Mom's Visit

My mom was here for a week to help paint, take apart and put together furniture, finish a couple sewing projects for me... Basically help me get to a point where I didn't feel like I was living in chaos, and that it would be ok for this baby to come on or around her due date.  She was a huge help. Too big of a help really, because she was sick. :( We think she got food poisoning. She had one really bad day, and then the rest of the week she was really sensitive to food and motion and felt dizzy a lot. I felt so bad for her and frustrated with her! But she still did so much to help, and kept the kids happy and entertained. I don't mind painting, it's the getting started and finishing up that I struggle with. She's great at that, and honestly she did most of the in between part too.

The kids, patiently waiting for Mimi to get off the plane. 

I love Addie's sprint stance.

The night she got here we went to dinner at a buffet. (I don't like buffets, but this one exceeded my expectations.) We had to go here, because there was an arcade game that Garrett plays on my phone and on a previous visit to the mall where this restaurant is, Garrett spotted the game from the balcony and was so excited to see it. He asked if he could play and I told him yes. When we went downstairs to play it, I realized we had to pay for the buffet to get into the arcade and game area and it turned into a big frustrating mess. So I promised him we go back when Mimi was here. It was kind of like less trashy Chuck E. Cheese type place. Anyway, it was a lot of fun. And Garrett got to play the game as much as he wanted.

The next day we got painting. And that night Mimi babysat so Paul and I could go on a date.

I already covered Valentine's Day in the previous post, and that was the night my mom got sick, after Knott's. She also bought a Knott's pass so I hope that means she's coming out a lot this year to take the two older kids to the amusement park while I stay home with the baby. (Fingers crossed.)

After a couple of days of hard work, we went back to Knott's for a few hours one morning. This was the day that Addie decided she wasn't nervous to go on any of the kiddie rides by herself. She loved every bit of it and acted like it was nothing new. 

I didn't take a lot of pictures this week, because so much of it was spent in the same rooms painting, sanding, putting stuff together. It was a very productive week and I'm so thankful my mom was here. 

We tried some new styles on Addie's hair but she still prefers dirty, tangled, hanging in her eyes, over anything cute or practical. I'd take her for a cut, but I'm afraid it would require general anesthesia and a huge tip. 

She gives me a run for my money, but when I check on her at night before I go to sleep, I'm always overwhelmed with how much I love her. Both her and Garrett. Being their mom is my biggest blessing. 

Valentines Day/My Birthday

I always think I'll do something creative for the less big holidays like valentines day and St Patrick's day. Sometimes I do, but it's never like I see it on Pinterest. Anyway, this year valentines day got away from me. Thankfully Mimi was here, and she came with gifts, and the other grandparents dropped off gifts. The kids and my mom brought me fresh farmers market flowers. And Paul got flowers for both my mom and I, and gifts for me and the kids. And I did nothing for anyone. We went and renewed our Knott's passes that night so I didn't even manage to make dinner. Pink cotton candy was as close as I got to something valentiney. 

So I tried the next day. My poor mom was sick most of her visit. :( She still helped a ton, too much. And I just felt so bad. More on that later. But on the 15th when I had high hopes for a fun V-day dinner, my mom was resting and Paul was determined to get Garrett's new bed sanded before dark. So it was just me and the kids most of the evening. Good thing I've lowered my expectations as a New Years resolution! 

This was my gift to Paul when he finally came in all covered in saw dust. 

Fortunately I had a plate of leftover cupcakes from orders the day before, so that was dessert. 

My birthday was the 20th. Oh, and Paul and my 6 year "Met-a-versary" was the 16th. And he managed to remember that and got me a card and a gift card. And then it was my birthday. My mom left the 19th so it was just the four of us (or so I thought). Paul suggested me go out for Mongolian BBQ and that always sounds great to me. And that morning he went out before I woke up and got donuts. Then he left money for the kids to take me to lunch. But before that my MIL brought cupcakes for the office. So before the kids had anything even remotely healthy they had donuts, chocolate milk, and cupcakes. 

After lunch and naps Garrett wanted to make me a cake. I did most of the baking and frosting and he was in charge of sprinkle-o's and candles. 

That night, right after we started eating dinner, my biggest surprise came. My youngest brother walked up to the table! I was shocked and almost cried. He's currently leading a training seminar all over the country and had one in LA that day and was passing through to his next stop. It was awesome! He had dinner with us and then we walked around and talked for a couple of hours. This is the second time he's 'stopped by' to see us in California and I'm always more homesick after a surprise visit. He's the best. 

