Hey ho

high blood pressure and swelling here we go! As if, I thought I would get away with no high blood pressure this time. Kyle did the same thing to me; these August babies just push my body to the breaking point! I am not complaining. In fact, as anxious as I am to meet our little Wes, I am not anxious to push him out. Um yea, it was only two years ago that I pushed Micah out, AND I STILL REMEMBER THOSE LAST 45 MINUTES. Not that they were completely awful, horrible, unbearable or that I won't be able to do it again, and yes, I know, every labor and delivery is different. However, there were 4 long years between delivering Kyle and delivering Micah, so my memory was a little fuzzy that summer of 2009. My memory is not fuzzy. Kevin will attest to the fact that I am doing nothing to encourage Wesley to be born: no walking, jumping, bouncing, strange exercises, herbs, medicines, or various things the midwives would be willing to assist with. I am taking it as easy as possible, putting my feet up, and trying to relax while entertaining our other sons and keeping the house as clean as possible for the people who will be taking care of said other sons while we are in labor.

The reason I know about the high blood pressure and swelling today is because we had an appointment this afternoon, and by "we", I mean me and the boys right over nap/quiet time! Midwife seems to think I will come anytime, I keep telling them "after 39 weeks" because that is when our boys come. I was told today that they will let me go up to 2 weeks past my due date (huzzah, which means I could be pregnant until August 30th)! And, she seemed in agreement with me that Wes will be in the 8 1/2 lb range, just like his brothers. This is the first time I haven't been told "probably a 6, maybe 7 lb baby". I now pack the hospital bag in the car every time I go to an appointment, something I've never done before, but for some reason feel the need to do it this pregnancy (Maybe because I know I won't be released after 6 hours of monitoring?).

Here's to a good night's sleep!

Our new van

Pardon the awful phone pic, but there she is!

38 weeks and

still very much pregnant, with no even little inklings or indications that Wesley might join us soon. Our doctor appt. isn't until Thursday this week; I guess once you get to weekly appts. they just have to squeeze you in wherever they can because M, T, and W of this week were all filled up! I am everything a very pregnant woman can be: tired, uncomfortable, emotional, physically unable to do just about everything!

Kevin and I celebrated our 8th anniversary yesterday by, you know, buying a minivan (what else would you do on your anniversary?). It's new to us, a 2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L, fully loaded. It even has the plus one seat, which just makes me giddy because that means we can seat 8 people! Who knows when that will actually happen, but it's still really, really cool. And lastly, when we picked it up last night, I had not even realized it had a sun roof! The only thing I've ever wanted in a vehicle is a sun roof. We rode home from anniversary ice cream with the boys with that roof wide open and of course, both boys had to stick their hands up through it before we went in the house. This morning after breakfast Kyle asks "So when are we going for a ride in our new van?", LOL! I am so thankful and blessed, not just to have a new van, but oh my goodness, to be a two car family again. It has been a long 8 months of making it work with one car, many schedules, and a new pregnancy.

Yesterday, I made the short drive over to Kyle's elementary school with the boys in tow in order to register our little kindergartner. Talk about paperwork! Good gracious. However, we had everything in order and should hear from his teacher soon, then a parent meeting on Tuesday, a meet and greet Wed. morning, and first day of school on Thursday August 11th! Gah, I can't believe our first born is starting school next week!

That's about all the news I have for now. Taking the boys to the bounce house today; maybe I can encourage Wesley to come a little sooner too ;)!

So, the way church usually goes...

...for me these days is I sit with Kevin during praise and worship, then Wesley wakes up and I get uncomfortable, so I head to the nursing mommy's room to sit in a rocker and rock (Wesley always falls asleep or calms down when I rock in a rocker). Yesterday, there was a mama in there with a 2 year old boy and a 5 week old boy, and she was a first time visitor! We chatted and talked, as the baby was actually her third child and I asked about transitioning, etc... Then, she had to step out with her 2 year old and handed me her little 5 week old baby boy! I about lost it, he was so tiny and I realized I hadn't held a baby in a really long time, as in probably since Micah was that itty bitty. We have babies come in to the church nursery where I work during the school year, but they are usually 6 months and up (the little ones stay with their mamas in Bible study). It made it all feel strangely real to hold a tiny baby again, as in, this will be us in about 8 weeks!

