Getting Ready

Boy am I sore today.  Yesterday, Baby Sarah was turned from her breech position via an external version procedure at the hospital.  It was rough, but successful.  The sorest is the lower side of my protruding belly - right about head level for Rebekah and Elizabeth when they come running up for a hug.  : |

Aside from that, we've been spending the week getting ready.  To be ready for my contribution to the Christmas dinner, I made 2 double layer pumpkin pies and put them in the freezer, and am attempting to have the Christmas sweet potatoes ready so they're in the freezer, too.  Hopefully they won't turn to mush when they come out to finish baking!  Also stocked up on brown & serve rolls and the green beans & seasonings are waiting for the big day.  And I've got cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning.

 Kids looking at Santa in lights

For our family's consumption, I made 2 loaves of pumpkin bread (one is almost gone already, the other's in the freezer), one loaf of banana bread in the freezer, snowball cookies and will probably make more cookies in the coming days.  Haven't decided which seasonal cookies to do, but my family always wants chocolate chip.

 Elizabeth by the PINK angel, of course!

All the Christmas gifts are bought & wrapped!  My BFF got her box yesterday and they loved the curtain!!!  I put a box in the mail today for my sister... forgot to send it with Lauren!  And I received a package from my sister with two of the softest, most beautiful, hand crocheted newborn hats!!!  I forgot to take pictures before putting them into my suitcase, but they'll be cuter to see when Baby Sarah can model them.

 Elizabeth & David by the big flag

I have given up on having the new stockings done this year... again.  Dad is the only one with a new stocking hanging.  I found enough other stockings to have one for all 4 kids hanging.  I don't have one, but at least it won't be hanging there empty on Christmas morning!  I also gave up the neighbors' cookie boxes this year.  Too much other stuff going on this year.  I'll re-introduce the idea next year and perhaps with the kids a year older, they'll be old enough to enjoy the giving, too.

On Tuesday we enjoyed a great evening strolling through the Christmas lights!  The kids were soooo excited about every light we saw.

 

Rebekah didn't want to stop free roaming to be in a photo

Before You Were Born...

My sister is amazing.  She takes old junk and makes beautiful things and sells them and keeps getting featured in magazines for it!  She shared with us yesterday that she has been featured in a new Somerset magazine... again!  And look at the photo she shared.

It was another perfect reminder that I needed on the day I found out our baby is breech.  A perfect reminder that Baby Sarah is in God's hands even before she is born!

Psalm 139 (NLT)

 ¹³ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
      and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 ¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
 ¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
      as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
 ¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
      Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
   Every moment was laid out
      before a single day had passed.
 ¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
      They cannot be numbered!
 ¹⁸ I can’t even count them;
      they outnumber the grains of sand!
   And when I wake up,
      you are still with me!

 Belly Shot, 38 Weeks

10 Days 'til Christmas!

Baby Blessings & Thankfulness

When I realized earlier this year that car seats expire (and that meant several of the ones we were using were expiring this year) I was a little concerned.  Then we were very blessed at our baby shower to receive new car seats for all four children!  (Gift #13) 

With such a blessing I hated to be picky, but the infant seat we received was a car mounted seat, and I was wanting one that could be carried in for those times when the new baby falls asleep in the car.  My SIL assured me that it would be ok to exchange it, so that's what happened on Tuesday.

In some realms, I realize I am an oddball who gets excited about diapers and car seats, but surely the Mommies out there can understand.  I was very excited about this car seat that I found and the fact that I had a $20 off coupon for it!  Isn't this beautiful!?!?!  (Gift #14)

I'm not really a pink person, so when I saw this gorgeous fabric, I fell in love!  And it came with a "winter boot" that fits over the toes for warmth or to keep little sox from falling out or whatever.  Here it is with the sun shade opened:

Every time people have asked me what we needed for the new baby, I would have to answer, "We don't really need anything, except the car seats and diapers!  But I'd really like to have a double stroller."  My goal was to accumulate gift cards or cash or something for the stroller, because those are pretty expensive.  And I really wanted a Joovy.  I've been entering giveaways for the stroller, but honestly, in the back of my head, I didn't think I'd ever get one.  Then I happened to think of Craigslist.

