Wordless Wednesday

Getting Shorter

Our checklist before baby is getting shorter! Yesterday morning I got all registered at the hospital and had my 36 week check up. So far baby seems content to stay where he is for a little while longer. We have all the essential gear items: carseat crib pack and play bouncy seat swing changing table Baby room is about half done and decorated...hopefully will finish that this weekend. Baby clothes are washed and put away but the changing table needs to be a little bit more organized. By the end of the week I should have more done and I'm being blessed with a baby shower by my friends at church. 23 days or less to go!

Math Problems

We are having Math Problems here! Janea is in the STAR program at her school and that means that she is in the accelerated math program for 5th grade. Algebra is the new thing they are working on. Which means mom has to relearn how to do Algebra along with Janea. And it's really not going that well. I've forgotten alot of what I learned and when she doesn't fully pay attention in class it makes it that much harder for me. Math...it's full of problems!

The Home Stretch

We are under 30 days till baby!

Wow! This has been one of the longest periods of my life and yet its such a relatively short time.

I'm thankful that I'm almost done.

I'm ready to be alone in my body and to get to meet this little wiggly ball that has been sharing me since the summer.

I'm ready(I think) to be a mom of 3 kids and all the challenges that will bring!

I'm getting nervous about delivery and the pain that labor brings.

I'm there...I'm ready I think...now it's just a matter of time!

Wordless Wednesday

Deals and Stuff

I got two really cute maternity shirts today for $2.00! Wahoo! They will be good for Spring as they are both 3/4 sleeve length.

Got the baby some summer outfits today too...3 for $1.oo and 1 for $2.00...so all in all I spent $7.55 and got 6 items...love that!

Doctor's appointment this morning...all is well, weight gain is good, blood pressure is good, fetal heartrate good. Had my Strep B test and hoping its all good too. Next Monday I go and have my last sonagram and hopefully one of my last appointments. We are down to the final month...he can come at anytime...but I'm still hoping for April. Janea is saying 16 days and Jaron doesn't care! Baby has to wait until after next Monday when I have my pre-registration at the hospital...that way we will be good to go..!

New Things

Dan joined Gamefly this week with a trial offer of half price. Wii games can be very expensive and often when you are done playing them you don't want it anymore. Gamestop buys used games but don't give you a lot of credit for them so this is a friendly option to play new games without being committed to buying them. This one came in the mail today...and so far I am the only one in the family who hasn't played...Jaron was so happy when it came in the mail today!

Hooray's

Van started with no problems when I needed to run an errand today!

Baby closet is organized, carseat is unpacked, and more baby stuff is being put away!

Kitchen counters are clearer.

Coupons are organized by catergory.

Laundry is ready to be sorted and done tomorrow.

I accomplished something today! It feels good to have done something!

Needing To Accomplish

Yesterday I didn't really accomplish anything. I was tired, I was achy and so I gave in to my tiredness and achiness and laid down alot. Then when I was going to take the kids to the park the van wouldn't start...dead battery!

So we had to wait for Dan to get home from work so he could use our handy dandy machine to jumpstart it...the baby belly and I don't work on cars!

We then went to Lees Summit to get Janea a book she wanted only to find out it won't be released until APRIL 5th...wasted trip for that!

So today I am going to accomplish something, anything, I really don't care....just need to get it done.

I'll keep you posted!

AWANA GRAND PRIX

Every year our church holds a Grand Prix. Basically it means the kids make racers out of wood and the we have an evening when we race the cars. It's both a humongous pain and a lot of fun at the same time. When you don't have tools and the like it's a challenge to get the cars cut out. The kids often have a different design in their heads then what you can do and it can be a really big mess. The last few years our church has been having work days where you can go and cut out the cars and they provide saws, drills and such...so we have been in car building mode for the last 2 weeks. Jaron decided he want to make a half pipe and skate park for his car. Janea was initially going to make a skateboard, but it evolved into a phone when we needed to add clay to hers to give it more weight. Then we went through the hassle of trying to reduce the weight because it was too heavy! But we were proud of the finished products!

Janea's Cell Phone...complete with numbers!
Jaron's Skate Park Half Pipe

Jaron took 2nd place for design...we are good at design...not so good at speed!

Janea took 3rd place T&T for design...she was very happy...just what she had wanted!