Kevin and I are starting to plan Kyle's 6th birthday party and I am torn on what to do for him, how much party do we give or allow. It's hard to have parties at our house, or that would definitely be the plan (just too small, even for 5 or 6 kids and their families). He's had a really hard time lately too, which I think is because of all the upcoming changes in the next couple weeks (starting school, new brother, turning 6, etc...). It's usually too hot for an outside party.

Micah is saying "no" and "mine" a lot. I guess that is to be expected around the age of 2! He's still talking a lot, doing everything he can do (our footstool is his ticket to freedom), and is very, very active. Kevin and I have realized that being parents of all boys is a little unique...especially when you get together with families that have boys and girls! Our boys were found to be jumping on beds and racing in to walls last night at community group...we are now focusing on what's allowed at home, as opposed to what is allowed at other people's homes (even if their kids are doing it)! Yes, our boys do jump on our furniture, race around the house, tackle, wrestle, and play ball games inside the house. That's just the way it is right now, and I hope I can remember that when my kids are older and we have active little ones visiting! They love their books, movies, and creative play with various super heroes and action figures, but everything becomes "active". Right now they are taking turns racing a remote controlled motorcycle off of various beds and tables to see if it will land right side up. The boy who isn't racing it, "catches it".

I'm exhausted and it looks like another over the top, unusually hot week here in middle TN. We are 37 weeks tomorrow and have an appointment around lunch time. I keep having braxton hicks every night, but nothing to call the midwives about. Kevin seems more anxious than me for Wes to arrive! I did finally pack a hospital bag, something I had been putting off, in denial that we will actually be driving to the hospital to have our baby and I will have to stay there for at least some length of time.

We are looking forward to taking the boys to a baseball game tonight, for as long as mommy can last! It's fun to do a few last things with them that we otherwise might not be up for here in the coming weeks.

36 weeks and change

What can I say? It's hot, but that's to be expected this time of year. Kyle is at his last week of VBS for the summer this week. Micah is more than thrilled to play and read books in their bedroom without big brother interfering in the mornings. Kevin is working as much as possible to finish up a few things before Wes arrives. I am sitting on the exercise ball drinking lots of water, eating ice, and staring at the crib that needs to be emptied and the hospital bag that needs to be packed. Everything I do takes about 3x as long as usual because I have to sit down for about 10 minutes for every 5 minutes of activity. Taking a shower and getting dressed is almost an hour long activity now; it's crazy. I have to ask Micah to hop on to a bed or couch to get him dressed and change diapers because sitting on the floor is not an option; as I am unlikely to be able to get up again! Last week I went a little overboard at Costco, but we now have some convenience dinners in the fridge/freezer/pantry so we've been able to eat at home most nights with minimal prep. There are no more ants in my kitchen: they have now migrated to my upstairs bathtub. Kevin and I have been showering in the boys bathroom while we wait for the poison to take effect. Kevin wakes up at some awful early hour, shuttles Micah in to bed with me, showers, then eats breakfast with Kyle (if he wakes up before he leaves), and takes off for the bus around 6:30 a.m.. I am more and more anxious for a second vehicle, so our schedules don't have to be so flipped around all the time and we don't all have to go everywhere, every time there are pick up/drop off conflicts.

That's about it, everything that is kind of happening around here and/or on my mind lately.

