Looong night

Last night I had some Braxton Hicks (BH from now on) earlier in the day, but I figured it was due to cleaning and putting stuff away.
In church they kept coming and going and it was hard to concentrate.
Then right after the sermon they went away though, so I was relieved. Hoever, when I went to bed around 11:30 they came back. I chugged water to see if they would go away and they kind of faded to not as many, but definetely often enough to keep me awake a lot of the night. The whole time I had my to-do-list running through my head! Not sure why as if she came now we'd probably have to spend extra time in the hostpital and I would have time to send Kevin to pick up the last of the needed items.
Anyways, around 4:30 or so they stopped and I was able to sleep until 7, so that felt good.

This morning Victoria helped me wrap presents and we'll probably attempt a little bit of Christmas Decorating. When Victoria realized it is only 6 weeks and 6 days until her baby sister will be here though, she got a bit stressed and demanded we prepare a little bit better! :) She is so cute! She is going to be the best little helper (extra mommy) when baby comes!

We woke up to a white layer of snow on the ground this morning too. I had no clue it was going to snow, so I feel bad about not sending Winter Gear with Michael when he went on his sleepover last night. Oh well....they will proably be playing Rock Band all day anyways.

So, that is how the first Sunday in Advent started for me. Hope yours is just as great!

Another week closer to holding our new bundle in our arms!

I only have 7 weeks left. For some reason 6 weeks seems like the point of no return for me, and I am guessing I will be stressed out of my mind at that point!
We hosted Thanksgiving in town, and had friends over which was great. That is. I ate so much (I thought) I started feeling sick. Pretty normal at Thanksgiving, right? Well, turns out I actually got the stomach flu. It was bad! Thankfully no throwing up until our friends left, but I still felt bad! I was just uncomfortable the whole time they were here, and I was certain it was because I ate too much. Looking back though, I did not eat that much at all. I did not even finish the dessert. And I only had dessert because it was my birthday! So, on my combined birthday and thanksgiving I was pretty sick. The kids did not get it at all thank goodness, because in the middle of the night Kevin got it as well. Pretty depressing.
I had made big plans for him to shop for me Friday morning while I stayed at home with the kids. When we left Thursday night to get the newspaper with the ads though, they were out all over town! So I had to sit down on the computer and write out a list. I decided to only stick to Walmart. When he got sick, I figured all shopping was out. He did get up in the am though, and got most of the things from the list! What an awesome husband I have!
I slept most of Friday until later in the day, when we decided to head to Lights of Bluff Valley for their light show. It was really neat, and really cold! We most likely will make Bluff Valley a tradition for our family.
Today I slept in again, and awoke feeling tons better. This must be the first Thanksgiving I have not gained any extra weight due to overeating! I cannot guarantee there is not a weight gain as I am pretty sure my baby girl is growing steadily:)

When I dot up this morning and realized the weekend just started (YAY!!) I got all into nesting mode again. I only have 7 weeks left was the mantra repeating in my head. I got the crib all taken apart and brought it upstairs only to find that I am missing 4 vital parts of the crib. I don't have the four pieces needed for the drop side thingy. Talk about annoying! I am sure they are somewhere in the house, but being that it has been 4 years since we took the pieces off, your guess is as good as mine as to where they are.
So, I took to the handy dandy internet to look up replacement parts for the crib. Well, in doing so I found that the crib had a recall on it, and guess what, the parts replaced for free are the drop side pieces! So, I put in an order for those, and I guess I just have to wait a bit before putting it together, but at least I have the safer parts on the way. Baby will be sleeping in a bassinette in our room for a few weeks until we have the nursing down anyway.
So, that lead me to my next thin on my to do list: organizing the clothes etc. Well, I am certain I need a changing table (for storing clothes under) or a dresser. I might not have to do any laundry with this baby! At least until she is 6 months. Then I need to go out and buy all outfits as I only have 3 in that size.
So, my organizing plan was cut short too. On to number 3 on the list. Making a shopping list of things we need before baby comes. My friend Karen has offered to throw a shower, but with December being so busy we'll probably wait until after baby comes, which means I need to get the essentials before. That is ok though. I hopefully in the next week or two I will convince Kevin to go baby shopping with me. At least for Diapers, wipes, bedding (although that can wait until the crib parts are in too), pacifiers, diaper bag, car seat and stroller ( I think Kevin's mom is getting this for us), diaper ointment as well as a few nursing nessecities. That is not too much.
I would also love to get all my Christmas shopping done soon - and might convince Kevin to take me to the cities for that. Just need to find a babysitter. Can't have the kids with us when we get their stuff:)
I am not supposed to sit in the car for very long (that is, sitting in general aggravates my back) but I am thinking that if we go up to the Cities and stay over night it should be ok. If not, I guess I am the only one paying for it (unless I keep Kevin awake at night with my complaining about hurting).

