Nesty Nesting

I have gotten pretty "nesty" at the end of my other pregnancies, and this time is no different.  Of particular concern to me is that we will be moving several months after the baby is born (same was the case with Owen) so I feel the urgency to have everything clean, organized, and easy to pack.  With the boys, I turned into a "cleaning machine" towards the end... this time around the desire is still there, but I've had a lot of foot swelling, ligament pain, and other hip/pelvis aches and pains that are preventing me from getting things as clean as I'd like.... thankfully Brad "ok'd" a temporary paid cleaning helper!  She's come twice and I've put her to work on all the bigger jobs (ie. all appliances inside and out and even BEHIND, bathroom light fixtures etc etc, lol).  Here's my sad fatty foot... it's much grosser in person. 

The funny thing is, seeing her clean doesn't really help me sit back and relax... it motivates me to push myself and get all the other little things that I can now manage since she's tackled the harder jobs.  Logical sense tells me I should just hang on a few more months and do most of this closer to moving time, but I really can't help it.  And yes, honey, the back porch DOES need to be clean before the baby arrives, lol.  Brad's a good sport and he's been helping as much as he can when he's home.  I'm pretty sure if I ask him to get something out/put something in the attic one more time, he might run away from home, haha.  Anyway, since my fam isn't out here for me to show off all my "baby prep" I thought I'd post a few pictures of how things are coming....

We don't have a "nursery" but I managed to get our co-sleeper set up and refinish a dresser to use as a changing table in our room.

 

Eli and Owen are both so excited they can hardly stand it.  Eli asks me everyday, "How many more days now? Is she coming after tomorrow???"  They love to pretend they are babies and I even had to bust out their old newborn blankets for them.... amazingly they can stuff themselves into the infant carseat and the Papasan seat... 

They were also FASCINATED by the birth books I was brushing up on.... especially all the graphic pictures in the Bradley Method book, haha.  It really is neat at this age because they are not shocked at all by the birth process... to them it's just "oh that's how a baby comes out, that's neat."  They encourage me all the time that I'm going to be strong and squeeze this baby out! They LOVE to poke at my tummy, make fun of my belly button, and talk to the baby.  They both regularly ask for the "baby to come out safely" when they are saying their prayers... I just love their interest and excitement about it. 

I've had  a ton of ligament/ab pain this pregnancy, and recently felt like the baby had dropped so low I was having a hard time standing up straight because of the pressure!  I tried a belly support band that was utterly uncomfortable, then had the idea to use one of my baby wraps and it worked!  So every once in a while I tie one on and lift that big ol' belly up for some relief!

Now for some really cute stuff.  I found some free crochet flower patterns online and busted out my old crochet needles... I haven't done it since high school but thankfully the patterns used basic stitches that I still remember how to do!  And of course online tutorials are lifesavers in these crafty situations, haha. 

 

Owen has been a very willing model for anything baby.  He LOVES going through the baby's drawers and looking at her clothes - he really wants to try them all on and is frustrated that his big head won't go through the tops, lol.  So he was pretty excited when I let him try out the headband tonight... 

This darling hat and diaper cover were crocheted by my super talented SISTER!  Thanks Aubrey!  I can't wait to put it on our baby girl!

Some chic binky clips I made:

Super soft swirly chenille boppy cover (I didn't make it but got it online from a mom who makes them):

The "station" on top of the changing table with my beloved 7th Generation disposable dipes, compostable baby wipes, and of course the cloth wipes (made of bamboo velour - SO SOFT!) and diaper pins. 

I've had fun collecting a little newborn cloth diaper stash this time around.  I have plenty in the bigger sizes, but was able to get a few things for the early days, and some girly one-size diaper covers to use.  Here are my favorite "old school" type diapers that need waterproof diaper covers.  The top two are both "flats" (huge squares that have to be folded up).  Top left is Birdseye Cotton and top right is Muslin Cotton.  Both can be used forever because when the baby gets too big for them to fit well in the folded manner, they can just be folded in thirds and placed inside a diaper cover... or used as burp cloths, changing pads, cleaning rags etc.  The bottom middle diaper is a "fitted" so it has snaps and will only fit a newborn - it is SUPER SOFT cotton velour.  I actually have these from Owen's newborn days... they still look new.  The other bottom two are "prefolds" (still need to be folded, but have some absorbancy sewn in the middle so they are smaller squares than the "flats").  The left one is Sherpa Cotton (fuzzy woolish looking fabric) and the right one is a basic newborn size pre-fold.  The white "strap" is a Snappi - it holds the diaper in place instead of a pin. 

Here are the waterproof covers that go over the above diapers.  All but the white one are "one sized" meaning they adjust from small to large and will fit the baby forever... saves $$$ on buying sizes as they grown. 

