This and that

Just a few things that have been have been going around in my head

• I have the BEST friends. I know everyone says that, but it's true! I am so blessed. I am so lucky to have so many people checking in on me and volunteering to help with whatever I need.
• Along those lines -- thanks to my FABO friend Beth who brought us dinner last night. Yummy chicken casserole, fluffy biscuts (Ellie's favorite), green beans (just discovered that Nate loves those things. He ate the entire can -- I am not looking forward to changing that diaper) and even dessert. It was definitely a bright spot in my day,
• Ellie is now registered at FOUR schools for Kindergarten. I never realized how crazy picking a school would be. But I figure I've got a few months to decide where to send her.
• I hate smoke detectors. A few months back, Nate's decided to malfunction and I ended up having to haul in the big old ladder. It was pretty comical since I was ENORMOUS and pregnant, so I could barely carry the thing, and Nate had to be my helper -- holding the doors open and such. Well last night around 2, Ellie's decided to starting beeping all night long. So I had to do the ladder thing all over again -- this time not pregnant, but very sleep deprived and irritated that my sleep time was cut an hour short. The amazing thing is -- Ellie slept through the entire thing. She didn't wake up with the beeping, me hauling a gigantic ladder into her room, the lights coming on (I couldn't figure out how to detatch the stinking thing). . . I've decided that 10 foot ceilings are over rated.
• I will be taking a nap today -- the only person who better call between the hours of 2:30 and 4 is my husband!

Sadie pictures

Finally, as requested, pictures of Sadie NOT lying down. She's 5 weeks old already and I can hardly believe it. I don't remember the time flying by as much with Nate and Ellie. She was 9 lbs 5 oz at her check up (the day after these pictures were taken) and 22 inches long. So she's growing perfectly.

She's still sleeping and eating well, too. Maybe after 3 kids, I've finally figured this parentling thing out -- relax!

I was totally against any newborn pictures since I think they look so weird for the whole first few months of their life, but my girlfriend insisted on taking some and I'm so glad she did. Look at how cute my baby is!!!!

The cute bow is thanks to another friend of mine who makes bows and other cute baby stuff -- check them out: Susie Baby. Sadie and Ellie have both been recepients of some of their cute cute stuff.

Sickos

My kids are sick -- and slowly driving me crazy. Nate started off the most recent round of germs last Friday. He then proceeded to wake up 3-5 times a night through Tuesday night. He then passed the germs and fever to Ellie who now has a fever and the coughing bug keeping her up all night. And then there is sweet adorable Sadie who is now so congested that she decided to wake up all night last night. So basically I'm thinking of shipping them all off to their grandparents' house.

I love this picture of Nate because you can see what turds my kids are when they are sick. They don't just veg in front of the TV or sleep in their beds. Nooooooo, that would be too easy. They insist on laying in the middle of the floor and whinning continously for hours, only stopping for hacking fits. Saturday Nate kept falling asleep on the couch, so I thought I would be so nice and make him a little bed in the living room. I got out our spare crib matress, got his pillow and blanket and put it by the TV. Then I hauled my sick little boy over and laid him down on it. He then yelled at me, crawled off the bed and proceeded to fall asleep on the floor. I guess he figured if he was comfortable, he wouldn't be able to whine as much. That's my boy!

Hopefully we'll all be recovered quickly!

Hubba hubba hubby

I just wanted to write a quick entry about Dustin. I don't think he gets enough air time around here since the kids usually get most of the focus. Today is his first day at his new job and I'm super excited for him. Over the last year he was having a really hard time being excited about work, so he decided it was time for a change.

I'm really happy for him, but sometimes I have a hard time showing it. My life has also had a change and I admit, it's a hard one for me. It's hard for me to re-learn how to work my life around another person. It's hard to give up the life I had adjusted to. And it's hard for me to feel tied to another human being 24 hours a day. I'm tired on top of it, and sometimes when Dustin is going on and on about his new job, I'm a little jealous. I'm sure all the homrones don't help.

So I just wanted to state for the record, that even if at times I don't show it, I am excited and supportive. I can't wait for him to come home -- it's like waiting for your kids to come home from the first day of school and share all the new things they learned. He is an exteremly hard worker and good at what he does, so I'm glad that he'll be happy doing it now. :)

Grrrrrrrr blogger

Earlier this morning Nate and Ellie were outside playing, Sadie was fast asleep and I thought I'd run in here to blog. Of course, blogger decided to be a booger and not work for me, so no long/boring update from me. I'm just posting and running since Sadie lady will be waking up soon and famished I'm sure. In fact, there wouldn't be anything at all if the phone hadn't kept waking me up from my nap (yes, I am magic and can get all three kids to nap at the same time if I play my card right).

