34 weeks

34 weeks...why is this pregnancy going by so fast?! Things are going well so far, baby is very active, and just recently decided to have mercy on me and rotate just slightly, about 45 degrees or so, says the doc. At my las appointment, I was having excruciating back pain, as I did with Graham, who was posterior or "sunny side up". Aka baby's back is right against my back, super fun. However, this time, the day before my appointment I felt some relief. So the doctor did an ultrasound just to make sure all was well, and he wanted to really get an idea of the baby's position. And sure enough, the baby rotated just about 45 degrees, so it's back is against my hip instead of my back. Hips are uncomfortable, but much more bearable than my back. Thank heavens, because back labor is no joke. But all is well, baby measuring normal, head down, lots of movement, lots of Braxton hicks contractions, and of course, gaining weight handsomely. 

But things are starting to come together, the baby's "area" in Eve's room is all done, ready for a baby to fill it. Newborn clothes a washed and ready to go for both genders. One perk of having babies so close together, things like the bassinet the, swing, etc never had a chance to get put away haha so it's all ready to go! 

Still craving cherries, my ramen noodles, and grapes. Peanut butter and jam sandwiches have become far more appealing than they ever have before in my life. 

I had my lovely younger brother take my weekly photo this week, and the little ray of sunshine bought he would snap this....thought it better depicted my actual size, called it "the money shot"...I am huge! Thanks mark...

He walks!!

Life just got a little crazier around here! Just over a week ago (July 19/2013) Mr. G decided to take the plunge. He took his first steps! It was so exciting, and the best part was that Braden was home to witness it :) the big boy took two steps on his own and then dove for his destination. Ended up with a bit of a bump, but he didn't care, he was so excited he just kept going. We couldn't be more proud, even Eve was there to cheer him on, and she continues to do so as he is progressing. 

I really admire his perseverance, he falls A LOT, as all babies do, but he never let's that stop him. He just gets right back up and keeps going. In just 9 short days he went from two to eighteen steps! Eighteen! He walked across the entire room today, so we officially have ourselves a walker. A drunken sailor kind of walk, but a walk nonetheless. 

He has a few more battle wounds and bruises, but he's so happy and proud of himself as he does it. So life just got crazier, you've got to watch him very closely, he is into everything, but now with a new found confidence...yikes! 

Way to go big guy! We are very proud of you

Family Pictures at the Cove

My good friend Maggie Nillson was so kind to sneak us in her schedule for family pictures. I am so glad she could squeeze us in, because my pregnancy is sneaking by us quickly. She did such a great job, she really captured some precious shots of our family...and that is hard to do with our active kiddos :) So get ready for a big picture dump here!

I am so glad she got everything I wanted, I wanted some semi-maternity shots and just candid shots of our little family.  

Her blog can be found here: 

Bloggybloggerblogblog.blogspot.com

G is one!

Graham is 1!!!! I can't believe it, he is getting so big...literally. He is a whopping 23.5 lbs placing him in the 75th percentile. Height is 31 3/4 inches, that keeps him cruising in the 95th percentile, along with his big noggin. But mostly I am noticing how quickly he is progressing. He is full on crawling (the real way), climbing on everything, and cruising along most every piece of furniture in the house. He is a master at going up stairs, but not so much going down, that will take some time. His sister isn't as excited about his mobility as I am, right now its quite inconvenient, If she wants to play anything without him getting himself involved, she has to go to the kitchen table. And even then, his tall stature allows him to reach anything close to the edge. Like bowls of cereal for example....yes, I've had to clean up many of those. But he is still the easiest baby of all time. Just after 10 months we decided to take away his pacifier, we wanted to do it early enough that he wasn't TOO attached to it, and wanted to make sure he had forgotten about it before the new baby came, so as to avoid possible stealing haha. He hardly noticed. He fussed a little the first night, but really didn't care that much. Phew! Next was weaning him off formula. Didn't even notice, he really took to milk with no problems and no fuss. Great! Then it was bottles, poor guy just loves them. But it is one of those things we new had to go sometime...so we just tried it one day (recently). He didn't even notice. Sippy cup or bottle, he didn't care, as long as it had some fluids in it. He did however, have a bit of a problem with leaning his head back too far to get the last of the milk, that caused him to fall back a few times. But other than that he is such a champ, I can't hardly believe it.
He now has 4 teeth, horray! The first cut just after 10 months, and how there are 4. He is still sleeping 11-12 hours at night, doing two 2 hour naps a day. Did I mention he's the best baby? He loves to snuggle, and is still such a mama's boy, I love it.

His curiousity gets him into some sticky situations...

That usually end like this....and I'm the great mom that sits back and takes pictures...he will thank me one day right?

Graham, you are so adorable, and very much loved. I love your determination and curiosity. You are so fun to watch as you learn and grow. Happy Birthday bud! We love you!

