Christmas in October

I usually leave wait until the last minute to do Christmas Cards.  I stress and stress and stress some more for days and then they are finished.  This year I decided to plan ahead and use Shutterfly's all new designs to help me get started.  To be perfectly honest I've never made a Christmas card using Shutterfly, but thanks to all the beautiful, sharp & clear Stationary Cards with photos I've made over the past year I decide to go with what's been working and a company that I've been more than happy with. 

Part of the reason I have a difficult time completing Christmas cards each year is because I want a design that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.  I don't want a fru fru card or a smiply decorative card or a card that has cartoon characters on it.  Unfortunately a lot of cards that are Bible oriented or Christ themed just aren't that pretty, and though I want to keep Christ in my Christmas card, I also want a pretty & stylish card.  This is where Shutterfly's Christmas Photo Cards come in.  I have an entire place to browse beatiful cards all within my design preference.

Though I don't want to reveal my Christmas card choice to the world yet, it might looks something like this Shutterfly Religious Christmas card.

Can't wait for you to see what I pick!  By that time we should know what Baby Bop will be and maybe we'll have a name to introduce!

4 Year Anniversary: The Amazing Daddy P

4 years ago I married my best friend, my second half, the man that I wanted to have lots of babies with :)

Though I knew then what an awesome guy he was there was no way I could have known how truly amazing he was.

Because of him I live an incredibly blessed and amazing life. 

Because of him I have 2 sweet & amazing girls. 

Because of him I have a third little miracle on the way. 

Because of him I have a shoulder to cry on when I'm sad, someone to laugh with when things might not be funny and someone to exchange glances with when something strikes me. 
Because of him I have memories of running home early on Friday nights so we could snuggle up and watch Monk. 
Because of him I got to see my Grandfather as my Grandfather one last time right before he died--not many men would have dropped everything at work with 2 days notice and driven over 1000 miles with 2 little girls.
Because of him I had someone to lean on during my Grandfather's funeral--Not many men would drop everything at work again, only 1 week after returning from a 2 week trip, and tell his boss he had to be with me and fly back up North with me.
Because of him I get to sleep in or sleep all through the night when I'm not feeling well. 

My list could go on and on, so many things, all because I married an amazing man who became an amazing husband, who became an amazing husband.

During this time of our lives one of the reasons I love him most and am thankful for him is because I get to stay home and be a mother to my girls.  Before I ever got married or had children I knew I wanted to be a stay at home mother.  I felt so strongly about this that I told it to Daddy P (repeatedly of course as those of you who know me know I can do) before we were married, after we got married and as soon as we found out we were pregnant for the first time.  I honestly didn't want to have kids if they would have to go to daycare (***NOT PASSING ANY JUDGEMENTS HERE, everyone does what works for them and this is what we wanted***)  So we made decisions based on this fact.  Instead of buying a house of our own we rented one and made it our home.  We knew that on one salary there was no way we would be able to afford to have a house and have me stay home so we made our choice.  Daddy P kept his old Chevy Blazer til we thought it might die and then we graciously took my Mother's old car when it was offered.  Daddy P doesn't buy new clothes often and (shh) wears his boxers till they have holes in them.  He puts all of our family needs first. 

Before we found out I was pregnant Daddy P was working 2 jobs.  Not just being there physically,  mind you, but being there and giving his ALL over 12 hours a day so we would have a little "extra" for when I became a stay at home mother.  Daddy P continued working 2 jobs up until G was born and then we made the decision to cut back even more so we could enjoy our time as a family of 3. 

When G was born Daddy P became the Daddy I knew he would be and more.  He changed her first diaper and many more after that.  He became my lactation consultant when B couldn't be there.  He held her while she slept.  Since G was born he has been the most hands on Daddy I know.  Never missed a Dr's apt.  Never missed a class.  Always ready & willing to play or read a book or clean up poop, or put clothes on, or give a bath, or make breakfast (lunch or dinner) or go "wing". 

Now Daddy P drives over an hour each way to work each day all for us, so G, K & I can be home together.  He drives for a little over an hour before most people are up, gets to work, sits in a cubicle, doing computer work for 8 hours then fights horrible traffic for 2 hours to get home.  If you know Daddy P, you know sitting in a cube, on the 2o-something floor of a building, isn't his dream.  But he does it.  Every day.  So I can be home with our sweet babies.  When he comes home he's exhausted and beat.  Ready to go to sleep, but does he?  No, he plays with our children and helps with baths and reading stories and bedtime.  He is able to look past his personal needs & wants and work his a@# off so I can be home raising our children. 

My Amazing Husband.

Happy 4 Years Mr. Monk!  Thanks for being you and loving me.  I can't wait for all the years to come!!!!

14 Weeks Preggo

Yesterday marked my 14 week of pregnancy!  This pregnancy seems to be passing by more quickly than my other 2, most likely because I'm so busy keeping up with G & K that I don't have as much time to obsess over it.