The pictures are (in no particular order, you'll have to figure that out yourself). Sadie and my mom (I miss you mom-- and the kids miss you more), the other two kiddos who like a little attention now and then, Nate's favorite spot to play trains, and little Sadie (who is still such a good baby knock on wood).

We've been busy, but life isn't too bad with three. The nights are crazy, but the days are doable. MWAH!

Busy Bees

We've had a busy week here. We made a trip with all 3 kids to Target, I had a Doctors appointment and some Primary meetings, Wednesday I took all three kids to the Pediatrician for Well Checks -- 3 hours, 7 shots and 1 PKU late I will never do that again, trip to the bookstore, play group, visits from friends to see the baby, and a trip to the mall this afternoon. PHEW!

Luckily I have my mom to help me get the kids ready and clean up lunch while I feed Sadie. . . I don't know how I'll make it when she leaves. Can I just get a nanny?

Living it up

So my mom is here and the kids are running her ragged. They have a whole list of things they want to do and they seem to have to want to do it as soon as possible. I don't know what we'll do next week, but this week has packed full -- and it's only Monday.

Ellie decided a month or so ago that she wanted my mom to dye her hair pink. My mom will do a lot for her grandkids, but pink hair was not on the list. So instead she ordered a pink wig to wear and got Ellie a funky one too. Ellie of course decided that pink was more beautiful and has taken over the pink wig.


Nate has decided that my mom is his best friend and orders her around. Luckily, she still gets some cuddles too. Note what he is wearing -- yes, the ballerina costume. Why oh why does he love that thing?

And of course the apple pie. Ellie missed out on the apple pie at Thanksgiving, and since then she's been obsessed with making one. She and my mom went to the store and bought the apples and everything. The pie turned out delicious and now one more thing has been crossed off of her list.

Short Update

We're alive! My mom flew in today. Sadie finally has her days and nights straightened out. She's been a GREAT baby so far. We are all loving her.

Ellie loves to hold her and has dried out her hands from washing her hands so much. Nate likes to hold her for a total of 2 seconds and then he throws her off of his lap. He did try to nurse her the other day. He lifted up his shirt and yells, "Eat! Eat!"

We are so blessed. I can't believe I have three beautiful children! And I am so lucky to have my mom out to help me out with them. My husabdn was able to take a whoel week off of work to help out. Plus we have AMAZING friends -- they volunteered to watch my kids, brought in meals, drove Ellie to school. . . I totally feel like I've been able to rest and enjoy Sadie, which I know is a rarity when you have your third child.

I'm awake

OK, tell me she isn't ADORABLE! After 2 nights of being awake and partying all night, Sadie slept like a CHAMPION last night. Plus she nursed like a sprinter so we had a GREAT night. Lots of sleep last night and we decided to sleep in until 9. Poor Dustin had to take the other two to 8:30 church while Sadie and I cuddled. I almost feel guilty, but who knows if nights like last night will last, so I'm going to enjoy it while I can!

Sadie pictures

Sadie is here

Sadie finally arrived on Thursday -- I can't decide if she came a day late (after her due date) or a date too early (a day before I would have been at the hospital comfortably hooked up to an epidural before I felt any contractions).

Nate was up all night on Wednesday. About 3 I went in to check on him and discovered he was burning up. After giving him some medicine, and listening to him whimper in his crib, I decided to put him in bed with me. The second we laid down (about 3:30) I felt my first contraction. 2 contractions later, I knew it was the real deal and we got ready to leave. My girlfriend showed up to sleep at our house, Dustin ran a few red left turn arrows and we were up in the delivery room by 4:30 am.

I guess being half way to delivery has it's downfall because by 4:45 they informed me I wouldn't have time to get an epidural. So with the help of the world's best labor and delivery nurse, I did it au natural. I still can't believe I did it. I know women have been doing for thousands of years, but I think it's a little over rated. :) Sadie was born at 5:12 in the morning.

Anyway, I'll update more later. Ciao!

Eviction Notice

I'm scheduled for an induction on Friday. Everyone cross your fingers I won't get bumped!

Phone liberation!

Yesterday I had Ellie change the message on our answering machine -- I loooove it! It's something to the effect of, "Be patient! We haven't had the baby." Now I don't have to answer the phone. Usually I always answer the phone knowing that if I don't, my cell will start ringing, or I'll have some message about, "Ooooooh, you must be at the hospital." Now I can totally ignore anyone I *know* is just calling for a baby update. WOO HOO!