This morning, I am now the proud owner of a Joovy Caboose thanks to a wonderful family of 6 who used Craigslist to bless us!  (Gift #15)  It is not the latest & greatest model, it's not purple, but it is in immaculate condition and will serve the exact purpose that I wanted it for.

The seat in the front is where Rebekah can sit or the infant carrier can attach there!

And the back can be used as a bench seat for Elizabeth or Rebekah (with the seat belt) or as a standing place for Elizabeth if we're on an adventure & she's tired.

As soon as we got up & moving, I dressed the girls and headed outside to get pictures of it in action! Here's EB showing that she can ride standing:

or sitting:

David is holding the sun visor in this one.  So far it appears to be very easy to use and they're enjoying the novelty of the ride! 

Time for a Shower

I wish my sister, sister-in-law, and best friend could have come in for the weekend to be with us at our baby shower, but that's just not possible, so here's some pictures and a review especially for y'all!  Keep in mind I haven't figured out what settings the new camera needs to be on.  Apparently it's not as automatic as I thought!

The shower was at Aunt Wee's house.  The table was beautiful and I love the polka dots!!!

Lauren did a great job making a polka dot cake!

And the strawberry cupcakes were deee-lish and very cute!

We had a good time visiting

and Elizabeth enjoyed helping opening gifts.

 This adorable footie outfit will probably be our going home outfit!

 We were blessed with new car seats, too!

(ours were expiring soon)

Elizabeth & Rebekah enjoyed using theirs to watch a 

Sesame Street video when we got home!

Belly Shot, 34 weeks

So there you have it.  I think she's dropped, too & getting herself ready to come out soon... just over a month to go!  This is Gift #13 in my list of 1000 Gifts.

Belly Shot:: 25 Weeks

Today was my 25 week check-up.  Heart sounded good.  My posture could use some help, though!

I go back in 3 weeks for the next check-up and the lovely gestational diabetes test.  bleck.  He says they have "fruit punch" flavor now.  Joy.

Haha... joy... Sarah Joy!  Wow, I need to clean the bathroom mirror before taking pictures.

Drumroll please.....

Something about this reminds me of Rebekah already!

In the last few weeks, I've boxed up some boy clothes that David has outgrown.  I wasn't sure if I needed to cart them up to the attic or to sell/Goodwill them.  Had the same dilemma with the clothes Rebekah is outgrowing.  Now we know.

The boy clothes will be needing a new home and the baby girl stuff is going back into the attic for a few more months.

I caught the big one!

We went fishing yesterday on the far side of the pond. I caught 4 fish - these 2 bass, a crappie, and a perch.

My shirt says, "My Husband Rocks" because he really does! He took all the hooks out for me! Thanks, Babe!!!

I'm also gonna call this a belly shot - 14.5 weeks. This means the 2nd trimester is here! I'll turn sideways for the next one. And maybe my hair frizzies will have tamed down by then!

First Belly Shot:

I just realized I never posted this. I emailed it to immediate family & I guess I thought I'd blogged it, too. This was taken on May 24.

Estimated Due Date: December 31, 2010. This month I heard the heartbeat. The next sonogram will be in August.

Please excuse me while I have another pity party...

I have been a spoiled baby of the family. I can hear my siblings nodding in agreement already. So Family - y'all can stop reading now. Seriously, y'all stop reading. You're not gonna like it anyway.

Life goes on, day by day, and almost every day I am reminded of how spoiled I have been. A birthday passes, and I miss the card from Momma. Greedy as I may sound, I miss the birthday check from her, too. I'm hungry for a certain restaurant and I know I could have called Momma and we'd have most likely gone that day.

She'd have already bought new shorts & a t-shirt for David & Elizabeth this summer. And I bet she would have bought the little butterfly romper I saw the last time I was at Walmart. I could have called her to go to Goodwill with me and she would have taken Elizabeth & David with her around the store so I'd have room in my basket for Rebekah & the clothes we found.