Defeated

Micah has struggled with going down for his afternoon naps the past couple days, even though he stills need one (he's out for 2 hours when he does go down easily). Also, going to bed at night has become this huge, dramatic ordeal. I let him cry for 44 minutes the other night, while Kevin was away scanning. He fell asleep on a pillow on the floor in his room. There is no place to put him; he crawls out of cribs and playpens. We don't have a play room, so if I gate him in his room for sleep time, he just plays or read books or cries. He was sleeping great in our room, but now just rolls around and talks or sings or asks to go potty. I finally told him to go play with Kyle this afternoon and he jumped up, shouted "OK!" and ran off to his bedroom.

We swam all morning long, then had lunch and played with friends. He fell asleep late last night and was up earlier than usual. I'm exhausted, physically and mentally. I'm sure it will work itself out. That's one thing about having kids, whatever is a trial one week, is a non challenge the next. Just pray for strength and rest for me if you think about this week/weekend. Kevin is going away on a work conference and I'm not sure what I'll do without afternoon quiet times.

35 weeks

Good gracious, can that be right? I remember having Kevin bring me the pregnancy test he swore was negative and staring at it, and thinking, "August will never be here. I can't even imagine being so pregnant in the summer, AGAIN!". Yea. You know, the woman who swore she would never have another late summer baby. And here we are...dog days of summer practically upon us and here I am all "blessed with child". I chuckled with Kevin how everyone at church is waiting for us to walk in with the baby bucket every weekend; because seriously, I am that large with child! I get ALL the comments lately, from strangers and acquaintances alike; friends have been much more forgiving.

A co worker of Kevin's had her baby today, TODAY. She was due next week, so yea, that sounds right. I'm waiting for an old friend in Tucson to give birth because we were also pregnant together with Micah and her son J, and I had Micah two weeks after she gave birth to J. She's also having another boy this summer. So ready, but not really. I am anxious to hold Wes, but it's still too early and I know that and I want my babies to stay in as long as they need to. We have the best labors/deliveries/births that I wouldn't give any of that up to hold him a couple weeks earlier. So it goes, I continue to eat (and gain loads of copious weight), work out, and love on my family that needs me here and now because it won't be long that Wesley will be demanding as much of my attention as possible outside of the womb. This is actually the easy part, being pregnant. It gets much more complicated once your child arrives, in a good way of course, but still more complicated!

Kevin attempted some pictures of me and the boys this weekend; with little luck, but a couple should turn out. We are taking the boys for their check ups/shots tomorrow morning and I am loathing it. I know Kyle is nervous. It has been a long time since he had any pokes.

To bed, hopefully. I have had two very restless nights in a row.

Another day

Father's Day

Playing at Dragon Park

Preschool graduation

We had a lot of fun in June, with my mom visiting for three weeks and old friends from Tucson swinging by on their way home from a road trip vacation! With about 5 weeks until Wesley arrives, our weekends are packed with to do lists. We have a lot of friends and neighbors who have offered to help us out, and Kevin is working on coordinating all of that! In addition, our church just started small groups this summer and of course, how could we not volunteer to lead one? We had our first get together this evening and it was awesome. There are four families with ten children between us under the age of 6, eleven children when Wes arrives! Also, and I couldn't be more excited about this, Kevin has recently been asked to play with the worship band at our church. It is so wonderful to hear him play again!

The boys are doing great; we try to get out of the house and do something fun every morning, although I am slowing waaaay down. Our daily outings might consist of the zoo, park, children's museum, storytime, swimming, bounce house, or even McDonalds if I am having a really rough morning. I look back on my past pregnancies and know that I wouldn't have even attempted leaving the house this much, especially with just five weeks to go. It's funny how things change, how you do what you need to do because it has to be done. I'm often nauseous in the mornings, since Micah weaned himself a couple weeks before his 2nd birthday in June, but I don't throw up! The boys have a doctor's appt. on Tuesday, Micah for his 2 year old check up and Kyle to get his shots for kindergarten. I am in such denial that he will be going to school in just a few short weeks (August 11th)!

