Little Boy Blue

So a few months back we found out that we are having our first boy but he did not want to show us his face. The ultrasound tech that we had at the beginning was good at her job, but not very good at remembering that there were parents in the room who might want to see the baby.  lol I did get to see him, but he refused to cooperate on the showing his face thing.  Period.  

I was told I could try and come back and try and get some better pictures later that week, but trying to get a sitter for the other kids and all that isn't easy so I just let it go. 

At about 25 weeks I was measuring big on the outside, something I had never done before.  I usually start measuring small by that point.  My excitement over that was short lived.  By 30 weeks I was measuring right on target but by 32 I was still measuring 30.  I am currently 37 and measuring just shy of 33 weeks.  This has happened with every one of my babies.  Despite the fact that it is normal for me to measure small they always order an ultrasound to check that baby is growing.  

So today I went in to let them measure the boy child.

I was pleasantly surprised by getting the same girl I had last time.  She was very friendly this time and made sure that I could see the screen and was comfortable.  She pointed out all the parts and showed me that he was still very much a boy.  It was a whole different experience and I was very happy about that.  

Despite how cramped things were in there I was finally able to see this baby's face.  Just his profile (she tried to get some 3D/4D stuff, but he was way to wiggly lol) but it was wonderful to see him.  She also got us a picture of his foot. It's crazy because he is so big!  His foot looks like he has a decent amount of fat already!

And speaking of size...they measured twice to make sure that they were getting the right numbers but it looks like baby is already 6lbs 12ozs.  The look on my face made the tech laugh.  6lbs 12ozs at 37weeks??? Shoot he could very well be my biggest baby in the 8 to 9 pound range! Yikes.  Rory was 6lbs 10ozs at birth (40 weeks) and Beckah was 6lbs 13ozs (also 40 weeks).  Cadence has been my biggest at 7lbs 6 ozs (again at 40 weeks! lol). 

And so much for the idea that smaller pregnant bellies mean smaller babies! lol  I am really interested to see what my Dr has to say on Friday.

This just leads me believe that my initial dates were correct, which would put my due date on July 4th instead of the 10th and me at 38 weeks at this point.  I will have to see if they will change them back or not. 

As of now my plan is to just wait him out and see if I will go on my own.  They will induce about a week overdue, which with my current dates would put him getting here sometime after July 17th (which seems a LONG ways away).  Part of me is hoping that I am right and he will come "early" because my dates are right. lol I am already miserable and I can't image lugging around Beckah and 8lbs of baby in belly around in the heat and humidity. Yuck.

Good news is that my mom is coming up next week!  We are very excited for her to come and stay with us a while and hope that she can be here when the boy child is born.  It would be awesome for her to be here and very helpful not to have to round up babysitters last minute, though we do have many friends here who are willing to help.  :o) 

So that is the baby news.  I am tired, sore and feel pretty yucky most days.  The girls have all had colds this past week, and Brady and I celebrated our 8 year Anniversary this past Monday.  We went out over a week ago, knowing that it would be hard to find a sitter close to our actual Anniversary (all the girls at church were going to girls camp :o).  Father's Day was pretty darn good and we were able to give Brady some gifts he wasn't expecting (which is hard to do with him sometimes).  We also got a VAN not to long ago!  I will have to dig up pictures.  And the girls got a much anticipated trampoline for the back yard!  They love it!

And I think that about wraps things up on this end.  Hope everyone else is enjoying their summer!  

Drama Llama

I'm really not sure what I want to say here.  I have been thinking on/stewing on some things for a few days and I still have no idea what I want to say specifically.  I don't want to sound dramatic either, though I'm sure some think that of me no matter what, so bear with me.


With a new baby on the way I have been cleaning house.  Purging lots of things that we don't need.  Donating things that are just taking up space and we have no use for anymore.  It feels so good when I drop off a load of things to Goodwill or other such donation sites.  I have also been trying to get a bit more organized.  Call it summer cleaning/nesting or whatever, it is feeling good.  


I have also been trying to minimize my stress.  We have more than our fair share here with little kids, babies coming back to back, new cars to buy, old houses to try and unload, church callings, work related issues, cats...I know so many of you can relate.  There are stresses that I can't avoid and are necessary.  I am doing my best to embrace and accept those stresses and learn and grow with them.  And at the same time I am coming to realize that there are many stresses that I don't have to have in my life at all.  That I am allowing them a level of importance out of fear.  Fear of hurting other people's feelings because I tend to be blunt.  Fear of how it will look to other people if I were to just say enough and cut the crap. 


A few nights ago while I was folding clothing I was stewing about something I had to deal with on Facebook.  I was irritated that it should even be an issue and this particular person was someone I didn't much care for anyway.  So why on EARTH was I still friends with this person??  Why was the thought of "unfriending" someone, whose very name showing up on my page makes me irritated, making me feel guilty?  It's MY PAGE right??  I don't have to have ANYONE as a friend that I don't want, right?   


I love Facebook.  I very much do.  I feel connected to other people during the day.  All you wonderful people that I miss so much from "home" I can "see" and chat with and keep up with.  I have developed wonderful friendships with people that I otherwise would not have been able to connect with and I am beyond thankful for that.  I have been able to get to know new friends here in NE better than I ever could have with out FB.  I love reading little bits of your family and children's struggles and funnies.  I love seeing my nieces and nephews grow and the silly things they say and do! I love chatting with siblings, parents and cousins. I love that so many of you share not only the good and happy things, but the hard, sad, and frustrating things as well.  It is good to feel connected to others, to know that I am not a lone in my struggles, and hear what worked for you and why.  I am so thankful that we have this technology that keeps me in touch with so many of you wonderful people. 


