Black Friday shopping

Thursday we had a great thanksgiving with family.  It was perfect.  So thankful for time with family.  That evening we left our girls with nona to spend the night and we headed to do some shopping.  First we went to Wal Mart, got some great deals for my girls, my 2 nieces and 2 nephews.  next we stopped at Best Buy, then Target.  Target was a MESS.  I mean, I had an easier time at wal mart, and I hate that place. lol  Target was super crowded and the line to check out was wrapping around the whole building.  But it was time alone with the hubby and we enjoyed it a lot.  This morning we went to Toys r Us in hopes of finding a highly requested item from big sis, but it seems like every little girl wants the same toy b/c we can't find it.  We ended up finding some good deals, but amazon had the same deals so we just ordered it from there.  Gotta love smartphones. lol

We got the girls back this afternoon and they were exhausted from their slumber party with nona.  Nona made the whole night/morning special for them, with christmas crafts, making cookies and such.  The girls crashed on their way home, and it was impossible to wake them up.  But I got super sweet cuddles w/ them while they napped :)

So thankful to be their mommy! :)

It's my favorite time of the year...

We're gearing up for the holidays... One of my favorite things to do at this season is send out christmas cards to family and friends.  Our friend has started his own photography business and took our pictures.  The girls were not very cooperative, Big sis was running all over the place and baby sis was being shy. But we still got some good ones :)

These are some that won't be in our Christmas cards.  I'll have to post those later! 

So thankful for my prince charming.  He is amazing!  He has been so wonderful (well he always is) taking care of everything on days that I don't feel well.  He is such a wonderful daddy and husband!

So thankful for our family!  We are blessed!  

Sweet mama's girl!  I lover her snuggles and kisses.  She's gonna have a rough time in about 7 months. I foresee me holding 2 babies in my lap at all times. ;) 

 Happy girls.  Such sweet sisters.  They are so excited about the baby in mommy's tummy.  I love how much they love each other.

As we're gearing up for the holidays, I'm so excited for time with family, Christmas traditions with the girls and so much more!  

Santa time!

Last year I developed a "crush" on anything santa. :)  We don't really overly do santa with the girls.  I mean, we'll take them to see him, if the line isn't long lol... And their stocking stuffers are from "santa".. But we treat santa like Mickey mouse or something.  We focus on the real meaning of Christmas.

But I developed an obsession w/ santa last year.  I think he's so cute :)  So I started buying all the cute, affordable, santas I could find.  I do have more than pictured ;)  And I do plan on buying more.

Today I brought out the santas b/c I am dying to decorate the house for Christmas.  But I'd like to keep my thanksgiving stuff up until the end of the week. lol  Tonight I also went ahead and put up our village.  Tuesday our new christmas tree arrives, so I'll probably go ahead and put that up as well.. :)  I haven't been this excited about Christmas in a LONG time.

3 kids????

Today I had a routine check up with my ob.  I sat in the waiting room for about 45 minutes.  I managed to read a chapter of a book.  There was a woman there holding her newborn son.  She started talking to me.  She went on to tell me that that sweet baby was her #2 and last.  Her oldest was 8 and her husband finally "convinced" her to have another.  She was SHOCKED when I told her I was expecting my 3rd.  Like just in disbelief that someone would have more than 2.  She then went on to tell me that her husband wanted 3 kids, but she convinced him that 2 is enough.  Her reasonings were that their cars are paid off and they can't fit 3 car seats in their cars.  She also went on to say that they have 3 bedrooms and they couldn't fit a 3rd child in that house.

I was kind of taken aback by all that.  I couldn't even muster a response.  Now, if any family has 2 kids b/c they want to, or even b/c it's what they were given, that's of course, fine.  I don't think she's wrong for only wanting 2 kids.  I guess I was just bothered by her attitude, she seemed to think of children as burdens and not blessings.

We were not ready for our #3.  Thankfully we can rearrange our new house to fit #3, but we weren't planning on bringing a baby into this house.  Thankfully we were able to get a van so car wise, we're good to go. :)  But even if we hadn't, it's one of those things that it will all work out.  I have NO idea how we'll afford a 3rd child at this point.  But again, God's got this.  And we are blessed and so excited for June to arrive!