I already cleaned the whole house (still need to do daily cleaning I am afraid), but I need to set up the guest bedroom for Kevin's parents coming down after Christmas. I should have time for that still though.
I also want to deep clean my minivan, and somehow get Kevin's "spare" car out of the way so that I can park in the garage. Although, unless I can fix the garage door opener, that will not be too high on my list. No chance I will be getting in and out of the car to open the garage door in the middle of the winter. I am sure as soon as it snows a lot, I will change my mind though!

Oki, better get ready for church. Maybe tonight, after church, I will put my whole to-do list up here. Oh what fun you will have following me as I check things off, right! ;)

Have a wonderful weekend all!

Only 8 weeks left...or less!

I am 32 weeks along today, so that means no more than 8 weeks left of being pregnant! This pregnancy has been so much harder on me than the other two! My OB told me there is something about the third being harder, without it meaning you are older, in worse shape etc. Glad to know that!

My back pain kinda comes and goes, as do the headaches. Today was one of the worse days I have had in a while, and all I really wanted to do was to stay in bed. However, Michael had two friends over for a sleep over last night (meaning an early morning for me when they get up at 6am!) and we took them to the free movie at Chateau. This week is was Kung Fu Panda. It was pretty good, but I think it is probably the last movie I will be going to until after baby is born. Since my back was already hurting quite a bit, sitting for another 2 hours did not do anything good at all.
I also had problems in church getting comfortable, and as much as I hate to say it, I know we've made the right decision to stay home this Thanksgiving.
I have had such a hard time coming to terms with family not coming down even though they are able to, but I am working on it. I have told Kevin over and over I can handle the pain of sitting in the car for 6 hours, but he has already made up his mind. And in all reality, he is probably right that we should not go. I would be miserable the entire time. I just really want to be with family, even if that means it will hurt and even if the decision we made to stay at home really does seem like the best.

What makes me sad is that my Black Friday shopping won't happen either. I for sure will not go by myself, and there is no one to watch the kids. Not that I think that I would have made it many places before having to give up. Maybe I should look at it as a different way of saving money:)

On to brighter things:
I did have my appointment on Wednesday and will not be going every two weeks! I measured right on track which kind of worries me as I measured about 2 weeks smaller with both Michael and Victoria and they came out over 9lbs!
With this bundle I seem to look smaller (or maybe that is just wishful thinking too) and so far I have only gained 15lbs. Just wait until next week and I will pile the pounds on!
She is already face down, however, she is facing my back, so I am kinda worried about back labor. She could still turn though, so that is good. Currently her butt is sticking out right above my belly button, and it is quite obvious every time I sit up. She does make me look kind of lopsided.

This girly sure is an active one. She moves so much, almost like rolling around, and there are times when I expect to see her hands and feet stick out of my belly. She tries to stretch to the point where I cannot sit up, but have to stretch my body out to give her enough room:)

I remember earlier in the pregnancy saying I did not want to go early as it would put us in the middle of Christmas, but now I would not care if baby showed up on Christmas Eve:). I am more than ready for her to arrive, but know she'll need a few more weeks in the oven to be able to arrive without complications of being premature. Knowing that, I will probably go until my due date, just because I am so anxious to be done being pregnant! Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant, but this pregnancy has been more stressful and painful than anything else.

I have not taken many pictures lately, and I really should get on the ball. I really dislike blogs without pictures, and now mine has become one!
I am also hoping to find a way to change my layout on my blog t make it prettier. There are so many pretty blogs out there!
I have actually been toying with the idea of going back to school to get a Digital Arts Degree and also take photography classes. I would love to have my own company where I can design layouts, photo greeting cards etc. We'll see when I will ever find enough time to take that on though:)
When baby comes I will only be taking 3-4 weeks off from my nanny job, and I guess I have to take 6 weeks from the Y (although I can do all my paperwork from home. I just cannot bring her in to Kids Care until she is 6 weeks old). I am guessing I will be going nuts while at home (after week 2). I just need to have something to so. Maybe I will take up crocheting:)

Well, have a wonderful weekend all!

Free Hairbow giveaway - check it out!

