Eight Things.

This morning I thought it would be fun to change it up a bit. Here are eight things on my mind this morning.

1. One precious baby girl. She's almost always on my mind lately. How can she not be with the jabs I'm feeling all day long. I don't mind though. I know feeling her move will be the #1 thing I miss about being pregnant. After all, this is my last! (I think...).

2. Two days until our ultrasound! I get to see my sweet girl's face in 3D in just two days! I am amazed at the technology that they have now. I mean, I will practically have her portrait before she comes into the world. It's kind of cheating, but I'm dying to see her! I had ultrasounds at least every month with the twins, but with this pregnancy I've only had three total, one of them being an elective scan to find out gender early. Now if I can somehow drink double the amount of fluids for the next two days, we can get better pictures. I might as well just hang out in the bathroom...

3. Three butts. I'm going to have three kids in diapers so soon. If the challenge of potty training twins didn't terrify me I'd attempt it before baby girl comes... but I don't think I have the patience for that right now.  Instead, we'll just spend our retirement money on diapers... I hope one of the four kids will be extra sweet and caring and let us live in their basement when we're ninety.

4. Four walls to be painted, times two rooms. One gallon Pencil Sketch gray and one gallon Japanese Koi orange. I'm no interior designer so fingers crossed that they turn out like the picture I have in my head.

5. Five loads of laundry I should get done today. I won't, but I need to.  If I'm having this much trouble keeping up now, what will I do when I add a newborn into the mix? Not only will I be busier, but will have another set of pooped on clothes to wash. Why does my washer have to be in the basement? It's soooo far away. My lungs are too squished to make it up and down those stairs like 10 times in a day.

6. Six weeks until my firstborn turns 4! How is that possible? I can't hardly remember life before him, but 4? He'll be starting Kindergarten next year (cue the ugly mommy sobs). I love the age he's at right now though. You can have such interesting conversations with him lately, and he says the funniest things. He picks up so many phrases from us and doesn't always use them correctly so it's hilarious. When all the kids are being crazy, my husband will say, "We're falling apart" and now Easton will do the same when the twins are going crazy. It's funny watching your 3 year old regurgitate your own words in his own way.  I asked him yesterday what he wants for his birthday party and he said a race car birthday, or a tractor birthday, or a "Woody and Buzz Lightyear" birthday.  He has quite the list of gifts he wants... he's just like his daddy. At the top of the list is a remote control Grave Digger monster truck (for a mere $75...yikes).  Since I will be very, very pregnant at that point, he may have to settle a bit as far as the party goes. But thank God he's a very grateful boy and will love it all no matter what he gets.

7. Seven straight days of 12-hour shifts. That's what my husband just finished. I know he's gotta be exhausted... I know I am! I'm way to pregnant for that nonsense. These kids wear me out! I'm so grateful for how hard he works, though. If it wasn't for his drive and determination to provide for us, I would definitely have to at least work part time to make ends meet. He busts his butt so I can raise our kids. I snagged a good one!

8. Eight Weeks. That's all! Eight weeks until we meet our baby girl. Technically, since my c-section will scheduled one day before my due date, we're down to seven weeks, six days. What a mix of emotions. Thrilled and terrified at the same time. There are perks to having kids so close together, right? They will be best buddies and fight play together, right? What if she never sleeps? How will I keep up with 3 little boys? Coffee, I better stock up on coffee. And find a new game on my phone for late night feedings. I got as far as I could on Candy Crush during Easton's nightly feedings. I don't remember what I did for the twins at night, but during the day I blew through 12 seasons of Grey's Anatomy while nursing. So now I'll need a new obsession! But I'm getting ahead of myself. I have so much to do until then! No time to waste...better go get started on that laundry!

💜 55 days!

31 Weeks

I got out my laptop this morning around 8:30 fully intent on writing an inspired blog post. Apparently, I got distracted. Can't imagine why... house full of kids and dirty laundry and a trail of soggy cheerios across the dining room floor. But anyway, I'm making a comeback now and maybe I will get it finished before I pass out from another day of being Mom.

These recent days of being Mom have been a little rough. I'm slowing down a bit and my preggo brain is making it impossible to focus on one task at a time. My poor son has to ask me for something like 6 times before I actually remember to get it for him. So if my kids are slightly dehydrated, it wasn't on purpose, I just can't seem to follow through on getting a cup of water for them (ok, maybe that's a bit dramatic but you get my point, right?). I'm also trying to fit in little projects here and there  making it even more difficult to focus. I started painting the trim in the nursery and so far have spent three kids-napping sessions in there. I need about two more, and until then the paint and brushes are still going to sit on my bathroom counter. But hey, progress, right!?