This week I was so blessed to have Kevin and Kyle install a new CD radio in our car! Our car came bare bones, with a cassette player, that went kaput with the tape adapter stuck inside it several years ago. The boys are so enjoying having children's music in the car again, and it makes our drives that much better for me to hear them sing and see them dancing in their car seats! To top that off, our rocking chair arrived Friday afternoon, thanks to Nana! I know I have said this many times, but we've never had a rocking chair for any of the boys. This one is awesome, made by the same company that makes the industrial gliders for churches and daycares! I looove it, as do the boys. Micah couldn't help himself but to crawl up in to our laps during family movie night on Friday and be rocked while we watched Toy Story. And lastly, can you believe something else amazing and wonderful happened on Friday too? I won a professional photo shoot with the amazing Lillian Boeskool, who happens to be a friend too, but we haven't had any photos done since moving to TN. I am leaning towards a newborn shoot with Wesley because I so dearly enjoy our newborn photos of Micah.

What else, what else...Micah has been crawling in to bed with us sometime between 4 and 6 am and sacking out again. It doesn't bother me, he's a really quiet sleeper (unlike his big brother!). We had ants this week, ugh, which makes me so thankful we have quarterly pest control! The ants like to show up about once a year, when it gets really hot and they are searching for water. We spread some borax/sugar mixture down and that starts killing them, but the pest control guy does a great job of finding them outside and really taking care of the source of the problem!

And now I should go to bed, because I'm on my own in the morning as Kevin heads off to worship practice bright and early!

Just a quick update

Micah turned 2 last week! My mom is here with us through the beginning of July! I've been slowing down a lot since my last appt., 3 weeks ago. This morning we had our 32 week appt. and I'm measuring two weeks ahead! This has never happened with the previous boys in our third trimester, they always measured right on schedule. Wes is head down and they already gave me birth plan documents...is he really going to be here that soon? Right! And we named him: Wesley Ryan Harkins. All I have time for now, I have pictures! On my computer! Look for a heavy picture post next :).

Randomness

Well, scheduled a tour of Vanderbilt L&D; something we have never, ever had to do before, as in tour a hospital where we will be giving birth. Scheduled the boys doctor appts (Micah 2 year old check up and Kyle kindergarten shots). And there is something else I'm supposed to call on and schedule BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER. This is the story of my life lately, loss of memory. I haven't worked out in a week and boy am I feeling it; sluggish and tired, but can't sleep and oh the leg cramps at night. However, it is just my own procrastination since I know how to alleviate all of those symptoms: do my pregnancy workout.

Crazy day today:

Micah woke up at 5:30 am and never went back to sleep

I forgot to eat breakfast before VBS drop off

Storytime at the bookstore is awful, we will not be going back

Costco trip found me chasing Micah down the hall out of the women's bathroom. Have you seen a 30 week pregnant woman run? Neither have I, but I bet it was pretty funny.

Fed Kyle lunch, but forgot to eat again.

Fell asleep with Micah, told Kyle I was really tired from being up so early.

Kyle wakes me up less than 30 minutes after I lay down with Micah. Baby wakes up and I can't fall back to sleep.

Eat a late lunch, bite my tongue, start crying, Micah wakes up

Kyle flips out thinking his baby brother is coming too early since mommy is crying and asks if I'm having contractions

Exhausted, we skip the pool and I sit on my exercise ball while the boys play nearby

Thank goodness it's family movie night: Toy Story and a take n bake pizza!

30 weeks

Praise God, we are 30 weeks in to this pregnancy! There is a lot to do, or a lot I want/wish would be done before the baby arrives, but I know it won't happen. I'm going to complain here for one second: I'm still totally bummed that I've never decorated a nursery for any of our boys, and probably never will. We may actually buy a rocking chair for this child, something we've never, ever owned with the other two (we had an old recliner I'd nurse Kyle in, but nothing for Micah, not even furniture for the first 4 months of his life: he slept on an air mattress from a kidco peapod bed, LOL).