And something new I'm trying this time around are one-size "pocket" diapers.  The waterproof cover is built right in with the absorbant layer being added into a pocket opening inside the diaper.  Makes it quick and easy to put on, and the fact that that is one-size ROCKS!  They are scrunched down so tiny right now with the internal adjustable elastic... but when fully extended will almost still fit Owen (at least the Brown one did when he was 2 1/2 as I had that one with him). 

And last but definitely not least, the Ring Slings I've made for this little one... usually the ones I make and give as gifts are from linen fabric (a great fabric for slings) but these are actually made from woven wraps (made specifically for wrapping babies!).  Left one is a hemp/cotton blend (Anthracite Hemp Indio), middle is a linen/cotton blend (Natural Linen Indio), and right one is cotton (Girasol #35). 

And here is the "wrap stash"... can't wait to get some action shots with a newborn wrapped up in them soon!!!! Wrapping up a baby on my chest has got to be one of my favorite things about mothering ... it really is handy too =). 

 

Even the big boys still love to be cuddled in a wrap when I can manage it (kind of hard around the belly at the moment, but Brad will oblige and makes a handsome wrapping Daddy!)

Well, the hospital bags are packed, the birth plan is written, the babysitter is lined up with an extra house key, the pantry and freezer are stocked with kid food ... all we need is a baby!  Sometime in the next two-ish weeks I would suppose (I'm 38 weeks now).  Wish us luck!!! =)

Girly Shower

You know, I have made some really great friends while living out here in Columbia!  It is going to be a hard, sad place to leave.... two of those really sweet friends (Becca Dalton and Ashley Hampton) threw a "Girly Shower" for me to stock up on the essentials - adorable girl stuff of course!  =)  Here's  a group shot of the guests...

And me with Becca and Ashley right behind me....

They even thought to have a "sugar free" dessert that I COULD eat, since cake would have been out due to the gestational diabetes.  The layered sugar free jello in babyfood jars turned out to be delicious as well as cute! My boys are now using the jars as their drinking cups - they are the perfect size and fairly durable for glass!

And this is back at home, showing off all the gifts to the boys.  Eli and Owen got to open them all up for a second round of fun.  There was even a surprise just for them from "Grandma Betty" - she got them each a watch and they have been wearing them around telling us what "time" it is (ie. my watch says it's time for a snack, or time to read a book etc). 

Eli took this picture... a 5 year old photographer in the making! =)

All the girly outfits!  And just the right amount of pink, with a good mix of other colors I'd say =). 

It was a pleasant day!  The boys got to attend a birthday party with Brad while I was at the shower.  After a full day of playing and opening gifts with me they were ready for some snuggles... I was trying to prep my Sharing Time Lesson for Primary the next day, but I guess I'm not allowed to sit in the "big chair" without a couple of kids on my lap =). 

 

I'm so grateful for the wonderful people we have been blessed to know and have in our lives during our stay out here!  Some of them are truly "family" away from home, and I don't know what I'd do without them! I'm also just so thankful for everyone who attended - it meant a lot to me to be able to have a celebration in anticipation of this baby... even though she is #3 in our family, she is unique and special and I LOVED being able to have a little party with some gal pals!

The Final Streeeetch!

I thought it was about time to give a little bump update.... I'm 32 weeks along this week!  Although the third trimester has it's challenges (wobbly painful hips, trouble sleeping, trouble bending, Gestational Diabetes and resulting DIET and constant finger pricking/blood testing - yuck) it honestly is my favorite part.  Maybe because I know it's finally going to be over soon, haha.  But I also love that the baby is big enough to feel at any time now just by poking around.  More than just mysterious thumps and bumps, I can pick out a foot, or a back, or even the head sometimes.  I LOVE that part.  Brad does too... it's fun to reconnect in the evenings and sit together on the couch when the boys are finally asleep to watch tv and have Brad poke at the baby and feel her move.  He really gets a kick out of it, and I love that he loves it.  It's also nice to have the tummy issues mostly resolved (no more hideous nausea or nasty reflux).  Though now my food selections have to be based on carb allowance and not just my nausea, so it's still not that exciting to eat.  I look forward to just being able to relax and enjoy a meal again without being either repulsed, or having to push it away because it will spike my blood sugar. 

We were told after our 20 week ultrasound that the baby was in a breech position - really too early to worry about because babies can flip whenever.  BUT I'd never had that with the boys so I wanted to take extra measures to make sure she flipped down sooner than later.  I followed some of the exercises on http://spinningbabies.com/  and also had Brad perform regular OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment) for my sacrum, pelvis and back in general to keep everything lined up.  Who knows if this was all necessary or if she would have eventually flipped on her own, but we were able to tell a few weeks ago that she had turned around, and had an ultrasound at 30 weeks to confirm it.  Here is one of the fun "inversions" I had to do nightly.  Laying this way for about 15 minutes is SO FUN when you are totally pregnant, haha. 