Graham's First Birthday Party

 The big guy turned one! We kept his celebration quite simple, we were going to just have a little bbq at a neighborhood park. Well with the 93 degree weather, and the added high humidity, it was quite a scorcher. Luckily our good friends let us move things to their house to save everyone from the heat! We just did a simple bbq, with strawberry lemonade cupcakes, and of course, strawberry lemonade. Thank you pinterest for providing great recipes :) We just let the kids run around in their back yard and Graham just roamed around. We had such fun just chatting and visiting with friends, and of course watching Graham devour his cake! It was so refreshing to watch him just go to town on that cupcake. Eve was so particular about being clean as a baby she didn't really eat one. But Graham, that is a different story. He absolutely loved it! He ate every last speck of it, with the exception on the fragments that naturally made it into his hair, ears, neck, and pretty much everywhere else. Well done buddy...well done.

This little lady just cracks me up....

I asked her if she would just go stand by the couch so I could snap a picture of her in her "4th of July" outfit....she came up with this....I just love her. Can't get enough of this. 

Every so often, I need to update and just remind myself of the funny little things she is doing/saying. This girl has such a way with words, I wish I wrote them down more often. Some I can remember:

*Eve, after sitting on her foot while eating breakfast. "um mom? I think there is crickets in my foot" Her foot had fallen asleep. 

*Sharing is becoming more and more difficult for her. But you often hear her say things like this "Graham, thanks for sharing with me! I will take your car and you can have this cheerio" So apparently he can share with her well, but it doesn't go the other way around very often. 

*I had some friends over to watch the "Bachelorette" , it started after her bedtime, but she was still awake. She came down the stairs, and looking at all the company, said "Mom, can I please watch with you?" 

I replied "no honey, it's passed your bedtime." 

She tilts her head down with a puppy dog face says "I just want to spend time with you mom." 

As my heart is just getting crushed, I said "Ok, why don't I come and lay down with you for a few minutes?" She quickly wipes off the solemn face and says "No thank you." and she walks away. 

Ouch....but I have to hand it to her, she's good. She almost had me. 

* She has become better at expressing her feelings, not always in the way I would choose, but it is getting better. It's usually layered with TONNES of guilt. Such as, anytime she gets in trouble, she replies with something to the effect of: "Mom, It makes me so sad when you get mad at me...I just want you to be nice all the time...because I love you" 

*Everything with this girl is a negotiation. She never just listens and obeys to what she is told. She always has to negotiate to some degree. For example, 

"Mom, can I have mac and cheese for lunch?"

"Eve, we should have something healthier than that."

"Please, mom"

"Ok, but you have to eat your carrots first." There are about 5 baby carrots on her plate

"How about I just eat 3, because I'm three."

"No, let's eat all 5"

"Um, how about I do a bite of carrot for a bite of mac n cheese?"

"Ok, but I want to have the first bite to be mac n cheese"

This is just one example, every meal time is some version of this. She makes me laugh. 

*She is still convinced that there is a baby in her belly, just like mom. It has been a girl for the last 5 months, but just recently she decided it was a boy. I asked her why it's not a girl, and she replied with "mom, I have just magic, I changed it to be a boy" 

I just love all the dialogue that goes on with this kid in the house. I hope she never changes, as challenging as it makes things, I do enjoy the laughs. She has the biggest, best personality of all time. Oh to be three....

Happy 4th of July!

Hope eveyone had a great 4th of July! Happy Birthday America :) 

This was the best picture I could capture, most of them look like this....

I guess you can't put a younger brother next to his sister without a wrestling match these days. All our pictures seem to end like this when they are close to eachother haha...boys will be boys, at least Eve has mastered taking it with a smile

30 weeks

30 weeks. Holy cow, it's 75% of the way done. Scary business...I have been so busy with the other two, it sometimes just slips my mind how quickly this is happening. I have taken some quiet moments, and reflected on this pregnancy. This, being my last one has hit a soft spot for me. At times it makes me sad, every time I feel a kick or a roll, I think "this is the last time I will have this experience" and I get sad. I love having this miracle inside of me, I love being a woman and getting to have this experience. I love when Eve places her hands on my belly to feel the baby move, she is so enamored and fascinated. But then there are a few moments when I am chasing after the older two, unable to keep up, feeling the pressure in my hernias, and so uncomfortable I think "this is the last time" and it brings a small glimmer of comfort.
But as I hit the "last trimester" mark a few weeks back, it really hit me. Last trimester. Not the third trimester. But the LAST trimester. It stirs up so many emotions. (thank you pregnancy hormones) I am trying to just enjoy it despite all the mixed emotions. Every kick gives me a little grin, every movement is a miracle. I complain much less, because I am focusing on this miracle, and how amazing this whole process is. I am so in love with this baby, I cannot wait to meet it. It's getting much closer, and although I feel quite ill prepared, I'm excited. I had my 30 week ultrasound, and got to see the baby wave at me! It was so darling. Baby is measuring normal, and quite mobile. The baby appears to be face up, same as Graham. but at this point there is still lots of time formthatbto hopefully change. at this point, to sleep I have to have my torso elevated about 45 degrees up to relieve the pressure off my hips, it's not ideal, I just need lots of pillows :)
Things are staying pretty constant, cravings are still my spicy chicken ramen, strawberries, grapes, and guacamole.
10 weeks to go!!!!