That said, I won't be posting as much for the next little bit while I get my friends list under control.  I will still be on and probably comment on all your stuff (because I need that connection) but there are some people in my life right now that seem to have a problem with my posting anything that isn't rainbows, glitter and sunshine.  Not only do they have a problem with it, they feel the need to bug me and others about it.  So instead of second guessing EVERYTHING I post, wondering if people will understand and see the humor like I do, wondering if I really am just a dramatic crazy and if am raising a houseful of dramatic crazies, and wondering if we will be getting texts and phone calls about my poor, emotionally difficult and sensitive self...well, I will just cut back on everything until I feel that my friends list is a "safe" place again.  


I am done keeping certain people on my "friends" list because I "should" or because it "looks right."  I have decided that my Facebook friends should be people that I enjoy.  Why on EARTH am I friends with people that I have to hide from my page (and there are more than a few of these people!!)?  I shouldn't even NEED to use a Restricted List.  If you need to be restricted then you shouldn't be my friend.  Period.  I was shocked by how many people I have had to "hide" from my wall and who I have on restricted access because their lifestyles and mine just don't jive AT ALL.  Maybe it sounds harsh.  Maybe it is but like all the useless stuff in my house all these people who add nothing but stress that I don't need are going too. At least on my facebook page!  


So I am taking back my Facebook.  It should be about my preferences and I am going to make it about me! Selfish I know, but as many other parent's know it isn't often that we can be selfish and have it be "okay." I should have somewhere that I can share good and bad things with people who are going through the same things without having to worry about how things "look" to everyone else.  I should be surrounding myself with support, fun, and understanding.  I should be surrounding myself with people who can agree to disagree and we can ENJOY the disagreeing because we are intelligent adults who enjoy hearing both sides.  I should have a bunch of friends.  


I know that I am very close to having a baby too and I didn't want my lack of sharing on FB to worry anyone.  Brady and I have many wonderful family members and friends who we share much with on FB (well me more than him lol) and I don't want anyone to worry about us on that front.  


So here I go!  Time to purge!

Pictures...

The girls like to flop around and play on the bed in Beckah's room after she wakes up from nap time.  It's super fun and usually I join them but I decided to take some picture instead.

Daddy kisses! 

Even our nutter of a cat (Rockstar) will try and get in on the fun from time to time.  He gets kicked off the bed pretty quick though since he thinks teeth and claws are appropriate at play time and the girls don't agree. 

I love how Beckah will just flop down on pillows and blankets!  Then she lets out this sill belly laugh that makes her sound like a lunatic.  It's awesome.  

Oh I have an idea!!  Lets take a picture of all three of them...still in their PJs and with crazy hair!  Yeah!  

Okay...not so much but they did sit together so I'll take it.  

Yesterday we had a sunny day for the first time in a week.  It's been raining a lot, which we are grateful for but I have to admit that it was so very nice to see the sun.  So Cadence and Rory let me take some pictures of them in the pretty evening sunlight.  

I really just love how much they love each other.  It's like pulling teeth to get them to take pictures separate.  

This next one is the same as the one above but it is right out of the camera so you can see how rosy the light was as the sun set.  

Jumping!!!

Wiggle those hips!

No no...for real this time!

 

I just love these girls.  

Hope you are all having a wonderful March!

Oh Siblings...

We sent the girls to bed. About 20 minutes later I hear the following conversation through the door:

Rory: Cady. Cady. Cady. Cady. Caaaaady. Cady. Cady. Cady. Cady. Cady? Cady. Cady. Cadence. Cady. Cady Cady. Ca-

Cadence: WHAT?!?!

Rory: Whatcha doing?

Cadence: Trying to SLEEP.

Rory: Oh.

((Long pause))

Rory: Cady?

Cadence: Ugg! What!!

Rory: Goodnight.

Cadence: (sigh) Goodnight Rory.

Cadence's 6 year stats

Cadence had her 6 year well check this morning! She was 50lbs (75th percent) and 4 feet 1 inch tall (95th percent). :o) Her eye sight was perfect and she is (as usual) above all her "milestones." The Dr was very impressed with her over all heath and told her that she was the ideal patient and to keep up the good work! :o)

Beckah's 1 year stats!

Dr says she is looking good, though her height dropped off a bit in the last couple of months.  She probably is between growth spurts was our guess since she is right on target in every other way.  She was a hair shy of 20lbs and 30 inches with a 18 inch noggin. :o)  She is holding true to her curve and is my "middle of the road" kid!  :o)  

Hope March is treating everyone well!   

Beckah's Birthday Cake!

 We didn't have a big party for Beckah's 1st birthday.  Just some cake for the birthday girl!

My super awesome decorating job!  I know you are all amazed at my wicked skills. 

We sang and let her get started.  She was sure what to do at first.  We had to put some frosting in her mouth so she would know it was yummy. 

It wasn't long before she was stuffing it into her mouth like there was a time limit. 

Then we started to have a problem.  She had so much frosting on her hands that she couldn't "un-stick" them from themselves.  She doesn't like this.

So she tries to use frosting glued fingers to just pick up the whole cake.  I'm not sure if she was going to try and eat the whole thing, or just dump it on the floor.  My bet is the floor.

In the end she started fussing to have her hands cleaned.  :o)  lol

It was a fun night for us! The big girls got to decorate their own cup cake to eat (Rory just ate the frosting lol) and Beckah went to bed shortly after getting a bath.  Brady and I had some left over cake!