Baby Bump 4.0 - 12 Weeks

So, I decided to do belly pics again.  But this time will be monthly instead of weekly, and this time, rather than posed with a chalkboard, I'm going to post photos that sort of happen naturally.  Even if they are unflattering (ha!). (I'll also probably do a belly cast toward the end. We're definitely done this time!)

10 Weeks

13.5 Weeks

How far along: 12.5 weeks
Gender: We don't know yet! I had an ultrasound at 12w2d, and asked the techs "best guess".  She thinks girl (twice!) and that would just be awesome!
Weight gain: None
Stretch marks:  Nope.
Worst moment this week: My nerves and emotions slapping me around HARD in the waiting room for my ultrascreen (first trimester screening, including ultrasound and blood test).  My doc originally sent me to PPA, and I was all kinds of superstitious and felt silly, but I did NOT want to go back there!  I called the fetal medicine doctor I saw with A and R (before the perinatologists!) but he's now retired.  So, I found another one, called for an appointment, and had my referral switched to them.  I am so glad I did that!  I was grabbing at kleenex and told the tech I was feeling fragile.  She was awesome, as most MFM techs I've met are!
Best moment(s) this week: Seeing baby move and kick
Miss anything: Feeling good
Ultrasound count to date: 2
Movement: Not yet! 
Cravings: Anything with white cheddar on it!  Popcorn, cheetos, more cheetos...
Queasy or sick: Yes.  Getting better, but still sick.
Looking forward to: Feeling movement.

~Nichole

So Much Since Then!

I can't believe it's been so long since this blog was updated! As the family historian, I am woefully aware of how behind I've gotten.  The good news is: the kids' photo albums are updated!  The bad news is: their journals, this blog, and R's blog aren't.  AND our laptop has a ton of pics that need to be put into their respective folders on our external hard drive.  Sigh.

Since I wrote last, we had a relaxed Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's, a fun trip to Tucson for Valentine's Day, C's official first Spring Break, R's first Easter (and A's first ever Easter egg hunt!), R's first birthday (fairy garden theme), A's third birthday (construction theme), the advent of summer 2015 (replete with barbecues and pool time!), another fun trip to Tucson for Father's Day... aaaaannnnddd this:

YES! We're expecting Baby Number 4!  Which is a complete surprise to me!  I'll never forget the moment things changed on that front.  It was the last day of February.  We had just eaten Chinese food with my family and were driving down Main Street in Mesa to see the progress on the light rail when M turned to me and was all "awwww! baby!" and I was all "awwww! good luck with that, Dude! I'm DONE!"

We had been through this multiple times over the previous six or so months: whether or not we were really, truly Done.  And every time, I was convinced we were complete.  I could list literally 100 reasons to be Done, but knew that only ONE was needed to tip things the other way: the baby itself and whether it was meant for our family.  So, 24 hours later, I was contemplating not being done and what that would mean.  Over the next month or so, I asked all my friends with four children what it was like, I asked fellow AMC moms who had had children after their AMC child what that was like... and everyone was all "Go for it!"

Never have I ever before been so on the fence about a decision!  I thought and prayed a LOT!  I would swing wildly between being totally convinced we should go for it and thinking we should just get a dog.  (Not kidding.)  When it came down to it, the reason people would probably think we shouldn't have another is the only reason it felt right: for R. Sounds odd probably.  But it felt right to have someone younger than her in our family for her.  

But it still didn't make sense or add up completely.  So, we sort of left things up to chance...

(it's NEVER NOT like Indiana Jones' step of faith!)

 and ended up with two pink lines right away.

I had my first visit with my new OB (who practices with a team of midwives!) a few weeks ago an it was awesome.  I'm very excited to try for a VBAC with their support. Last Friday, I took C with me to my first ultrasound, and we saw a wiggly baby and a heartbeat.  It made things more real for him (he kept saying he didn't want us to have another baby because R is our baby and he didn't want me to "leave" {stay at the hospital} - he also keeps saying it's a boy!) and he started announcing "we're having another kid!" after that, so we spilled the beans at 9 weeks instead of waiting any longer! 

We're very excited for this baby and feel very happy and blessed he or she will be joining us in February!  We have a name picked out for either sex and while a tiny part of me hopes it's another baby girl, I really believe Heavenly Father knows best and is sending exactly who we need!

~Nichole

Five Years Old!

Dear C,

You turned five years old! You've been so excited for this milestone, and rightfully so!  You accomplished a lot in the last year: potty training (finally!), fully dressing yourself, brushing your own teeth and hair, riding your own bike, becoming more helpful, starting preschool (which brought its own list of can-now-do's), and being a pretty cool kid!

You are a still a master negotiator, a force to be reckoned with, and a master builder with everything from Legos to couch cushions.  You love to play outside and really love to be helpful.  You recently told me while picking up around the house that you like working hard, because "working hard means you earn money".  You also really like to "do art," especially cutting/gluing or painting. 

You speak very forcefully when you want something and are being told "no" (not unlike your parents) but are slowly getting better at expressing your feelings and playing more nicely with your brother.  You are generous with "I love yous" and hugs and kisses and I hope that continues for a really really long time!

I tell you often that you're our firstborn, which means that you "made mommy a mommy and made daddy a daddy" and that you were our first ever baby and that we wanted you so much.  And we are so blessed to have you! 

On the day of your 5th birthday party, you were very excited that you're turning six after you turn five, and we had to make a deal that you won't be six too fast.  Definitely don't grow up too fast, ok Dude?

Love,
~Mom

Things I Never Thought I'd Say

As a parent (especially of boys), there are things I've said or done that have taken me by surprise. I very often go "did I REALLY just say that!?!"

Here are a few:
~ Asking myself "are they hurting each other? are they bothering anyone? NO." and then letting them run amok in public places. ("Amok! Amok! Amok!")
~ "Where did this BOOGER come from?!?"
~ "C'mere... let me check your butt."
~ "Do not put your feet on your brother!"
~ "I am The MOM and I said so."
~ "You don't wash your face with your tongue, you wash it with soap and water!"
~ "There's no need to fight with your brother - the other half of this book is lying around here somewhere. Go find it!"
~ "Get your head out of my BUTT!"
~ "Please stop climbing me!"
~ "Stop! You're going to get POOP everywhere!"

~Nichole

Summer Survival - Part 2

trailer rides

bike rides

picnic at the lake

Children's museum

more bike rides

family parties

road trip (Prescott)

running and climbing in the Square

kayaking in record rainfall

car naps (same shirt, same truck in same hand, same head tilt)

tubing in record rainfall

summer movies (and running around afterward)

laying on blankets

playing doctor

trying on shoes

new big boy bike

more Children's museum

selfies

more fishing at the lake

kindle time

more selfies

more kindle time

toy bars

flying

"car washes"

family dance parties

even more selfies

playing in rain water

visits from grandparents

refueling

more museum time

visiting fire house with friends

(I think this one is pretty self-explanatory....)

Not pictured: swimming at Aunt T's, snack picnics in the backyard, African safari in our overgrown grass (a particularly fun hour for mom with these boys), more swim lessons, endless fort building out of couch cushions...

~Nichole