Since Week 21 Journal

I have fully embraced that we are having a girl! I mean I guess as much as I can without her actually being here. We've received new cloth diapers in pinks and purples, clothes have been handed down and gifted (and gone through with the "How pretty!" and "This is crazy!" and lots of laughter at animal prints and too many ruffles), and we are scouring the internet for a name for this little girl. 

The boys have also gotten used to the idea of sister. Tim constantly tells me how excited he is for the baby to come and Cade is currently "carrying" two baby boys. ;)

While I'm still tired, there has been some respite from the exhaustion - and I've had a lot of help from my family being in for Thanksgiving and Eric being off the whole week of Christmas; such a blessing!! My kids definitely did not have the gourmet meals dad has been making lately this morning. ;) And the boys and I got colds so I was glad to not be dealing with the exhaustion during those weeks. My lack of appetite and periods of nausea continue to linger around unexpectedly in these later weeks. And thankfully only in this last 28th week have I start to feel achy/sore from the growing belly and stretching hips. (Note: Which is very very different from previous pregnancies where I had hip problems from the early weeks on till delivery.) *I passed my glucose test! 

She sure is an active little babes. When the thought "Has she been moving lately?" crosses my mind, all it takes it a little water and sitting or laying down for her to start up her dance party. She feels long as she pushes into my ribs and hips at the same time. And there have been multiple "Ouch!" from me that startle Eric as she physically hurts me. The other evening, it felt like she was pushing my hips apart from each other. And turning in the night...well, it's pretty much my least favorite thing right now. It's where those ligaments just plain hurt. 

I'm really really trying to enjoy this time, and yet there are moments of "These weeks just feel so long..." I keep praying that God would remind me of the gift of being able to carry this babes. She is so treasured and so loved and she doesn't even know it. 

Until next time...Kristine wk28 day5

Since week 17...Journal

While I'm sure that I could pretty much just say that I'm still exhausted and don't have the best appetite, I can't help but share that we are having a GIRL!! After 21 long weeks of waiting to find out the gender of this littlest one, we know she's a girl! We are surprised, thrilled, scared, feeling unprepared for what's to come, but so happy!! The night following the morning we found out (Nov. 9th) I couldn't sleep. I stayed up searching pinterest for ideas and searched Gap for little girl clothes.

Up until our ultrasound, the boys would always respond they wanted a brother. (Once Timothy said, "I'll be happy with either.") But the morning of, when asked, Cade said he thought it was a sister. After many checks per dad's/Eric's request, we shared we were having a little girl. The boys were with us when we found out, but the tech kept referring to our girl as a "female" so the boys hadn't caught on. Cayden kept saying "Baby Sister" with his sister's profile in hand, and Timothy was very quiet. Once in the car, he said that he had really wanted another brother. We tried to comfort him and encourage him how nice it would be for him to have one of each, a brother and a sister now.

[ Side note for our records: Our tech was amazing!! Not only did she explain the ultrasound to them (parts and what the blood was doing), but she let Cade hear the heart as many times as he asked, and gave them each their own ultrasound. Cade had a lot of "poop" hehe and we listened and watched his heart beat. Timothy got to see his kidney and hear his heart pumping through his kidney. :) ]

So...we're having a girl! I'm sure our family would have been just as excited for us to have another boy - a third amigo - but boy was it fun to hear everyone's reactions to our news! And one of my besties is having her first girl after two boys, so I'm thrilled to be sharing this pregnancy of our girls together! (Don't judge me for all the !!!)

For the journalling details...? I am not taking nausea meds anymore but can hardly be a passenger in a car at this point because of the extreme motion sickness I have right now. I'm still not making as many meals as I'd like since I'm about to pass out come dinner time with exhaustion. ;) There is a wonderful and strange feeling of feeling this little girl move on her own out of my control. She's growing and so is my belly!! I feel like I got more of the "Oh, now I'm starting to see a little belly," around 20ish weeks. But I of course feel jumbo.

It's also been fun to celebrate with newly pregnant friends and cheer them on through the nausea...whew! That's a crappy part of the joy of pregnancy.

Any other unnecessary info?? I love when the boys talk to the baby. They boys have loved learning about the body, and Cade asks me regularly "What's in the chest?" The heart. "What is the head?" The brain. "What's in the belly?" Baby sister. :) And Tim is doing much better with the sister thing too since we found out last week. He even enjoyed looking through some hand-me-downs. He kept saying, "How cute! It's so pink!"

