milk jug expiration dates

When you start seeing your due date on the milk jug, you know it's getting close.
I remember checking milk jug expiration's for our other three kids due dates as well. Every little thing is exciting as it gets closer and closer.I've been packing for the past several weeks...and repacking...and adding things here and there. It hit me when I saw this picture...it was around this exact time two years ago that we were all packed, ready and waiting to go to Florida to pick up our baby....and we waited and we waited. And then we unpacked...and put everything back in the drawers where they belonged...we didn't get to go.And God had an amazing plan that we would get sweet Luca Bella just eight short months later. We could see why things happened the way they did then and how God worked everything together for our good and blessed us immeasurably...then God had another surprise for us that we found out just seven months later.My final pregnancy photo and TODAY I go in to give birth to my son. Can't wait to see him in his bassinet.

eight months

Eight months and counting. This month was a flurry of activity. I took nesting up a notch...cleaning and organizing everything! Kevin just laughed at me. I felt the need to stock everything up...let's just say we have enough toilet paper to last a very long time. :) I've also been cooking up a storm...putting extra leftovers in the freezer for later when I don't have the time or feel like cooking. I also wanted to get all the Christmas preparations ready and done by Thanksgiving...Christmas decorations up, Christmas cards sent, presents wrapped and under the tree, stockings stuffed, menus planned and pretty little Christmas dresses ready and waiting to be worn on Christmas Sunday. We took a Lamaze class one night a week for three weeks during this time. It was fun to experience and Kevin even enjoyed himself I think. :) Thirty-five week ultrasound showed a growing baby boy with chubbier cheeks. I also took a breastfeeding class on a Saturday and the very next Sunday we took the kids to a sibling class at the hospital.
They got to put diapers on their own babies that they brought along.
They made a craft and we toured the hospital. The snacks along the tour were definitely a highlight. It was fun for them. Here they are with their "Big Brother and Big Sister" certificates for completing the class.

Quote of the day:

On the way to taking Kaiya to her ballet class, Kaiya noticed all the Christmas decorations at the homes we passed.

Me: What else is going to happen at Christmas this year?

Caedmon & Kaiya (with much excitement): Our baby brother will be born!!

Kaiya: ...and mommy's going to explode!!

Then she breaks into song to the tune of Jingle Bells "Mommy explode, mommy explode, Mommy's going to explode!"

not the baby anymore

Soon she won't be the baby anymore. She still needs her mama though. I love how cuddly she is...the most of all my children. Her big around the neck squeezes just melt my heart.We've seen her grow up so much just in the past few weeks...understanding our instructions and acting so big. She's doing better in the nursery at church...still crying when we drop her off, but settles down much sooner. This is one of her Christmas gifts I put together for her. A church nursery bag. She doesn't need such a big diaper bag anymore...just a place for a couple diapers, a drink and a few toys. No, I didn't make it. I found it at Hobby Lobby for 7.99 and with a 40 percent off coupon that took it down to a mere 4.79. I literally turned around in the same isle and spotted the embroidery letters that I easily ironed on. After ironing them on, I decided to stitch around them for extra durability. Then I looked online for a pattern and made a diapers and wipes holder to go inside. A couple of diapers and a wipes container tuck nicely inside and the pouch fits perfectly in her little church bag.Add a cup, a few toys and she's ready for church with her new big girl bag.

Seven Months

I had Kevin shoot a few quickie photos to mark the seventh month milestone of my pregnancy. This month has been a "feel good" month with good energy and great enjoyment of my pregnancy. Although, it was during this month that reality hit me and I realized that the countdown is beginning. I also realized how much there was to do to get ready for this little guy...how quickly things were going to change and how much work was ahead of me with two babies to care for and a busy family to keep organized and running. I'm up for the challenge, but know it will be difficult. There is an amazing sense of peace in the midst of all the chaos. It's hard to explain. Just that I know this is what I was created to do and what I've always wanted...a family. I get this sense of joy even in the mundane and frustrations throughout my days as I'm helping with homework, packing lunches, sorting laundry or cleaning up the crumbs for the 100th time. And believe me, there are moments of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed because of all that is needed from me as a mom. I crash every night...exhausted. I've had my breakdowns too when I feel like I just can't be all that everyone needs...and that's when God tells me I don't have too...He is there...He is my strength...He will help me care for this family He has given to me. I I'm in love with you, my little man. Can't wait to hold you in my arms.Not sure what I was trying to portray here...guess the sassy hormones kicked in. :)Thirty week ultrasound.One of the many great joys of this pregnancy has been sharing it with my children...hearing their excitement and laughter when they feel him kick is just amazing.

Dancing Baby and Belly Shots

Luca loves to dance. Love how she gets down with her bad self in this video. :)

Six month belly shots per your request. :) Lots of growth over the past month. I'm feeling "big" and more uncomfortable now...especially at night when I'm trying to find that comfortable position to sleep in. Once I do, it's time to get up and use the bathroom though. :) It's going fast...way too fast. Wish I could slow it down. I've loved being pregnant.

walking

Eleven months old...and you're walking.You have a great cheering club that was so excited to see you finally take off on your own. There are more bumps and bruises on your soft little body since you're still unsteady and learning. You are learning sign language and have caught on so quickly signing please, thank you, all done and even no. You say Da-dee (daddy) more than any other word. You also say mama, Kaiya, all done and hi.You said goodbye to your bottle and are doing great on regular milk out of a sippy cup. You also said goodbye to your pacifier...that was a sad sad day, but you're doing great.