I help out every year and this year I was the recordkeeper and so here I am in all my pregnant glory! People kept coming up to me asking when I was due and the announcer kept making jokes and implied I was having Triplets! Dan was in charge of picture taking this year and took so many that I will have to upload more of them later!

All in all I am satisfied, more than a little relieved to be done with another years race and pleased with all the results!

Spring Break

The kiddos are on Spring Break this week. So life is different...not bad just different!

This week is the AWANA Grand Prix...tomorrow night! We have been working on cars, working on painting, working on driving Momma insane!!!! I will be so glad to have this project finished!

I've been taking pictures...but I haven't uploaded them yet...will do that soon...sorry!

Today I worked and got half of the baby room better under control. I worked primarily on the closet...and it's looking pretty good if I do say so myself. Janea's also working on getting her room straightened up. Jaron's isnt' too bad since we just recently moved him downstairs to the basement.

So life is progressing...the baby belly is getting bigger...and another pair of pants doesn't fit...I'm so looking forward to getting dressed without feeling and looking like a contortionist!

The weather is also gorgeous and the kids can go outside to play! YEAH!!!! Looking forward to maybe seeing 70 tomorrow! WAHOO....Spring may be on it's way!

Winter

This winter I have been emotionally at war with the weather.

I have stressed, freaked out and gotten angry at the snow.

I have watched a blizzard hit, gotten excuse notes from my doctor so I don't have to drive in snow, and wondered how I would make it to work with the kids being off for snow days.

Well, it snowed last night and today I am fine with it. The kids are on Spring Break this week, I am done working and we can just be home. And it's been warm enough recently that the roads are merely wet...but I am not going anywhere so it's all good.

Spring is just around the corner! Guess I will enjoy the last hurrah of winter!

Learning Process

Couponing is a learning process.

I am learning how to get the best deal for the most savings. I'm not there yet but doing much better.

Today I saved over $25 at Walmart on our grocery shopping.

I spent a little more than I had budgeted for but with the savings it's not too bad. Plus I bought some things that will last longer than normal and with Dan taking his lunch as opposed to eating out while we may have spent a little bit more at the grocery store we will save more money in the long run.

I'm still learning and working on the whole process but I may just have turned a corner on this whole learning how to get the most bang for our buck!

Shirts and the Baby Belly

The baby belly is not liking momma's shirts.

They are not covering the way they used to...you are able to see more and more of the maternity pants.

They ride up when I sleep.

They just aren't long enough...I have like 3 that fit good...and I'm not going to buy more.

One would think Maternity designers would account for this...but oh well!

34 Weeks

Today I am 34 weeks pregnant. My new mantra is...I can make it to April! I can make it to April!

I have to remember to drink enough fluids during the day. I went out to run errands and I know that I hadn't drank enough water today since I started feeling dizzy and like I was going to faint. I think I also was overheated as the weather was warmer than I anticipated.

I'm so glad that I am not working right now and able to rest as I need too.

I'm also thankful to be able to order Papa Johns for dinner!

My goal is to sleep better tonight!

Ufff da

Uff da...Dan has been trying to get used to the time change happening over the weekend by getting up an hour earlier every morning.

Uff Da....I'm not sleeping much anymore and last night I didn't fall into a good sleep until after 2 in the morning...

Uff Da...Dan needed his work clothes and they were still in the basement...so he woke me up earlier than I wanted but fortunately and hour and a half after his alarm went off...and I had told him it was okay....just thought I would sleep more.

Uff da...got his clothes and then helped him make his lunch and saw him on his way...now I am getting the kiddos ready for school and then I am going to TAKE A NAP!!!!

Uff da...pregnancy and sleep just aren't happening for me!

10 pieces of Randomness

1. Early Mornings and Sleepless nights are NOT the best combination.

2. Well rested children can be Very Noisy when you are extra tired.

3. Elbows, knees and feet...that's gotta be all that this little one has...he has been wiggling up a storm!

4. Motivation is here...energy may be lacking.

5. Cranberry Limeades at Sonic are AWESOME!

6. Husband is feeling better...wife is feeling worse...isn't that always the way it goes!

7. Rainbow sherbert must be eaten in moderation...it can be a case of too much of a good thing!

8. Grateful for libraries and new books to read....especially when tired.

9. Grateful for school and the opportunity for quiet rest.

10. Grateful to only have 43 more days of being pregnant!

34 Today

I turned 34 today at exactly 5:15 CST since I was born at exactly 3:15 PST. I'm old!

