3rd Trimester- Only?

Oh that's right how could I forget... At 28.5 weeks, and 74 days until 'D' day, whose counting anyway, I am starting to really feel pregnant.  Along with feeling huge, tired, and swollen at the end of the day chasing after these 3 boys, I am constantly reminded that some little guy doesn't want to be forgotten about because my contractions are BACK! 

"I told you so," weren't exactly the words I was looking for this past weekend, when Chris was trying to prove that even my 4th round wouldn't escape these nasty, painful, and annoying contractions that will haunt me until the end.  They say I have an "overactive uterus" fun huh?! I get lots of intense contractions that are labor like in pattern and some in intensity, but so far have never changed my cervix.  I went into the doctor earlier in the week to make sure that this pregnancy wasn't any different, and yes my cervix is fine, and yes I am contracting like crazy, they say, and so I feel.  I love when people ask me, "like Braxton hicks right?!" No actually like contractions, I just get to practice for 2 1/2 months so that way when I have my c-section my body will be ready for labor, ha.  So back on some contraction meds to help with relaxing my body from this pattern, which doesn't work great, but gets me some relief here and there.  So I am praying that these contractions let up, and most of all do not change my cervix, it's still too early for him to be here. 

My weekly workout routine of Power Pump may be cut too, which is really disappointing because I really enjoy getting out and trying to stay in somewhat of shape as I continue to watch the scale rise... :) 
I promise not to complain very much anymore, I chose to be pregnant again knowing that it was a good chance I would end up in this same position, so for now my husband just gets to live with me for the next 74 days and shake his head...

Baby! Isn't he sweet!?  Look at that profile

Brodes is the baby magnet, constantly kissing, touching, and talking to me about the baby.  He can't wait to be the BEST helper, and I do believe him when he says that.  I swear the baby recognizes his voice too because every time Brodes jumps on my lap and starts talking the baby is moving like crazy, it is so sweet!

Since naming boy #4 hasn't been an easy task, I kept telling Chris well you need to make a decision so when the new Pottery barn stockings come up I can order one, because its all about the stocking right? Can't have the baby without one... So one night we actually made some good name progress and we are about 95% sure that we have THE NAME.  Whew!  So as a joke the next morning I went on the website and put in THE NAME and sent a picture to him at work and asked "can I order?"  Okay I might be a tad annoying at times, I guess I will wait a bit longer, just in case... :)

Baby #4 is getting some new fresh things as well, I got this from Slo Day Design (Sarah Ortiz) and had fun picking out some new swaddle blankets and clothes. 

I am thinking this will be the ONE and ONLY pic I post, 28 weeks, and gaining weight like a champ! :) Baby is super healthy and might just be my most active yet, although since the contractions have come on he is moving a lot less, feel bad for the poor guy, not a very fun environment in there I am sure. 

Oh the joys of pregnancy, how we can forget so quickly, but wouldn't change these days for anything.  I always ask Chris, would you gain 40-50+ pounds for 4 kids and go through what I do in pregnancies, he said heck no, that's why I am crazy.  Women are the tough ones! :)  This pregnancy is really special to me though (like the others too) but different because it is the last baby, and so cool because how much the older boys are into this.  The greatest gift you can give your kids is a sibling, and the boys are already learning so much about pregnancy and babies and preparing for this little guy.  Can't wait to become a family of 6 and for all the adventures ahead. 

Go HUSKIES!

We took the boys down to our first family Husky game.  We have been hesitant in the past and felt finally they might be ready since they were getting into football and would actually get something out of it.  It was so weird just traveling with the four of us.  We stopped at Red Robin on the way down and actually had a fairly relaxing, and yes enjoyable meal!  We were all decked out in our gear so the boys liked that, and even though we were only down one kid it was great to have that bonding time with Crew and Brodes. 

Before the game we met up with a college friend of mine Adam Jack and tailgated right across from Century Link at his work parking lot.  The boys eyes were opened to lots of festivities, but they had fun throwing a football around and playing games.  Our seats were up in the 300 level, which was a climb!They really got into all the motions and sound effects of the crowd and were obsessed with the Husky dog and it was like "where's Waldo" the whole game trying to find him. 

Not 10 minutes into the car ride home they were both out cold, which is a good sign that it was a great day! 

Kyler can go next year

GO HUSKIES!!!!