Mom, Dad, Kathleen -- I promise I will still answer your obsessive amount of phone calls.

Just another Manic Monday

Still here. . .still pregnant. If I didn't go into labor yesterday, nothing is going to work. I set up all of the chairs in the Primary room, carried around Sunbeams who didn't want to go to class, hauled around a 5 year boy who was trying to kick me the entire time because he knew I was taking him to his mom, moved all the chairs from one classroom to another, walked a zillion miles back and forth to the Nursery room all morning, rough housed with my kids, scrubbed the kitchen floors. . . I think we're going to have to pry this girl out of me.

So today we're going to hang out in bed some more (we're all in here right now), give the kids a bath and then plan a TON of fun things to do this week!

I have been super productive though! The house is clean, laundry done, the car is SPOTLESS (inside and out, thank heavens), groceries bought, the Primary Activity is over (and lots of fun). So now all I have to do is be patient. Anytime I whine Ellie tells me, "You have to have patience! And stop talking about the baby." Good advice kiddo!

Last night we watched something on the National Geographic channel about multiple births and it of course ended with babies being born. I let Ellie watch it (this is the second time I've been crazy enough to let her watch babies being born, but I don't want her to be scared of it). Anyway, after it was over I looked at Dustin and said, "Good thing we watched that because I am FREAKED out! I don't want to give birth anymore." So I'm actually totally grossed out by the whole birthing process at this point.

Anyway, I'd better boogie! Ellie is asking what pee and poop are made out of. :) My daughter is waaaaay too interested in the waste products of the human body.

Nothing

nothing, nada, zilch, zip, naught, diddly squat, zero. . . nothing is happening. I am still here. Still pregnant. No sign of real labor. Just keeping busy.

Progress-- FINALLY!

So I went to see the doctor today. I'm dilated to a 5 and 90% effaced. Of course, my girlfriend walked around at a 5 for 2 1/2 weeks, so I don't want to get my hopes up. . . but at least there is progress! If I don't go into labor over the weekend, I'm going for a RUN on Monday!

That's it!

Last night I was talking to my sister-in-law on the phone about the baby not coming and she suggessted doing some jumping jacks. So randomly throughout the day, I've been doing a few. Ellie of course joins in and then we have to do *her* exercise routine, which is pretty comical in of itself. Ellie tells me, "Mom, I'm really starting to like excercising. Why is exercising so important?" So I launch into the whole heart thing and how it will giver he more energy. THEN -- she tells me, "Mom, I think you should exercise more because you're getting fat."

WAHHHHHHHHHHH????? This baby better freaking come out soon if my FOUR year old thinks I'm fat.

You keep what you get

So yesterday the kids woke up early from their nap -- right when I was in the middle of a scrapping project. So of course they HAD to be in the room with me. Nate ended up being his crazy self -- stepping on paper, trying to use the paper cutter, etc. I looked at Ellie and said, "Nate's crazy. We should trade him in for a new little boy who's not so wild." Ellie immediately freaks out, "Noooooo! I love Nate." So then I explained to her that I was just teasing. Ellie then tells me, "Besides mom, we have to keep what we get."

But seriously, Nate is crazy. I know all boys are, but that boy bewilders me sometimes. Last night for Family Home Evening, we did a lesson on faith and set up a little obstacle course for Ellie to go through blind folded. It was pretty fun and Ellie even did one for us. In the end, Nate decided to get in on the action. He puts on the blind fold and runs around the house for half an hour running into every wall and chair possible -- yet refusing to take the blind fold off. So stinking funny (when we weren't worrying about his safety). I then mentioned to Ellie again that maybe we should trade him in. She tells me, "Nooo, he's so funny. Just like me."

Keeping busy

So I decided the best thing to do to pass the time is keep busy. I've pretty much volunteered to do anything I hear about -- have people over for play dates, visit a friend on bed rest, drive carpool, cook for a funeral, do a zillion things for the Primary Activity on Saturday. All part of my plan! See, if you trick the baby into thiking you don't want her to come. . . she will. But shhhh, it's our little secret!

PS Sorry I haven't had a lot of pictures on my blog lately -- I packed the camera in the hospital bag and I've been too lazy to get it out.

VOTE NOW!

OK, so tonight we had a big vote (not that I think a 2 year old and a 4 year old should have the same say in naming the baby as say. . . ME) and we narrowed the named down to two finalists. So let me know what you think:

Amelia Elizabeth
or
Sadie Elizabeth
or
eta Sophie/Sophia Michelle for my mom (because you know, she did give birth to me, so I at least owe it to her to consider her name)