I'd schedule my doctor's appointments, making sure not do schedule them on Monday, because that's Quilt Club. Then I'd call Momma and let her know. She'd write it on her calendar and go with me, taking the kids to look at the bunnies or the birds in the hospital lobby while I went to the appointment. She'd buy them fresh popcorn from the volunteers. She'd help them make friends with the other kids waiting in the lobby. She'd be proud to introduce them to the other grandparents waiting in the lobby. She'd be excited to hear what the doctor had to say, then we'd go to Rosa's for lunch... almost every time throughout the entire pregnancy.

This is going to be a long 9 months. My first doctor's appointment is Monday morning.

Tiny Talk Tuesday: Baby Day Edition

This post was written in advance and scheduled for this morning...

Well, today is "Baby Day!" We are scheduled to be at the hospital at 5am to get this show on the road. That makes this my last Tiny Talk Tuesday as a mother of just two adorable children.

We'll start off with one of David's new things - joke telling.

Thursday I stood up and exclaimed about my sudden need to visit the bathroom. I was rubbing my tummy as I tried to walk across the room without having an accident...
Elizabeth: Have baby inside tummy?
Mom: Yes, I do have a baby in there.
Elizabeth: Why?
Mom, giggling, then wondering what to say: Um... because that's where she needs to be to grow.

Later in the day I saw Elizabeth rubbing her full tummy after eating & she said: Have baby inside tummy.
I wonder if she thinks I ate a baby?!?

Later still...
David: How are you feeling, Mom?
Mom: Tired.
David: Is our new baby ready to come out now?
Mom: She will be soon, dear.

Saturday, I was wearing a tight fitting tank top with a sweater over it. I was sitting in a chair when Elizabeth came up & pulled back the sweater, exposing my big, round tummy.
Elizabeth, patting my tummy: Like the moon! Like the moon!

Monday night, David was so full of excitement about the upcoming days! MawMaw came over to spend the night since we're leaving so early. About 10pm, I thought of one more thing I wanted to tell her for while we're gone. After I left her room, David met me at the hall.
David: What's going on???
Mom: I just had to tell MawMaw something. Now we're all going to bed, so you can go to sleep.
He gets back in bed. I start walking off.
David, whisper-calling out: Mom! Mom!
Mom: What, babe?
David: Tomorrow is Baby Day!

So keep us in your prayers today! My precious tiny talkers also. And I'll try to note some of the tiny talk when they see the new baby to add next week!

See more Tiny Talk Tuesday over at Not Before 7!

Reflection

I just stumbled upon the weekly photo challenge called You Capture. I love photo challenges, so I thought I'd play along when I can. This last week's challenge was Reflection.

Belly Shot, 38 Weeks

I accidentally noticed this reflection one morning as the sun came in the windows & thought it would make an interesting belly shot. A little more revealing than my normal belly shot, but since it's a reflection, it doesn't feel so exposed... look away if it embarrasses you. Oh, and try not to notice the mess on the floor.

Baby Shower for Rebekah

We also had a baby shower during the open house! And I think there were some aunts & (girl) cousins who'd like to see those photos...

The cake was absolutely adorable with little ladybugs on it!! It was delicious strawberry cake! And now I don't have to have a birthday cake, because I've got about half of this one left in my freezer! : ) I got to set out my precious Willow Tree mommies and the hostesses gave me these beautiful roses instead of a corsage. I like this better.

Grandpa & Aunt Wee were the official photographers.

Guests were family, friends, and neighbors.

We were showered with lots of adorable and useful baby gifts!

FIVE blankets with Rebekah's name on them!

Gowns, Sleep & Plays, Crib Sheets, Flannel Receiving Blankets

Afghan by Toni H

and lots of cute new outfits ranging in size from
newborn to 12 months!

We are so blessed by family & friends who love us and our kids!

Belly Shot, 38 Weeks

Baby Shower photos on Flickr
Grandpa's shower photos on Flickr