I've had a most enjoyable birthday! I got to go to church this morning! I love my church and enjoy getting to worship with my church family! Dan and I did skip Sunday School and go to breakfast which was nice!

The afternoon was spent with my parents and kiddos. They treated the 4 of us to lunch at one of my favorite local Mexican restaurants where I got to eat one of my favorite dishes...and it was SOOO good! Dan is fighting off a virus or cold or something so after lunch we dropped him off at home so he could nap...and then we went to my mom and dad's to have cake! Yellow cake with chocolate icing! YUMMY!!!!!!!!!! My parents did make me blow out 34 candles...not an easy feat for someone who is 33 weeks pregnant! But I did it!

It was nice to just sit and chat with my mom! I love my mom and its a blessing to just share and talk and hang out...she's been very busy lately and its been nice to see her!

So I have leftovers for tomorrow...some extra cake to enjoy and the privilege of being 34...hope I'm older and Wiser!

Hiccups

This baby gets the hiccups at least 5 times a day.

It is honestly the weirdest and one of the most painful feelings.

I remember the other two having the hiccups but not like this!

This baby is also a major wiggler...he doesn't kick as much as just shifts his position constantly...it's starting to hurt too!

The next 48 days need to go quickly!

Grrr...Updated

I want Mexican food REALLY BAD!

It's not in the budget.

I don't want to cook dinner tonight...

Going out is not in the budget!

We have plenty of food in the house and most of it is not hard to make but I don't want to cook and I don't want to clean up the kitchen and I just want to be lazy.

But it not in the Budget!!!!

Budgeting stinks!

****THIS IS ALSO A BIT OF A PREGNANCY FRUSTRATION****

So I had a major pity party. I cried and then I cooked dinner. Dan was willing to take me out to make me feel better but I know that if I did that I wouldn't feel better it would be a Bandaid fix. So I made Basil Parmesean chicken with pasta...and it was good. Wasn't completely what I wanted but it was tasty, filling and so far hasn't given me heartburn.

Budgeting may stink but so does making huge mistakes with your money. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow through this whole thing and not let my hormones and other pregnancy related frustrations get the better of me!

Ready??? Or Not Ready???

I have roughly 7 weeks to go with this pregnancy.

People ask me if I am "ready". The answer is Yes and No.

I am ready to have my body back.
I am ready to not have a little boy jumping on my bladder and kicking and waking me up at night to use the bathroom what feels like a hundred times.
I am ready to sleep on my stomach again.
I am ready to not have to remind Jaron to not hug me so hard or to be careful while around me.
I am ready to be able to wear shoes with laces again.
I am ready to put my socks and underwear and clothing on without feeling like a contortionist.
I am ready to meet this little guy and get to know him.
I am ready to see how he will fit into the family dynamic.

I am NOT ready with the baby room. So far I have a changing table dresser, pack and play bassinet and that's about it. I still need a crib and mattress and to arrange and clean the room
I am NOT ready for labor...dreading the birthing process again.
I am NOT ready with enough clothing for baby to last a week. I really need to get on this.
I am NOT ready with meals and the like....gotta plan ahead with easy to fix stuff.
I am NOT ready to juggle a newborn with the needs of an 8 year old boy and 10 year old girl. I know the big kids will be a big help but I am concerned if I will be a good mom to all of them.

So I am working on getting ready. I am making lists and tackling small jobs as I have energy to do them. I am thinking through the whole process and investigating affordable furniture options for the babies room. I am feeling like I don't have what I need and not sure where the best deals can be found. I'm just not quite ready for baby. Thankful for a few more weeks to get ready.

Wordless Wednesday

Jaron gets a Haircut!

We Buzzed Jaron on Sunday Night! His hair was out of control and when I tried to trim it I made it worse and Dan couldn't take it anymore...So we got out the clippers and shaved him down! He looks much better now! I took a few pictures of the process of shaving his head!

Jaron half way through the job says..."Mom go get the camera...I look too funny!"
Once we were done Jaron grabbed his hair off the floor and was like...quick glue it back on!

He really isn't this upset...he was hamming it up for the camera...and then ran away before I could get a good picture of the finished product! Such a silly boy!