One Week

One week from today we will welcome our fifth (and last) child into the world. It's very surreal. I had my first child seven years ago this month....a beautiful baby girl. It only seems fitting that we end in August with another baby girl. We are all so very excited. It seems I have been constantly pregnant for the last seven years and I am pretty excited not to be as such again.

Being pregnant is not terrible, I just don't enjoy it all that much like I know a lot of ladies do. I don't like being tired or sick all the time, the swelling, sleepless nights, the heartburn, headaches, or backaches. I don't like that I can't get down and rough house with the very active children I already have. I don't like that I don't have the energy or my body is aching so badly that the thought of taking them to the park or the zoo or the pool is a daunting one. I don't like that my house is in constant disarray because of the same reasons. Although, knowing the date and time of delivery is convenient, I do not enjoy going through major surgery every time. The recovery is dreadful. I do LOVE, however, the feel of the little human that we created moving inside my abdomen. I do love knowing that I have been given the opportunity to bring 5 of our Father in Heaven's spirits into this world. I love bringing a new baby home from the hospital and adjusting my life to accommodate another little miracle. I do love the excitement that's involved in the whole process. I do LOVE my children with every ounce of my being and I am so incredibly blessed to have them.

I know that this chapter of our lives is coming to an end and I am really trying to relish it and remember. Remember the feel of her kicks and even all the things I don't enjoy so much. I know I will miss them someday. I look at my eldest and remember what I can of when we brought her home, when she first smiles and laughed. She is only seven (almost) and still she has grown so much. It seems like she came into our lives only yesterday but at the same time, I can hardly remember life with out her. I remember my parents telling me that time goes faster the older you get...it's so true. My kids are growing so fast and I won't be having any more to rewind the process, so to speak. I am truly trying to relish the precious time I have with this pregnancy and with each of my kids.

I have a friend who said once, "I am ready to stop having kids and start raising the ones I have." I know what she meant now. While bringing those precious spirits here is so exciting and important, we both feel like our family is complete and we have done that work. I am excited to bring this princess home and enjoy how she fits into the dynamics of our family. I am excited that it's a girl I will be bringing home this time. I am excited for the soft sweet baby skin and experience all the "firsts" all over again. I am excited to have my body back, even if just to a slight degree at first. I am excited for all the things that growing up means. Trying to raise responsible, kind, faithful, honest people is a daunting and frightening task, but I am excited for it.

another post?!

I know it's crazy. More than one post in a month....crazy stuff. I figured I better get 'caught up' before I have this baby. Also, my mom wants to see pictures!

Well, we did get another ultrasound. I was pretty excited because I was sure I wouldn't get another. The doc wanted to see how big she is getting though. They estimated her at about 7 1/2 lbs and that was at 36 weeks. HA! Why do I have such huge babies? I kind of like that they come out with some chubs though. I got a new pink swing and a new pink carseat...I have a problem, I know. And the nursery is all done and ready for the princess to make her debut.

The baby bedding was not difficult to do and I think it turned out well. Thanks Mom for the fabric! I have also made the baby several blankets, onesies, leggings and hairbows/flowers. I have also finished the birthday shirts for A and E as I didn't think that they would get done so soon after the baby. All I have left on my to do list is some cleaning. Only 2 weeks and 2 days!!!

J's News

The reason the kids got their medals and treat on the second to last game was because of my son...J was having surgery the day before the last game was scheduled.  The only other exciting thing that happened around here this summer was J's tonsillectomy. That's right, the boy is now missing body parts. The poor kid has snored since he was 18 months or so and has always had HUGE tonsils. After noticing that he rouses at night and doesn't seem to get a deep sleep very often, we opted to have them removed to see if that helps his sleeping at night.

 Here he is all ready to go in the morning with Ruff Ruff (the mangy stuffed dog).

 He is all decked out and watching cartoons before they take him back and start.

This is him right afterwards in the recovery room. He was so sad and miserable. He was put to sleep for the procedure and was given much drugs through the IV. When he started to wake, he was very uncomfortable and fussy for a bit and then fell asleep. We sat in the recovery room for another hour or so while he slept, drank some fluids and had his first dose of the painkillers that we would have at home. He got to ride out front to the car in a wheel chair and we were of to the store to get his prescription. He was complaining that his tummy was feeling bad but we made it to the pharmacy and the drive thru for a milkshake and then home without incident. He took a nap and spent most of the rest of the day trying to screw around and not sit still and rest. That definitely caught up with him later that night. Besides having to wake him a number of times for his meds, he woke MANY times very upset and needed to drink a bit and calm down before sleep came again. He also awoke to vomit much blood. Yuck. The next couple days he sat around and did nothing like a good little patient and the nights continued to be miserable for him. We actually slept downstairs so not to wake the rest of the fam. After about seven days or so he stopped waking at night. And now almost two weeks later, he is his normal rambunctious self.

Summer 2011

This summer has been extremely uneventful. We usually have swim lessons and a fun Fourth, then we head to UT to visit Grandma and Grandpa. In UT we do all kinds of fun stuff and eventually head down to Lake Powell to camp and boat for a week. This summer...not so much. This baby just doesn't have great timing.

Therefore, this summer we haven't done anything really. We have made it to the zoo a couple times, the pool a bunch of times, the cupcake shop, Grandma Kathi's, hung out with cousins and friends, and that is about it really. Mommy has done a lot of sewing and crafting, the kids played in the backyard, Daddy's store opened, and A and J actually got to stay at Grandma Kathi's for a few days on their own.

There have been a few new things...the two older kiddos did T-ball this summer. From the very first practice, the coaches were very impressed with A's athletic ability. J was not diggin' it at first but by the end, he was really enjoying "hitting the ball hard"...which he did very well. A enjoyed the sport the whole time and really loved that she learned to throw the ball well, play first base a bunch and run faster than all the other kids. It really was a fun time watching all these 4-6 year old kids trying to hit the ball and run in the right direction, or miss the "grounder" and all run after it like a herd of cattle, or fight over the ball so they can throw it to first.

They were super psyched to get medals and popsicles at their last game. Well, it turned out to be at the second to last game, but that's for the next post.... 

Swimming Lessons

At the beginning of the summer, A, J and I all did swim lessons. A and J did them last year and they both LOVE the water. I was a little worried about the third child. He seemed a little nervous the first day but, after that, he did great. It turns out, he loves the water too.

ME

After church today, my wonderful sister in law was kind enough to document my pregnancy for me. We took my fancy camera and just messed around in her yard. I noticed that most of the simple editing I have done in the last two hours was not saved. Grrrr. And I have decided that I like the pictures without my round face in them!! Here are some of my faves...

Pink

So I am finally having another girl. What other color could I paint the nursery?

We have a home that was built in the 1920's and therefore, has a lot of character...and also some oddities. This little room upstairs is, of course, the nursery. It's a small room with built ins and a slanted ceiling. It works perfectly for a nursery. I have been so excited to do this room for the new princess and I finally started it...and almost finished it. It's painted (thanks for the help Jennifer), and most of the decorative things are roughly in place. I did move the crib and changing table in there as well after I took these pictures. All that's left is making the bedding for the crib (right now there is simply a blue sheet and an adorable little boy still sleeping in it...in the pink room. I don't think he will be scarred too badly). There you have it folks, the beginnings of the last nursery I will ever do. I will post pics of the finished product.