Baby Bop's Pregnancy So Far:

• I'm throwing up just as much as I did the first 2 times, though have gotten to be much more efficient, ie I can throw up while blocking K from the toilet and then go make G & K lunch.  G is very used to me throwing up and will say things like "Do you need to throw up Mommy?" when I say my tummy doesn't feel well
• I'm much more tired this time around....like flat out exhausted all the time...
• ...because of this I'm drinking 2 Diet Coke's a day which I NEVER would have though of doing in my first 2 pregnancies.
• Gum seems to help ease or more accurately, put off, my vomiting, so now when I say my tummy's not feeling well G is quick to ask if I need gum!
• We've had 2 ultrasounds so far and the hb's were in the 150's and above each time.  Last apt's Doppler had it at 154. 
• It's been weird for me to not have an  ultrasound every other week as I did with G's pregnancy or every 4 weeks as I did with K's pregnancy.  I spend a lot of time worry about spinabifida and other scary problems.  Can't wait till my next ultrasound at 17.5 weeks!
• G loves to "talk" to the baby and wash my belly.  So sweet.
• K doesn't seem to comprehend the pregnancy, except for being steaming mad that my milk is drying up :(
• My belly has popped out--more than just having 2 kids in 2 years caused it to do ;0

This is kind of scary for me to post, but I'd like to keep track of my weight gain this pregnancy.  I'm not the girl who obsesses over each calorie, and all I strive for while pregnant is to be healthy.  While I'm definitely NOT a pregorexic during each of my pregnancies Dr. Love has been very pleased with my weight and fortunately his opinion is the one that matters (along with Dr. Risky) during these months.

So at 14 weeks my
Total Weight Gain is -1 lb
(thanks to the 2lbs I lost due to all the vomiting so far.) 

I don't think that will last with Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas coming up, but I'll take it while it lasts.

Food Cravings:  As usual Mexican, and anything spicy :)

Most Annoying Thing Said to Me:  People keep saying things like, "Bet Daddy P is hoping for a boy this time" Um, Daddy P is actually very HAPPY & in LOVE with his 2 little girls and we would both LOVE a third.  A boy would be a blessing, but would also rock our world!

Best Feeling Yet:  Finding Baby Bop's Heartbeat with my borrowed Doppler.

Random Thought:  Although I'm sad that Baby Bop will never meet Kenny in this world, I find comfort thinking that they are getting to spend these months together.  I still have difficulty conceptualizing exactly how to think of Kenny now (other than the big D word) I am able to think about Baby Bop and Kenny getting to know one another right now and that makes me happy.

Can't Wait...:  to find out if Baby Bop is a "sister" or "brother" as G would say!

15 Months!!!

Dear K
Happy 15 Month Birthday Sweet Girl!  In some ways the past 15 months have flown by and in other ways it doesn't seem like we were ever without you!  You have multipled the love in our family, brought so many smiles to our faces and filled our lives with excitement.  You are so different than me and help me to see things in a completly different way.  You are an independent little girl and want do everything your sister does and do it on your own, yet you are still my baby and I love our quiet moments together (very often when you are sleeping, but there are times where you come running up to me or Daddy and just want to be held...you put your little head down on our shoulder and wrap your tiny arms around us and it's just the best feeling!)

Stats:
Height:  29 inches
Weight: 20 lbs

Diaper Size 4


You are walking, running and climbing on everything.  Moreso than G ever did, and she did moreso than anyother child I knew at the time!  The kitchen table, the fireplace, tables, chairs, stairs, beds, etc....if you can figure out a way to climb on it you do.  You have had A LOT of bumps & brusies due to your climbing skills!

• Along these lines you can climb up the climbing wall attached to our swing set and then slide down the slide.

You have 4 teeth with 2 more ready to pop through.  Teething is very painful for you and causes you to be very grumpy and irritable.

You are still nursing and love it more than ever (so do I :)

You can sign all done and use your own made up gestures to get other points across!

You can say Mamma & Mommy, Dada, bark, quack & thank you (g makes sure your needs & wants are met so you don't have a need to talk much )

You give kisses when asked to Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, Grampy, Cody & Maggie.

You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse & Barney

You love to eat so many things.  Rice, beans, chicken & peanut butter crackers are among your favorties and just like Daddy & Gracie you LOVE chocolate! 

You can point to head, eyes, nose, teeth & mouth.

You love to brush your teeth and run to the bathroom when Daddy says it is time.

You LOVE bath time and run up the stairs and to the bathtub when we ask if you are ready for a bath.  You can even climb in the tub yourself, which is very scary to Mommy!

When G goes potty you sit on the princess potty and "pretend" to potty too!

You LOVE to be outside and cry and throw a temper tantrum when it is time to come in.

You stay in the MOPS nursery 2-3 days per week and have gotten to the point where you just walk right in with G without any tears!

You are going to be a BIG sister!!!!

We love you more each day!