In other news, we've narrowed the name down to our top 2 and one will be his first name and the other will be his middle name. This is such a relief for me! Kyle is starting kindergarten in less than 10 weeks. The first day of school is August 11th. No, we haven't registered him yet. He still needs a few shots and a physical. I had dreams of sending him to half day kinder at a private school or homeschooling him, and it's really, really hard to let those go. I know he'll do great and be fine and going to kindergarten in the public school system will not ruin him for life. I know I can supplement at home (while nursing a baby and entertaining a toddler...riiiiggghhht). It's all just kind of defeating, but also a great reminder that any and all of Kyle's educational future is in God's hands, not mine, so I can let go anytime and it will be okay.

Micah is really, really going to miss him. Today was day 2 of VBS for Kyle. Micah and I hung out for the worship songs and offering at the beginning, then we waited in the lobby for Kyle's class to file out. Kyle ended up being "line leader" today and got to hold the class sign up for everyone to follow. Poor Mikey, wanted to go with him sooo badly, and when I scooped him up and out to the parking lot there were big tears and he kept saying, "My Kyle, I need my Kyle!". This happened all morning long, on our way home from groceries, attempting to eat lunch, and finally it was time to go get Kyle. Micah crawled in to the back seat and all the way over to Kyle's side to unlock the car door for Kyle so he could climb right in when we arrived at pick up. Whenever we talk about Kyle going to school this year, Micah chimes in that he is going to school too, "with Kyle". I'm hopeful he can go to school one or two days a week, but it will be at Kyle's old preschool.

And then there is this car seat/vehicle conundrum that just makes me want to cry whenever I think about all the vehicle and car seat drama we've dealt with since we moved to TN.

And that's it, that's what 30 weeks pregnant looks like to me right now. A little weepy/emotional, but still so blessed by how the Lord continues to work in our family and show his faithfulness to us in everything that comes our way!

A lot going on around here

And I'm not sure where to start, so let's just hit a few key highlights:

- I survived and passed my gestational diabetes test!

- Baby boy still does not have a name, but our list is getting shorter.

- I have appointments every 3 weeks now

- Kyle is so grown up. That's the only way I can put it.

- Micah is so growing up. Our "baby" will turn 2 on June 14th. It is good to have children of several different ages and stages in your home, because it reminds you of the awe and wonder of childhood.

- We have experienced our first month of minor changes due to Kevin's new funding at work. All the transitions went smoothly.

- We had company in the form of an old high school/college friend needing a couch to sleep on for a night this week, as he is in town for a wedding. It is always good to see familiar faces!

- Speaking of which, we are expecting a visit from nana and some friends who were pregnant with us with Kyle! Such an exciting month for visitors!

- The cicadas are almost gone.

- We are still debating a solution for our current vehicle/car seat dilemma.

- We belong to the Y, and have been swimming everyday since.

That's about it, time for bed, and thank goodness the boys fell asleep in their own room tonight. It's been all crazy around here at bedtime for some reason and I've just given up and let the boys fall asleep with me the last two nights.

Been feeling strange

all day today. Maybe it's the cicadas or the weather or our late night/early morning today. I don't know, but I think I'll go to bed now and leave Kevin up as our official tornado watcher.

28 weeks

And I have my glucose test this Friday morning; I always feel like I've passed the final hurdle in pregnancy when my glucose test is over: I have a fear of needles and getting blood drawn is 100 times worse than birthing a child for me. This will only be my second glucose test, since I opted out due to low risk with Kyle. It still seems like a big deal.

The baby is growing, as am I, and he is much more active. Everyone in the family has felt him kick/move. Kyle likes to feel the little punches and rolls if I tell him when the baby is awake, Micah has no idea he's felt his baby brother in my tummy, but the baby often kicks at him while he lays on or beside me and nurses. Lately, Micah loves to drape himself over my bulging belly and relax, using it as a pillow. Having the boys sit on my lap is becoming more and more uncomfortable; I have taken to reading books teacher/librarian style, by holding it up by my face and reading to them while they sit in front of me if at all possible. Kyle finds a reason to pop in to my bedroom every morning and snuggle before Micah wakes up (I do my best to be cheerful when woken up, but sometimes it's a stretch when I haven't slept much the night before). Micah is often crying out in the night lately and Kevin wakes up using two alarms very early every morning to catch his carpool. I've never had such an active pregnancy, or so desired to sleep in and take naps, LOL.