I've been feeling great this month with the exception of the intense heat of this summer. When I walk my ankles swell and I've had some braxton hicks contractions. So glad the biggest part of my pregnancy will be in the Fall and early Winter months when it's much cooler. :) I've been amazed and fascinated by all the movement of this little guy. Usually in the evenings is when he's the most active. I love sitting down after the kids are in bed and watching Kevin enjoy feeling him move. It's fun to actually be big enough now for people to notice that I'm pregnant. I'm still surprising some at church and school that hadn't heard the news yet.

ultrasound day

I've had two ultrasounds up to this point...each one was an amazing gift and proof that there really is a little life growing inside me. Each time I felt like it wasn't me lying there, but someone else. As I anticipated the next ultrasound, I had butterflies in my stomach. This was a biggie...more detailed. They would be checking the baby more closely...looking for abnormalities or possible complications. This would be when we could find out the sex of the baby if we wanted to. It was so much to absorb and anticipate....extreme excitement and deep concern and longing that all would be OK. All mixed together, these thoughts can stir up a variety of emotions.

The day had finally arrived. Kevin was with me. I was pretty quiet and reserved the whole morning. And then there on screen is our baby...looking so much bigger than the previous ultrasounds. We can see a little nose, eyes, ears, tiny toes, legs moving and kicking, fingers wiggling around and popping in a little mouth to be sucked on...a tiny heart beating. Amazing...absolutely amazing to see God fearfully and wonderfully knitting together this tiny little miracle. And then, the ultrasound tech quickly searched down by the legs to see if we would be adding a little boy or a little girl to our family. She said it was quite obvious as you can see. :) Kevin and I immediately broke out in a joyous laughter and the tears began to flow. Another son, would join this family of ours...a son.Sharing the news with the kids was quite an excitement. Kaiya thought it was a girl and Caedmon was really hoping for a boy. I love the look on his face when he hears the news for the first time.

Coming December 2010...Another boy will enter this family and we are ready to welcome him with open arms.

milwaukee fun

A favorite time of year comes at the end of July...the annual Northwestern Company meetings in Milwaukee. This year we decided to only take the two oldest kiddos. So hard to leave Luca behind, but she was in very good hands with Grandma B.


Here we are early morning on race day ready for the 5K. This would be the first year without a stroller in the race...Kaiya insisted. She did ok, but daddy had to carry her part of the way. Her comment at the end of the race was that next year she is using the stroller. :)

I felt great through the whole race. I've been walking at home so three miles really wasn't a big deal. Right at the end of the race Kevin and Caedmon decided to run the rest of the way to the finish line...Kaiya and I would walk the rest of the way. They took off...I could still see them running ahead when I got a sharp pain in my back and across my abdomen. It got pretty intense...so intense that I had to stop and rest. I had Kaiya with me and tried to breath through the pain and relax, but it didn't go away. Finally, I decided to start walking again and try to make it to the end so I could get some help from Kevin. Thankfully the pain left as I continued walking and by the time I made it to Kevin it was completely gone. We had another mile to walk back to our hotel...I took it slow and was feeling ok again. Kevin decided to go on ahead because he needed to get showered and make it to a meeting shortly....he would meet me back at the room.

Here it is again...just Kaiya and I. We made it to the hotel fine and while waiting for the elevator, here comes the pain again...I stood there for a bit and realized that I needed to lay down very soon...it was getting very intense. So we took the stairs...like seven flights. By the time I made it back to our room, I was in tears...the pain was so intense and would not go away. It came two more times after that throughout the day and finally stopped by the end of the day. I called the dr. on call and she assumed they were contractions which my doctor later told me they were not. She thought I just had overdone myself.

Later that evening and feeling much better...at the sea lion show on Zoo Picnic Day.
I usually have a stroller and a child to look after that's too small for this ride. So I usually happily observe and take pictures from below. This year, everyone was big enough and we were stroller-free...so I went. Didn't enjoy the ride so much...worried about someone falling off let along getting off and on the ride safely. Whew...glad to be on the ground again when that was over. It's always a joy to hang out with these dear friends. Great faces here.
Lots of games for the kiddies to enjoy...including the big kid.
Taken outside the Dairy Barn at the Zoo.Day three was museum day.This year we checked out one we haven't been to yet...the aquarium was a hit with the kids.
Caedmon wanted me to take his picture with the puffer fish...in honor of Jake. :)
They also has a cool "touching" area where you could touch some of the stingrays and other fish. My kids were too afraid to touch...and well, I didn't really want to touch the things either. I'm sure it would have been a different story if dad wouldn't have been there.Dinner out with friends...we got to eat outside on that beautiful evening. Day four - waterpark fun And a Keith Urban concert that evening.A very fast-paced week, but packed with tons of fun once again!