Lately

I feel like things have been really great but extremely busy these past few weeks.  With the warmer weather here, we have been spending a lot of time outdoors.  Mowing and fertilizing the lawn.  Fixing sprinklers, planting shrubs, landscaping, going  to soccer practice and games, swim lessons on Saturday and fitting in Aaron's new "hobby"..... running. (Have I mentioned he's lost 25 pounds, during busy season too)  Lets just say I made a lot of salads and he ran a lot.  Such a stud but that is another post. 

We are getting anxious for baby girl to come. Just over 6 weeks.  I think that we've finally decided on a name.  Aaron is tasked with picking her middle name, and has informed me that he'll let me know what he decides when we are in the hospital. 

The girls are out of school in three days. Anna has a talent show this week where she is going to play a piano piece and Brooklyn preformed in a "circus" for graduation last week. She was a tight rope walker. For Summer I am trying to find a way to have some structure but not expect too much.  I need to stay organized or I'll go crazy.  Carter is a sweet heart as always.  He definitely has his moments, but truly he is such a pleasant little guy. I am trying to soak up every bit of him.  Here he is giving his baby a drink. He loves to carry around these dolls, and then in the next breath I can hear him making machine gun noises.  Don't ask me where he learned that. I think boys come wired that way. 

   

 Here I am in the standard awkward pose, trying to document the 33 week belly. 

 My baby basil

 Oh how I hope this smile is a phase

I know that this is so random, but I thought it would be a fun idea to document what you have on your fridge from time to time and how it will change as your family changes.  We have

1. Anna's pink spelling list

2. The girls star charts. (when they fill up all the squares they get a prize)

3.  Brooklyn's picture at bottom

4.  Baby girl ultrasound pictures

5.  Picture of my in-laws

6.  Wedding picture of Aaron and I

7. Our article of faith for the month.  (We work on a new one each month in family night and keep it on the fridge so that I can repeat it each time I go and get a drink)

8. Picture of my cousins adorable baby Luke

9. Tonks family picture

10. Sunday school lesson schedule

and finally..... note to self. Aaron needs a new bike

It's a.....

Girl!

We are very excited and everything looked great. I still think motherhood and pregnancy is amazing and a miracle, even the 4th time around.

  

some things... have got to give

I've come to the conclusion that right now, in the midst of pregnancy yuck, there are a few things in my life that are just going to have to go by the way side, or simply not happen.  It makes me extra discouraged that this "3 month flu" I like to call it, happened to hit during all the holidays, especially Christmas.  I've had to come to the realization that this year is going to be different and hopefully my kids won't be scarred for life because of an absence of baking, cooking, getting dressed on my part, laundry, treat making, and a lack of an over-all Christmas-y disposition.  Poor Aaron comes home from work, usually cooks dinner, cleans up and then I am in bed around 8 pm. 

I really have so much to be grateful for though. High on the list is unisom so I can sleep. zofran for my nausea, my family and friends who have been so willing to help out with kids, errands and picking up the slack in my calling, and the bus that takes the kids to school in the freezing temperatures.  Really I am blessed to be able to be a mother and have this baby. I know that there are so many who would love to feel as bad as I do, just to have a baby.  I remind myself that this isn't going to last forever and this is probably going to be our last one. I am trying to live in the moment of each part of it and not wish it away. Even though I am counting down the days until I feel like myself again.  I remember with Anna thinking things like, I am never going to sleep again, I am never going to be able to sit though sacrament meeting in church again,  and I'm never going to loose this weight. Although with each baby your life does change drastically, some things do get back to more normal, and they don't last forever.  I guess that is the perspective that you gain with time and experience.

independence day

Pleased to announce Tonks' #4

Who wouldn't like fireworks every year on their birthday!