Until the next time...Kristine wk21 day5

Pregnancy Journal #3

I can't imagine I'll be as thorough as the past babies seeing that I'm just starting at week 17 but documenting nonetheless counts. ;)

This pregnancy has run me through the ringer. I've been far more nauseous than I remember, far more exhausted than I remember, and even had a few headaches that are near migraine-ish. I chalk it up to being 30 (whoa!) and having two older kids who don't really nap anymore. I'm sure I cook less than half the nights a week; and cereal is a real breakfast choice around these parts. My house is in a constant state of disarray while this precious baby grows.

This past year brought with it challenges we trudged through, and it feels like a stunning miracle to be carrying this little one. The boys understand and usually answer that they'd like a brother, though Tim is sometimes okay with either. :) We'd be happy with another boy and totally surprised and unprepared for a girl. ;)

Similarities to previous pregnancies:
*Exhaustion
*Long torso disguises the belly well
*Started feeling the baby at 15wks
*Little to no weight gain

Difference to previous pregnancies:
*Scary dreams vs. just plain weird dreams
*Little to no appetite
*Nausea meds needed!

I've been so thankful for friends who've provided meals for my family or stepped in to watch our children. Eric has been nothing less than a rock star filling in for...well, everything. My mom came to visit a couple weeks ago and was a jem - doing laundry, meals, and loving on my boys and me.

So here's to the next 22+wks of growing a baby!

Cayden is Three! ~ Yearly questions

Cayden – 3yrs

1. What color do you like? I got blue.

2. What toy do you like? I like tow truck.

3. What fruit do you like? I like, I like pasta. (after choices given…) Orange

4. What show do you like to watch? I like something…Thomas!

5. What do you like to eat for lunch?  Fruit

6. What do you like to wear? I like pants.

7. What game do you like? I want Thomas.

8. What snack do you like to eat? Fruit

9. What animal do you like? I like doggie.

10. What song do you like? I like Twinkle.

11. What book do you like? Favorite Dragons

12. Who is your best friend? Cayden
13. What cereal do you like to eat?  Cheerios

14. What do you like to do outside? I like playing bikes.

15. What do you like to drink? I like to drink water.

16. What holiday do you like? (given choices here) I like birthday cake.

17. What do you like to sleep with at night? I like to sleep with my doggie.

18. What do you like to eat for breakfast? I like to eat chicken.

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? I like rice.

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? I grow big. I be en-geer (engineer?)

101 List: Updated 1.21.17

START DATE: June 1st, 2014

END DATE: Feb. 26th, 2017

101 Dreams: 

1.      Camp in the backyard

2.      Take a camping trip

3.      Sleepover with boys June 2014

4.      Have a third baby March 2016 #rainbowbaby

5.      Update kitchen (lights, knobs, open shelves for dishes)

6.      Finish painting the house

7.      Ride on a boat July 2014 (in Lake Geneva)

8.    Make it up for Traverse Cherry Festival

9.    Go to a Fly in (even better if there are pancakes included)

10. Own two dressers Nov 2015 (my grandparents passed down to us our second one!)

11. Own a set of pearls Sept 2015 (Happy 30th Bday gift from my mom!) 

12. Celebrate the birth of a friend's baby the week it's born February 2015 ~ Lottich Baby

13. Surprise my family

14. Stay over night with my sister at college (how is that already happening)

15. One week of no TV

16. Make a quilt

17. Learn a whole song on the mandolin

18. See the Vespers in concert  Escape to the Lake 2015

19. Ride a train Dec 2014

20. Give cookies to the neighbors for Christmas  Dec 2014

21. Take a snap shot phone course

22. Buy a second lens for the canon

23. Make a croissant Dec 2016

24. Make macaroons

25. Replace Reefs (sandals) May 2015

26. Send happy mail Aug. 2014 ~ Participated in the MugSwap

27. Make it to the ocean as a family  May 2015, May & Oct 2016

28. Start a reading curriculum website

29. Tattoo (but only if meaningful)

30. Make sure Eric gets a handgun Oct 2014

31. Go to the shoot range with Eric Aug 2015 (Happy Birthday to Eric from me!)

32. Make homemade pasta (if possible with Ppa) 

33. Make a rose cake June 2015

34. Support a friend's adoption February 2015; March 2015 Adoption Fundraisers

35. Build a fire pit in the backyard

36. Decide on what to go for schooling for kindergarten  May 2015 *Classical Conversations - Homeschooling 

37. Personally dress up with the kids for Halloween

38. Host a family holiday Nov 2015 (Thanksgiving with both families)

39. Send a care package to friends serving overseas

40. Buy a cow

41. Have chickens in the backyard   found out it's not allowed :(

42. Grow a vegetable garden July 2014 (first veggies!)

43. Make a will

44. Find a way to organize the incoming mail (Summer 2016 - shred or throw in recycling if not needed, basket for important mail)