The boys are just thrilled about this baby too.  They must feel like I have been pregnant FOREVER, cuz I sure do!  Haha.   They love to talk to her and about her.  At dinner everynight, we go around the table and have everyone share their favorite things and least favorite things about their days.  The boys always want to know what "baby Sissy" has to say, so I get to report for her in my most convincing high pitched baby voice... they think it's hysterical and believer every word I say.  They are so looking forward to her coming out to "join us" and Owen especially prays every night that the baby will come out safely.  They get a kick out of being able to feel her move.  I love watching their eyes widen in surprise when they actually feel her bumping around in there.  They also love to look under my shirt and laugh at my belly button starting to poke out.  She gets lots of snuggles from her big brothers already...she is one lucky girl to have them!

And this is my 32 week belly shot.  It's rare that Brad is home at a time of day that I have cute clothes on, makeup, and my hair done.  So after we went shopping the day after Christmas I made sure we went outside and snapped a few ... of which only one turned out decent enough to post!

And this is what I usually look like in the afternoons.... haha.  Comfy clothes, hair back!  I made a sling for "Sissy" and Owen really wanted to try it out.  He still LOVES being wrapped and has been helping me test all my wraps out and get the "wrap stash" perfected.  Though it's getting tough to get him enough on my hip and off my belly to be comfortable more than 60 seconds, haha.  This is what it looks like with a snuggly 3 year old perched on a big ol' belly!

And that's the update!  Only a little over a month to go... now that birthdays and holidays are over, I can obsessively nest.  I've got my newborn cloth diaper stash nearly set, the drawers stocked with 0-3 month clothes that need washed (can we get a big YAY for children's resale shops?!), but still so many odds and ends projects that I feel the NEED to get squared away before "B" day! Wish me luck =).

PS.  Her name is not "Sissy" (someone asked that, haha).  Just a nickname for "sister" since we aren't 100% sure of her name yet.  We'll just have to save that announcement for after she is born. 

Christmas Morning and Beyond

Looks like the jingle bell trick worked... Santa found us!

Stocking joy... flying the little owl finger puppets they found stashed inside... later they pigged out on the Swedish Fish they found in the toe.... one of Grandpa K's favorites they have inherited. 

In spite of the serious expression, Eli was excited about his baseball glove.  We have all been practicing a little catch in the house.  Baseball gloves take some getting used to!

Perfecting the paper tearing skills....

And finally, the BIG old box from SANTA!  Could it be?  Did he honor the desperate wish of two little boys?

YESSSSS!  Like magic I tell ya!

Thankfully Daddy is good at setting up tracks and installing batteries....

And this is what they did for the next six hours.  The C batteries were completely dead by the end of the day... the boys were sad that all the stores were "closed" because it was Christmas, and they had to wait until the next day for us to go get more. 

Owen's favorite part was running the controller.  He got it figured out really fast and could make the train go forward, back, come to a stop, blow it's whistle, and shout "All about the Polar Express!"

Eli's favorite part was watching the train chug on the tracks, really up close!

Owen took a train break to play "washing dishes" with his new dish set that he got.  What fun that's been!  Both boys have had a good time playing with them in the sink... they like washing them more than playing food with them.

Eli finally got a turn with the controller....

Brad had to work again Christmas night... so while we was gone we snuggled up in Christmas PJ's, had some snacks, and finished the night watching the Grinch. 

The day after Christmas we took a family trip to Target and the Mall (one in the same out here) - and yes, Daddy was home with us!  There is a carousel in the food court - a nice reward for boys who try hard to be good in Target. 

Back home, Daddy got the trampoline assembled.  This ended up being a joint gift from the grandparents on both sides... and oh the jumping joy we've had on it! 

We also busted out the "Cat in the Hat, I can Do That!" game that Eli got for Christmas.  It has all kinds of funny tricks in it that you have to do... it was especially funny to laugh at Daddy crab walking with items from the game on his head!

Overall, a super fun holiday.  In spite of Brad working some overtime shifts, it was nice and relaxed.  As much as we miss our families at the holidays, it was really wonderful this year to be able just to enjoy each other and our home, with no crazy packing/cross country driving/dealing with kids on vacation etc.  The gifts were well chosen, but fewer in number this year which was also nice... trying to keep the house from being over run when we have to pack and move in the spring.  And it reminds us to keep focused on the most important part of Christmas holiday - enjoying each other and making lasting memories!  I think 3 and 5 year olds at Christmas are the BEST!  They really made the magic for Brad and I this year!