Thankfully, our summer has started and the regular weekly schedule is pretty much gone. We have gymnastics once a week, but that is it! I'm wondering if I might actually get some of this house cleared out and some nesting/organizing/getting ready for baby stuff done!

Other things on my mind lately include purchasing a second vehicle and new car seats. It is not only physically exhausting being pregnant, but also emotionally and psychologically exhausting! I am also jealous of all the mama's I know having their babies in the next couple months; you lucky women! Although, I must say, the third time around goes even faster than the first two. Off to bed, hopefully to sleep.

VBS Junkie

That's right, here in middle TN, you can go to VBS every single week of the summer if you want. Alas, you do need to register, online, and early! So Kyle is signed up for 5 weeks of VBS this summer, the whole month of June, and one week in July. All different themes, and different churches. I guess this is what happens when your mama is in her third trimester all summer long. He's thrilled by the way; ecstatic even for games, music, and general fun while learning about God. In the rest of the summer hours I plan to be at the YMCA, feeling weightless in the pool.

And, you'll never guess, but my phone pictures are on this computer right now, so how about some pics, hopefully not ones I have posted on Facebook yet:

Field Day

Blowing bubbles

Playing sticks in the backyard

Micah sitting on Kyle's lap while Kyle sits on Kevin's lap for storytime

Making cookies on Mother's Day

Back to the daily grind

Kind of. This is Kyle's last week of preschool before summer vacation; he "graduates" on Friday afternoon. Also, I have my last day of work before Bible studies take a vacation break. Then it's a summer of VBS, swimming, and the library reading program! Oh yea, and mommy's third trimester. That's right, come Tuesday we are officially in the third trimester and I am trying to remember where the time has gone from finding out we were pregnant in early December to now! This pregnancy is flying by!

Kevin returned home from his big yearly conference on Friday night and we are all oh so happy to have him back. This morning I had the privilege of teaching in Kyle's Sunday school class, all 24 of them with one assistant; it was crazy, but in a good way! I really love our new church.

The boys just amaze me at how wonderful and precious they are each and everyday. I love our little family and am blessed to be able to have children.

So many thoughts running through my head that I can't seem to organize them or get them down here, so maybe tomorrow night.

Whew

What a week it's been! Micah ended up at the doctor's office with the beginnings of infection, due to allergies of all things, NOT ASTHMA. Guess we didn't need all those breathing treatments last week, his lungs were supposedly completely clear. My pediatrician rocks and gave me antibiotics from the sample closet because our insurance just changed and I don't have a prescription card yet. Also, he is now on Claritin, just like his older brother. If I remember correctly, Kyle developed allergies around the age of two also. Ah well, it will be over soon because boy is it getting hot and humid around here.

Speaking of two, how is our Micah turning two in a month? Has it really been two years already? He is so verbal, it makes him seem older than he is. I'm not sure how we will celebrate this year. He is still my baby, even though we've got another on the way. Speaking of, less than 100 days of pregnancy left (God willing he comes on or around his due date)!

I lost it this morning, my sanity I mean, but the day did move along smoother and we ended with AWANA awards (Kyle's voice was carrying quite well during the songs) and a late night trip to McDonalds, courtesy of grammy. Micah kept telling me how he saw daddy on the movie (video chat this morning) and kept asking if it was pizza and movie night on our ride home from work. Kyle got to spend the morning with grammy instead of at work with mommy, which he loved.

The cicadas are coming, I saw carcasses today and heard their whine in the trees. Not cool TN. Looking forward to a day off tomorrow (by that I mean we have absolutely nowhere we need to be and nothing we need to do).