45. Pick blueberries July 2014, 2015 (Johnson's)

46. Stay at a bed and breakfast with Eric

47. Repaint the outside of the house/garage and shutters

48. Meet the Campbell's in Shipshawana

49. Go to the Fort Wayne Zoo

50. Ride a Polar Express in Pajamas

51. Browse a bookstore without kids April 2015

52. Go to the dentist (I need to but hate to)

53. Help with a buddy program

54. Get the kids swim lessons ~ Timothy June 2015, Both June 2016

55. Attend a professional football game Oct 2015 (Happy 30th Bday to me from Eric!)

56. Hot dogs and a baseball game

57. Play in the rain June 2014 and with kids! 

58. Go on a date with another couple Oct 2015 (With Eric's parents and sister to celebrate MIL bday!)  *Actually quite a few times with friends! 

59. Eat food from a food truck

60. Build a snowman January 2015 

61. Use my skis again

62. See a US National Monument

63. Make it through an entire devotional April/May 2016

64. Work on a house project with Eric Summer 2016, Garage Organization

65. Take one picture a day for a month on the Canon

66. Get both boys sleeping in one room June/July 2014

67. Make the office more user friendly for everyone in the family  *Office became playroom, then became babies room

68. Take a spontaneous road trip – and not be controlling about details June 2014: Father's Day in South Bend

69. Plan our 10yr anniversary trip

70. Attend a “Be Crafty” workshop

71. Go to a women’s conference May 2015 *Rooted in Chicago!

72. Dance at the Wildhorse Saloon

73. Host a cookout June 2015 Carlisle - Battle of the Burgers

74. Get closet organizers for master bedroom

75. Make all meals at home for a month

76. Spend the night at a friend’s house (like high school times) Aug. 2014 with Erin

77. See a Broadway musical

78. Read a work of classic literature

79. Visit friends in St. Louis

80. Go to a drive-in movie August 2016 *Pets

81. Make apple pie from apples I’ve picked Nov 2015

82. Pay for a stranger’s meal

83. Adopt a Christmas child or family

84. Clean up pinterest for things I really want/want to do June 2014

85. Buy myself flowers when feeling down

86. Find my dad a really awesome gift instead of the typical gift card  Dec 2014 (Comic Book Picture)

87. Attend an outdoor concert Escape to the Lake 2014, 2015

88. Get outdoor lighting for the backyard Sept 2016 (still need to put up)

89. Find a way to get family/friends birthdays organized (and not on the kitchen calendar) Dec 2014 *thanks to two family members getting them all written down, i was able to compel one list! 

90. Read and implement tips from a photography book

91. Do something new with my hair (low-lights finally??) Nov 2014 *eric calls them my 80s style bangs

92. Plan meals for a month January 2015

93. Sew a baby gift for a new baby

94. Sew something for myself Summer 2015 *Yellow Striped Summer/Beach Dress

95. Visit and touch animals at a farm with the boys (Petting Zoo Goats - Aug 2014)

96. Catalog the books I’ve read

97. Sponsor a child

98. Get a King Size Bed (my husband may never go for this one)

99. Celebrate with friends and family for my 30^{th  Sept 2015}

100.  Send a color-specific gift

101.  Climb a lighthouse (even better if it’s one I’ve never been in) Sept 2014 (Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Timothy is FIVE?! Yearly questions.

Timothy's answers to his yearly questions: 

1. What is your favorite color? Bluuuuue

2. What is your favorite toy? That giant cargo plane (lego)

3. What is your favorite fruit? Crepes...

4. What is your favorite tv show? Octonauts

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Eggs and Potatoes

6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Jammies

7. What is your favorite game? High Ho Cheery O (same as 2014)

8. What is your favorite snack? Ice-cream!

9. What is your favorite animal? T-rex

10. What is your favorite song? Amazing Grace

11. What is your favorite book? The Advent Book

12. Who is your best friend? Espi anddddd Finley!
13. What is your favorite cereal? Vanilla (Vanilla and Berry)

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Run around and get crazy and even try to climb a tree

15. What is your favorite drink? Milkshake

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

17. What do you like to sleep with at night? My dog, a pillow, my blankets and my sheets

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cereal

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cake.

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Well, I was thinking, well like, an airplane flighter.

Looking Back: Year Four Questions