that's being shoved in your face. Your baby needs a few things and YOU. Try not to get caught up in stuff and just focus on what your baby needs most. Food, clothing, shelter, love.

Any essentials I forgot? Any suggestions? Leave them in the comments!! I'd love to know what you think!

I can't wait to meet our...

She currently weighs a whopping 11 ounces and impressed the tech and doctor with her good behavior, letting them get clear pictures and measurements.

And at the very end she was caught sucking her thumb... just like her brothers and sister.

While Waiting

Okay, the ultrasound is in about 5 (long) hours and while you wait in suspense for the reveal I figured you would love to know what's going on this morning.

one day shy of 20 weeks bump & biggest brother

I'm waiting for the clothes to dry so I can wash the dishes... why can't I do this at the same time? I live in an old house and it's very finicky about what appliances are operating during the same hour. But, I already know what I'm going to wear (thanks to a very kind friend that has given me a lot of cute maternity clothes), my hair is done, I have my paperwork filled out and a writable CD in my purse (hopefully we can get a video of u/s).

Laughing at myself for totally freaking out when I found our front door half way open (the storm door was still shut) when I took Rose back to her room at 3am. It's not an uncommon occurrence to find the front door ajar, but I panic at just about any strange noise or shadow at night. I woke up Tim and made him walk through the house and we found.... nothing! That won't keep me from making sure the door is locked every time I walk past it from now on. (Sorry in advance for locking you out honey.)

Oh, and I have to share this! We were getting the kids ready for bed and asked them if they knew what to do if there was ever a fire in the house. Ry nodded his head and Tim asked him, "Okay, what is the first thing you would do?" Ry thought for a second and very seriously answered, "Panic."

Goodness I love honest kids! We could barely contain our laughter and eventually were able to explain that before you panic you need to get out of the house.

And... now I am ready to go and will stop blabbering on about random things. I'll try my best to update this evening. 

Not much

Monday I had hyper children and no energy to blog, Tuesday I had a sick kid that mellowed everyone out, urging us to just sit still and cuddle on the couch and today I think we are back to the middle ground. Boys being boys and girls being girls.

Tomorrow I am going in to have the anatomy ultrasound for baby 4. I am equal parts excited and nervous. I can't wait to find out if we're having a boy or girl. The kids made their guesses, D says he wants a sister (I am still surprised at that), Ry wants a brother and Rose just copies whatever the previous person has said. It will be so fun to tell them! I am praying that no matter girl or boy that this baby is healthy. I mean, what more can I ask for?

We have our names picked out already. Or we did. The boy name we agreed on pretty much right away. The girl name keeps changing. I thought we had settled on one, but someone keeps making new suggestions. I guess if we have a girl we can always wait until she's born to choose the name.

Anyhow, I really don't have much to write about and a certain little girl is driving me up the wall because she won't take a nap. I think I need some ice cream.

P.S. Don't forget to make your prediction as to whether this is a girl or boy baby!

19 weeks

We are getting very close to finding out if Baby 4.0 is a boy or girl! My last update (only update) was at 14 weeks. I suppose if anyone is curious about what has changed in five weeks then this is for you.

The all day/spontaneous nausea has pretty much disappeared, occasionally emerging if I am super hungry, extremely hot or happen to smell something gross. As far as what I like to eat... I'm eating normally again. Not really craving anything too much or having aversions. Usually garlic is a big offender while I'm pregnant, but it hasn't been a problem with this one. I am loving dill pickles and Colby cheese. Non pregnant me does not eat bananas except in muffins/bread or shakes, but I have eaten several and enjoyed them lately. I prefer beef over chicken (not really unusual), potatoes any way, sauteed veggies, strawberries, watermelon... sliced avocados with salt and pepper, fried eggs, biscuits with sausage gravy. Um, food. I like it. I haven't been super into Mexican food that I prepare, we had lunch at my favorite Mexican food place and it was perfect and I could probably eat there several times a week, but tacos at home are not really appealing to me. As far as sweets I prefer ice cream (with pretzels) or homemade cinnamon rolls (just made some!).