My friend Amanda - online friend from when I was pregnant with Victoria - is starting up an Etsy shop and makes these adorable hair bows. She is currently having a give away going on, so check out her blog!

http://amanda-ritter.blogspot.com/2008/11/giveaway-in-honor-of-my-100th-post.html

The bows she posted are super cute! I am hoping my baby will have lots of hair (don't see that happening since both older ones were bald) but if she does not, Victoria can wear them if we happen to win!:)

Hanne

SNOW!

So we got our first snowfall today. Victoria has already spent time outside playing and made a snowman. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me and the man melted before anyone else could take pictures:( Oh well, we all know that living in MN gives us plenty of chances to make snowmen! More chances that we want, really!

I am having Sarah send me some of the pictures she took, so I will upload for those of you who like that kind of stuff:)

The kiddos are currently watching a movie and eating popcorn. What else can you do on a wet and cold no school day?

I am working on my Christmas cards - need to talk to Karen to get ideas on backgrounds though:)

No school

for the kids tomorrow, so I will be spending all day at work (my nanny job) while the kiddos do their thing. It will be nice to not have anything I HAVE to do, but also annoying I cannot finish my project I started yesterday.
I have been reorganizing in the basement, and I have gotten all the stuff in our storage room into rubbermaid containers so that it now looks way better. On the other side, in doing so, I made a big mess in the family room that I need to clean up. Tubs to take to the Goodwill store, and heaps of stuff for the dump. Oh well....it will probably serve me well to have a day "off"that I did not pick:)

Tomorrow night I am co-hosting a slumber party with my friend Karen at her house. I can't wait!

Only 11 more weeks! Or thereabouts....

Yesterday I was 29 weeks, and only have 11 weeks left before out bundle joins us. Victoria is a very excited and started checking off the calendar as a countdown method.

This past week has been pretty slow, but with a weird work schedule. I did not work Monday due to my 3 hour glucose test - which I did not fail but I am borderline on my first draw, so I have to watch what I eat, have to cut down on carbs and sugars, and eat more protein. Thankfully I don't have to check my blood sugars unless I gain tons of weight over the next few weeks. Kevin is very protective and help keeping me accountable and not sneaking foods I should not have!
Tuesday was normal and Wednesday I was at an all day training for the Y with an awesome speaker. Only bad thing was that I had to sit for so many hours straight which totally messed with my back again. Thursday was normal and Friday was Halloween and busy. I got out of my nanny job early and got home to get the kids dressed before we met Karen and Nate for dinner - Little Ceasar's Pizza - before Karen and I took the kids trick or treating. The weather was awesome! No need for jackets or anything. Not normal for October 31st in MN I tell you! I think all the walked, though fairly painful after a while, rocked the baby to sleep quite well as she has been very slowgoing today.
The kids scored big times with their Trick or Treating, and have been pigging out this whole weekend. Tomorrow the candy goes bye-bye to daddy's work so that we can get it out of the house. I am not supposed to have any of it and it makes it hard to not eat any when there is so much yummy stuff left!

Saturday Karen and I took Sophie and Victoria to High School Musical 3 after we were done working a the Y. It was nice to hang out with the little girls!
When I got home I finished clearing out in the garage, and there is now room for my mini-van in there! I am hoping to get all our storage out on the shelves in the garage over the next few weeks. Only thing it that I need to convince Kevin since I am not supposed to lift that kind of heavy stuff.

Today I spent cleaning and doing laundry with small breaks on the computer. We also handed Ally's cat back to her and will now be able to open the basement door and air it out a bit. I had forgotten how much a cat would smell up the house!
The Vikes won and made my husband the happiest camper, especially since the Packers lost too!

This coming week will be normal except for Friday which is a no-school day so I have all four kids all day. I am not working at the Y though, so that it good.
Saturday if Evan's dedication at church, and I was able to find someone to swap counter and weekend with me, so I get to go watch! Yay! I miss the two boys as I have not seen them at church in so long!

Other than that, not much is going on. We're trying to find a day to work a babyshower out, planning for Thanksgiving and figuring out what we really want to to, getting Christmas presents that need to be sent done etc. I am sure that even though it feels like 11 weeks is plenty of time, I will be running ragged the last few weeks as I have so much to do! I keep making lists of things that need to be done, and instead of shrinking, they grow! So now, instead of dorking on teh computer I realy should be doing other things. Oh well.....it will get done eventually, although I am certain my house will NOT be as clean and organized as I pictured it being.

I hope the weather stays nice too, for as long as possible. It is nice to still be able to air out the house during the day! I love the fresh smell!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!