I did have my sprinkle last weekend and it was wonderful! I was so blessed and still can't believe I was opening presents that were pink! I want to post pictures, but we had baby girl's name plastered all over so I'm going to leave them out for now. Just know that it was a wonderful time and it made me feel like this is really real now! Now I'm even more anxious to get the nursery set up.

On the list of projects for that (besides painting) is some sort of headband/bow holder, some DIY canvas art, and painting the letter for above the crib. My sister is letting me borrow a gorgeous re-purposed white chandelier for the room too. I was nervous to put it above her crib so I decided I can put it above the rocking chair. It has a dimmer and everything. Oooo, and I have a star nightlight to put in there too. So many precious things... it's no wonder I'm excited to get it all set up!

In other news, my kids have been especially fun these past two weeks or so. I don't know if it's my lack of patience/energy or that they are just little stinkers. But they know just went to be super cute and give mom an unsolicited kiss to make me forget how much they are driving me crazy. For instance, the other night I asked Easton to take the twin's shoes off after we got home late one night. I started getting everything ready for bedtime and he did so good getting both shoes and socks off. He wanted to keep helping since Dad wasn't home for the bedtime routine. We got the boys in the bedroom and he wanted to change a diaper (he's done it once or twice with a lot of help). He was being so sweet, so of course I let him. He did great and barely needed help, then asked what else he could do to help. He helped me find two binkys and I told him to say goodnight to the boys. So what does he do? Goes up to Tucker, wraps his arms around him, kisses him on the forehead, and says "Goodnight Tucker!" and then does the same to Maverick. It was so sweet and genuine and adorable I almost cried. With all the fighting they do, it was so nice to see that he really does love his brothers! And it was just like he knew he was man of the house that night and had to fill in for Dad. Since then he's been asking to help a lot and I just love it!

Tucker, I think, can sense that things are changing. He has been so attached to me, which is sweet, but he's a big boy and my lap is getting smaller every day.  Maverick is just doing his best to make sure I'm still getting in exercise every day. He's into everything and has been getting up earlier and earlier every day. The new thing is they both wake up (usually before 6:30) and get out of their cribs. Then the go turn the sound machine off and see what they can get into in their room before I wake up. Silly me thought a darker curtain in their room would make them sleep in later! Ha. They are lucky they are cute at 6am! Usually, I drag myself into the living room and turn on cartoons so I can wake up slowly while they watch Blaze or Paw Patrol. They always fight over who gets to snuggle with Mom first thing in the morning. I don't mind. That reminds me of another sweet moment this week. The kids were watching a movie right before nap time (Monsters Inc, a current favorite). I came in and sat down after cleaning up lunch and both of the twins came and sat on my lap. I don't think we sat there for a whole five minutes before I they both passed out right on me. This is the kind of stuff that makes it all worth it.  It brought me back to the many days when I had two tiny sleeping babies snuggled up on me. Sweet memories, sweet boys.

Alright, before I go, quick update on baby girl.  I had an appointment last week and everything went really well, thank you Jesus! She seems to be doing great and my body is doing its job. The doc hasn't said anything, but I've noticed my weight continue to go up. I think I'm at about 30 pounds now, which honestly, is normal for me. With Easton I gained about 50 and lost like 40 of that in the first few weeks after birth. Same thing with the twins. I'm not really worried, I'll get it back off again... just stings to step on that scale every two weeks. The important thing is that baby and I are healthy. So far everything is going perfect. I am so grateful for that.

I just made an appointment with an elective ultrasound place near me for Saturday. It's just for fun and totally unnecessary, but we will have some 3D pictures of her sweet face (assuming she cooperates). I'm so excited to get a glimpse of her! I will be sure to share pictures next time I write.

57 days!  💜

10 weeks and counting.

Guys, I gotta be honest. These hormones have been getting the best of me lately. I'm not a super emotional person when I'm pregnant, normally I am kind of mean and distant instead. Like, don't hug me. Don't breathe on me. Don't be stupid. Leave me alone. And don't worry, my poor kids and husband have been seeing that too, but with this pregnancy I've also had a few of those break-down-and-ball-like-a-baby moments. It's relatively new to me. I don't know if it's different hormones cause I'm having a girl, or just like emotional overload from being pregnant AND having three little people bugging me ALL. DAY. LONG. I love them so much and they are so stinking cute but they have been really pushing my buttons. Between that and my husband working a lot lately, I'm drained.