I had a doctor's visit yesterday and I think I've gained 12-15 pounds so far, which is very much consistent with how I gained for my other three. I am not a light weight (haha) with packing on the pounds; I have always gained about 40.

I'm still tired and I still cry at just about anything (America the Beautiful, Tim bringing home chocolate ice cream, the kids not napping). I think the only time I experienced the "bliss" of 2nd tri was with my first.

I have been feeling little kicks or jabs, but it's still early and I only feel them once or twice a day. My doc says the baby is growing beautifully and is happy with how everything is going. So, if you still want to take a guess at what this baby will be wearing (pink or blue- the poll is at the top right corner) please do! It looks like blue is winning right now.

If you want some sort of comparison with how I felt while pregnant with my boys compared to my girl... not much different. The nausea has been worse with each pregnancy. I craved fried chicken, enchiladas and sweets with my first boy, healthy food and sweets with my second boy, pretty much a combo of both with my girl (and chocolate!). I don't see a whole lot of difference there.

I have to go find something to eat now. Big surprise.

14 weeks

Today I officially entered the second trimester- yea!! I am "showing" a lot sooner than I did with the other three. None of my normal pants/jeans/shorts fit anymore and they haven't for about three weeks. I am stuck with one pair of maternity jeans, the shorts I bought last week that have a ribbed waistband thing and elastic waist skirts. None of my maternity tops fit right so I wear loose fitting shirts when I go out in public and feel frumpy looking. I haven't really felt like showing off my "bump" since I'm pretty certain strangers would think "beer gut" or "awe, she really should do some situps".  So... here is picture I took with the self timer. This is just one of approximately 30 very awkward posed portraits. Lucky for me I was able to edit it so you can focus on the belly instead of my weird side glance (and my new second chin).

And now for those you who enjoy the details of symptoms: nausea from just about the moment I took the test... pretty much prevented me from doing anything, eating anything and occasionally kneeling on the bathroom floor (I really don't want to exaggerate on that particular one). The all day "sickness" seems to be subsiding, although it did rear it's ugly head last night and this morning probably because I realized I had been feeling almost normal again.

Hunger strikes at any moment- especially right at bedtime and when I don't have access to any food, such as in the car or during church.

Aversions- up until about two weeks ago nothing looked or sounded good. I especially didn't want Mexican food (bean burritos from Taco Bell were okay, though), salads sounded like the most terrible thing in the world, ice cream actually made me sick...
Cravings- Throughout all that the only thing I ate that was perfect and hit the spot was steak and potatoes. I could eat eggs, cereal, shrimp, pasta- but didn't really like any sort of tomato sauce, cheez its (of all things) and something I'm not proud of at all... chicken mcnuggets- only gave into that craving once and the other was a spicy chicken sandwich from wendy's. (I'm sure it won't be the last time.) I can finally eat fruit (especially red grapes and strawberries) and veggies again (avocado and carrots are my favs so far).

Emotionally- I have started crying at the most ridiculous things. For example, we rented We Bought A Zoo and I bawled during the scene where there is a flashback of the guy's wife. Normally something so incredibly cheesy would simply make me roll my eyes. We watched some new extreme weight loss show and I found myself crying again. I cry when I read happy or sad blog posts. So... anything is game. If T says something nice I cry. If he teases me I cry. I really feel for him... especially this past Sunday at church when he looked over at me during a song and saw that I was crying yet again. He had no idea what was going on! He handles it all pretty well, though.

I feel like I've said way more than enough and will let you go on about your lives. And don't get all freaked out about having to read something like this every week... weekly updates won't start until the third trimester!

do you like surprises?

I think by all the smiles that these three get excited about surprises. 

 

And we are 

 

positively 

 

thrilled

about this one....

expected December 14

!!!!!