Look how close we came to recreating the ad on the left in the back ground. Didn't even notice till I was looking through picture at home that night. Hah!

Paul got me a TV. I've always said we'd never have a TV in our bedroom but this pregnancy, and the thought of lonely middle of the night nursing sessions, has changed my mind. We'll see if its a good distraction and keeps me from getting depressed and having 2am anxiety attacks. It was always the worst with Addie in the middle of the night. Blah blah, anyway. We'll see. 

It was a good birthday. 

Baby #3 Pregnancy FAQs

I can't tell you how many times I've had this conversation in the past couple of months:

Stranger or nurse: What are you having?

Me: a girl.

Them: (in a gushy high pitched sweet voice) Ohhh a girl! Congrats! Is it your first?

Me: No, it's my third.

Them: And what do you already have?

Me: One of each. 

Them: (in a completely different, uninterested tone) Oh, so it doesn't really matter what you're having. 

People who have heard my theory about it being a boy often ask if I still think its a boy. I'm mostly think it's a girl. But as I've been trying to incorporate a little pink into the very boyish color scheme I'd already picked and purchased stuff for, I've been careful not to add permanent pink to anything, like a quilt etc. But I have made a couple pink things that I can't change and as more time goes by, the more I'm convinced it's a girl. I think.

Is this pregnancy more like Garrett's or Addison's? 

Things that are like Garrett's:

-very low baby (lowest I've had)

-not very sick. (Even less sick with this one than I was with Garrett.) 

-salty almost always sounds better than sweet

-

Thinks that are like Addison's:

-Umm... I swear a couple days ago something came up and I said, "Hey! Finally something that's similar to when I was pregnant with Addie!"  But now I can't remember it. 

How much weight have you gained? (Gotta love a sister in law who knows she can ask anything.) I'll start by saying I started this pregnancy with 10 lbs from Garrett and about 20 from Addie. So that sucks. But as of my 34 week appointment last week,  I'm down 7 lbs from my pre-#3 weight. I've either stayed the same or lost a pound or two at every appointment.  I have no secret, it's odd really.  I told my mom and Paul that I can compare this to when the weather man says, "It's 7 degrees, but with the wind chill it feels like -25."  I've lost 7, but feel (and walk) like I've gained 25.

Have you had any cravings? Three things. Krispy Kreme sprinkle donuts. Thankfully there's not one close by so I've only indulged this one twice in 8 months. Both times I bought a dozen though, and don't worry about how many of the 24 I ate myself. Also, banana peppers.  I think before this pregnancy I'd had banana peppers once in my life, and it was by accident. But they sound good all.the.time! I crave subway because of it. I've wondered if they would think it was weird to order a foot long flat bread vegi sub, but only get banana peppers on it. On the way to the beach a couple weeks ago, I almost went in and asked for a cup of them to add to the sandwiches I'd made to take with us, but I didn't.  Paul bought me some at the store.  And lastly, blueberries.  My very least favorite fruit.  Before this pregnancy I never ate them and if they were in a fruit salad or something I'd pick around them. But I could (and have) eat a whole container of them.  I buy them every time I go to the store.

What's different about this pregnancy that both of your others? Leg cramps in the middle of the night. Awful ones, like nothing I've ever had. Super super low baby. At 31 weeks they still only were able to hear the heart beat really well below my belly button. And this low baby causes me to feel really bruised, down there. In the front and the back. It's also made me develop a waddle. Mostly in the morning as I get moving and sometimes if I've been sitting for a long time, like over an hour. Sensitive face skin. Really blotchy after I exfoliate. And random little pimples that thankfully (so far) go away in a day or so. 

Are you ready?

I guess so.  Like if she was due tomorrow, I'd be set.  But as uncomfortable as I am, she can stay in there a bit longer.

Do you think Garrett and Addison 'get it'?

Yes I do.  Even though they both think they have babies in there tummies, but talk about her a lot.  And they talk to her through my belly button. They ask about her room and when she'll be big enough to sleep in their room.  And what car seat she'll sit in.  We've received some gifts and when they see one they ask if it's for her. And they both pray for her.

How do you think the other two kids will do with a baby?

I'm not too worried.  I'm sure it'll be a big adjustment but I just haven't thought about it much.

Will you have more?
I don't know. My heart wants a dozen, but my brain and body are done.  (I don't really know what I mean by that, but we feel pretty good about three right now.)