Another year, another Mother's Day

I was blessed with a very awake snuggle bug at 5 am this morning; a little nursing, a little tossing and turning, a little talking "Mama, you asleep?" from my Mikey. He graciously laid in bed with me until Kyle joined us at 6:45. Then a few more cuddles and I shooed them off to their room to play while I showered and got ready for church.

I opened Kyle's Mother's Day present that he had made in preschool: a canning jar filled with all the dry ingredients for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I had been teasing him all weekend guessing that it was a jar of dirt and worms! There was of course the cute little question and answer paper/card stapled to the bag and thankfully, Kyle did not answer any of the questions in a way that would make me cringe *whew*.

We ate breakfast and had a surprise video chat with Daddy before needing to leave for church. That's right, a video chat. For some reason, those conference planners for biomedical engineers who specialize in imaging like to schedule over Mother's Day EVERY SINGLE YEAR. And EVERY SINGLE YEAR something crazy has happened from sick children to a sick mommy to a miscarriage to natural disasters. This year I am expecting the hatch of the cicadas from the Tennessee soil. I'm sure it will be awesome.

Thankfully, I often have reinforcements in the form of grandparents. It was a lot easier to access these grandparents when we lived in AZ, but Grammy has made it out to be my support every year here in TN while Kevin is away. Today we headed out for lunch and ice cream after church, then spent a leisurely afternoon of naps and quiet time, after which the boys played with friends and we had a low key dinner. Just about a perfect Mother's Day, definitely one of my best so far. It's overly emotional to be pregnant on Mother's Day, and with every pregnancy I have spent a Mother's Day pregnant because we seem to be *ahem* most fertile over the holidays which results in summer babies.

Happy Mother's Day, to all of you who are moms, who are going to be moms, who are battling to be moms, who visited your children's graves today, and who mourned the loss of your own mom today. All my hopes, love, and prayers for you.

I am thankful

*For another year of funding for Kevin which equals another year of job security and better benefits!

*For my very own house, on a cul de sac, with a fenced in backyard, big mature shade trees, and neighbors with children the same age as mine

*For a reliable, fuel efficient, sub compact car to tote my family around town in

*For a church where we finally feel at home and look forward to going every week

*For our new baby boy, and our easiest pregnancy yet

There are a lot of things that go with all of those blessings that I like to complain about, but in the end, God just keeps on taking care of all my complaints. So even though I may not like where we are right now, or feel like I'm being dragged through an emotional/spiritual desert most days, I know I'm not alone. For all of you who continue to read and pray for us, thank you.

Dear Baby,

Just wanted to let you know how incredibly loved you are already. Your brother Kyle could hardly contain himself in December when he figured out we "might" be pregnant with you. He was all questions about how will we know? How can we know? How do you find out? As soon as we got the positive pregnancy test he was ecstatic, jumping up and down, and running around. Ever since, not only do Daddy, me, and Micah get goodnight/goodbye hugs and kisses, but so do you! My stomach has never been so loved! Also, Kyle insisted on being at your 20 week ultrasound, just like he was at Micah's. Your brother Micah hasn't quite figured out what is going on around here, but follows in suit lately by lifting up my shirt, finding my belly button, and kissing it while saying "baby". I've started to explain to him that you two may have to "share" nursies when you arrive, since he's really not showing any sign of weaning yet.

You have already been "given" lots of great little toys, blankets, and other baby doodads that you will no doubt never remember, but they will make mommy's job a little easier around here. Additionally, it's like Christmas because your brothers are having a great time re discovering all these baby toys! I picked up your first pair of little leather shoes today, but am still searching for just the right "take home" outfit. I talked to daddy about using a cradle for you instead of the crib, because our room is just so full of furniture right now! Also, we might be close to picking out your name, which is very exciting for me! I love calling my babies by name when you are still growing in my tummy.

Just know that I think about you all the time and we are all excited for your arrival.