But as always, it doesn't take long before I stop having pity parties and realize how blessed I am. Even when I type all this out I think to myself, Stop whining, you're being annoying. Your life is awesome. It is pretty awesome.

I'm about to have stuffed crust pizza, so that's the cherry on top tonight.

Want to know what else is pretty exciting and awesome and wonderful?!?!? We have decided on a name for baby girl!!!! Pretty late in the game for us, but still early for some people I guess. Want to know what it is?

I bet you do. 😉

For now, my lips are sealed. I haven't decided if we'll share the name ahead of time or not. We always have, but I'm thinking we may keep this one quiet until her birthday. We'll see. I'm flaky lately. (it's really bad...)

I mean, with a scheduled c-section, everyone will know when she's coming so I need to keep one thing a secret! And by a secret I mean like just not putting it on facebook. Family and a few friends already know. I'm just not good at being quiet. And we only decided on it like this week. Oh well. By July I'm sure there will still be a few people who haven't heard yet.

Moving on. Let's talk pregnancy symptoms for just one second. **Future Hannah, if you're reading this, this is for you, in case you get baby fever again at some point in the future. Four is a good number, pregnancy is HARD, tell your ovaries to calm down.** We are definitely past the point of second trimester bliss when each kick and movement is met with an awwww. At this point, I'm almost reprimanding her to chill out. I don't know how a less than 3 pound little baby can be so strong. I read the info for this week, week 30, and one website told me that my baby is running out of room and her kicks won't be as strong. Are you kidding me? Maybe my uterus is just so weak from carrying twins, or maybe that article was written by a 50 year old single man. Either way, I have felt kicks the last two or three days that practically make me lose my breath. And I swear she's stretched out like she's laying on a hammock on a nice summer day.  We won't even mention the literal pain in my butt (sciatic-ish pain I guess) and the squished bladder. I honestly like being pregnant, but I'm glad we're getting closer to the end... kind of. Ten weeks seem like a long time right now.

In other news, my sweet Maverick dumped my entire 32 ounce bottle of water in between the couch cushions yesterday, which would have been fine if I wasn't hiding my phone from him in, you guessed it, the couch cushions. So unless day number two in rice performs a miracle, I am down an iPhone. First world problems, I guess. I will survive.

Ah, life is good.

Here's to week 30 and it being bedtime!

Eager.

I wouldn't go as far as to say I'm ready for baby girl to be here, because I don't think I ever will be ready. Four kids four and under is not something you can prepare for, I don't think. But I can say I am eager. I am eager to meet her, hold her, dress her!, love her.

I feel like I'm at a standstill as far as preparation goes. It's a bit too early to start washing her clothes and blankets or packing a diaper bag. I normally would have at least painted her nursery by now but that requires kicking big bro Easton out of his room, and again, it's a little too early for that. I'm struggling to find anything constructive to do right now that will help me feel like I'm starting to get ready. I'm just eager. Waiting.  I mean, what is there to do at 28 weeks pregnant?

Yesterday I had the first of my every-two week appointments! How can I be there already? Even though it was a relatively boring appointment, I left there thanking God that it was boring- no things to worry about, no complications, nothing out of the ordinary. Praise Jesus. Her heartbeat was strong and beautiful and I found out I passed my glucose test! Again, praise Jesus. I did not want to have to take that again- yuck. I am a bit low on vitamin D but that can be remedied. And my third trimester heartburn showed up right on time last week so I'm taking something for that as well. Other than that, I'm doing great! For being almost 29 weeks pregnant and having three little boys running around my house, I'm doing darn well I think. I'm keeping up with them and the house for the most part and still sleeping well. I really have nothing to complain about.

Except maybe the weather. Seriously, I may not survive another week of 50's and rain. But that's just me being petty, I guess.

In other news, I have a small family "sprinkle" coming up for baby girl! I repeatedly told my mother and mother-in-law that it wasn't necessary... but I'm not going to lie, I'm excited for it! My church is throwing me a shower in June as well. The people in my life are so sweet and caring. I am blessed!

So anyway, for now I will be enjoying time with my boys and counting down the days until little missy's arrival! 78 to go!