First Grader & 4 Yr. Preschool

"The days are long but the years are short..."  Genius quote.  It was a little crazy thinking that my Cruiser was going to be in school EVERY DAY, and Brodes 3 mornings a week in preschool.  Growing up, and although we seem to think it gets easier when they are in school, I am finding my life so super busy running them everywhere and making sure they have everything they need each day.  This mom thing continues to kick my butt! :) Daily 30 minutes of homework, activities, Church stuff, and of course our life wouldn't be complete with trying to jam pack extracurricular things in: Soccer, Football, Gymnastics to name a few.  The suburban needs to find a way to get better gas mileage.  My planner has become my best friend, along with pregnancy brain, I feel like I can't keep the day straight, let alone the week or month. 

Wouldn't trade this for the world, and I know I try my best to savor each day and even the crazy moments because before I know it all 4 boys will be in school and I will have 4 directions I am turning!

Aren't they cute?  Good job boys, fool your teachers early on to make them believe that you act as cute as you look! :)

He melts me! 

Go Lions, showing off his Price Lynden Lions bag from Memi! 

You guessed it, Brodes landed himself a very cool spidey back pack! Now only if I would let him wear his spider man clothes to school and church he would be very happy!

So happy!  Love these boys!

BYE MOM!!!  Never sad to leave, but always happy to see me, I guess I will take it.  Mornings are always comical and can be pretty intense getting that routine going and keeping them moving.  My favorite part is when I get to watch Crew and the neighborhood kids at the bus stop, and when we are all on the porch waving good bye to Crew! It really is a show!  FUN!

Reading is not Crew's best subject, in fact it has been a very hard struggle so far, but we keep plugging away and trying to make it fun.  This kid continues to teach me more than I feel I will ever be able to teach him.... Patience... :)

Both boys are adjusting well in school.  Brodes LOVE LOVE LOVES preschool, he tells me everything about it, to what they did, who he played with, sings the songs, none of which Crew did. They are so different, I love that.  Crew is doing great in first grade and I enjoyed meeting his teacher Mrs. Goodman.  Although he thinks first grade is too much work and not enough recesses, he is adjusting well. 

Cheers to the 2012-2013 school year!

End of SUMMER!

Now that I have some more back dated posts done (scroll to August) I am ALMOST ready to get with the "now" times...
Time for a schedule, days with routine, and if we are lucky some structure, and the hot weather to be gone... So before that happens we took advantage of some great summer days and fun activities before we had to get serious again...

Learning by example... Kys needs all the help he can get in the potty training department

On your mark...get set...go! Just one more attempt to tire these crazy boys out before bed--followed by baths and haircuts. Final score- they win again, I was exhausted and they were still running circles!

If you notice some of my picture editing, in my lazy days of not always having my camera, I have reverted to just using my iPhone and I post pics on my Instagram app, so if you want more current updates, I am not so much facebook, but love pictures and use Instagram all the time!

If you are going to strip down and run around the high school track sprinklers, you need to know that you will be freezing when you are done!  Was it worth it? :)

Crew and I had some special mother/son time down in Burlington going clothes shopping for this big first grader. Not only did he outgrow all of his pants, shoes, and most of his shirts, but he was going to be in school everyday and needed some new stuff. School supplies alone were $80 with a backpack, and after all the clothes, and I did major bargain shopping I did some quick math and after multiplying by 4, I can only imagine how expensive this is going to get with a big family.  Oh and I definitley DO NOT have a shopper on my hands, it was pure torture getting him to try on anything, the joys of boys!

Dirty boy=Kyler's daily summer life

Dad's truck is WAY more fun that riding with mom.  I will always be the less fun parent, the music, the treats, and the adventures will never compare to dad!

Got this picture text- been enjoying getting to spend some time with these two! 

Hopefully this is the LAST binky pic, it has been hard to get this away during nap/night time, but we are trying, and expect to see a ROUND 2 potty training post soon... 

Cheers to some FALL posts to come, my favorite time of year is HERE!

It's About Time...Again.

No I didn't give up on blogging, and I do promise to be better again after I go through and get all 500 pictures and countless posts back dated to cap off the rest of summer and the start of the school year.  With my favorite season right around the corner I have some deadlines! :)

My computer crashed again for like 2 weeks, and I finally got smart and instead of just a portable hard drive I backed up my computer on Carbonite.com, which by the way I highly recommend because my pictures are my life.  Which to back up all my files took a full WEEK of my computer running continually.  Then we had 4/5 of us with a bad flu that rotated starting the first week of school and just ending this weekend.

So I hope to be back in full force, at least that's my goal is to try my best in between everything else.  So keep checking back I will be going back to the beginning of August and working my way to the NOW middle of September almost.

Let's go!