For happier news, I was given a surprise u/s today.  Oh, what a sweet sound to hear my baby's heartbeat.  And it's so sweet to see him or her just wiggling about!  So thankful for this sweet gift!

zero energy

I have many plans, plans to clean, plans to sew, plans to craft, plans to have fun w/ the girls... but lately none of my plans happen.  I'm exhausted!  I feel like  shell of who I used to be, I'm just here, trying to survive.  I don't remember being this exhausted w/ my other 2 pregnancies.  It's awful b/c I get tired just going up the stairs, or just making lunch.  I am so thankful hubby has been so amazing.  He comes home and takes over for me.  I am hoping that when I am done w/ my first trimester that I can have some normalcy back.

I think I'll start making small to do lists and just try to accomplish small goals each day.  That should work, I hope. lol

UPDATE:
shortly after I wrote this, I had a burst of energy and got some cleaning done! :)  For anyone who cares. lol

10 down 30 to go...

This past saturday marked our 10 week stretch. :)  I feel like I've been pregnant SO much longer than 10 weeks... It's all still surreal to me, but I'm so excited.  And though I enjoy pregnancy, I'm so excited for June.  I can't wait to meet this sweet gift!

I have to admit.  The days leading up to this weekend I was nervous and anxious.  At exactly 10 weeks with my last pregnancy, we started showing signs of miscarriage.  Thankfully, everything ended up being great and baby sister was born 28 weeks later, as per schedule :)  So far everything is great with this pregnancy, thankfully.
I'm still dealing with morning sickness, but getting better.  I'm also always super exhausted, but it's all worth it!

This past weekend we got family pictures taken.  They came out great and I can't wait to have them framed in the house.  Looking at the pictures makes me excited to have a little addition to next year's family pictures. :)  It also reminds me of how amazing God is and I'm so thankful He continues to bless us!

Fall season

A few weeks ago we did our annual pumpkin patch trip.  I forced my exhausted, filled with morning sickness self to make the girls their cute pumpkin dresses.  

I love making memories with our family.  I love spending time with my loves and am so thankful to be blessed with my family!

Seems crazy to think next fall we'll have another little one in our laps.  So thankful for how God continues to bless us.  :) 

How has #3 changed me?

I may only be 9 weeks along, but baby #3 has already changed me SO much.  How?

When we found out we were expecting (seems like an eternity ago), my first reaction was joy and thankfulness.  But I was quickly set with panic, anxiety and stress.  So many thoughts flooded my mind.  Was I ready to be a mom of 3?  Am I doing a good job w/ the 2 I have?  How could I possibly divide my attention with 3 kids, I already struggle with 2?  And the one the plagued me most was that baby sister would no longer be "my baby".  Oh that one really got to me.  I felt that same way about big sis when I was pregnant w/ #2.  But this time was worse.  Why?  I think because in my mind, I had given myself a year before we thought about another baby.  That meant I had 1 more year with baby sis being the baby.  Then boom, surprise, that was not the case!

On top of all those thoughts, I had severe nausea.  I was so miserable that I actually wished that I wasn't pregnant.  I know that sounds awful.  I complained about the baby.  And I feel very guilty about it all.  I've prayed through it, and the past week or so my heart has changed.  I don't really know how to explain it.

I still have doubts.  I don't know how I'll do it with 3.  But I know my God has given me this wonderful little gift and I can seriously say that excitement floods my every thought. :)  Big sister is SO excited about this baby.  She prays for baby and asks me everyday when the baby is coming.  Baby sis doesn't fully understand it, but knows there's a baby in my tummy.

I can't explain it.  This feeling that this baby is meant to do something great.  I mean, this baby was given to us in God's timing (as are all babies planned or unplanned).  But this is our little surprise, our little gift.  And I am SO excited to meet this baby in June and tell him or her how much I love him/her.  I am excited to meet this blessing and finally kiss the baby that God wanted so much to be born at this point.  It's exciting.  It's exciting to see what God will do in our lives.

As far as the nausea, thankful for modern science!  I take a dramamine every night and for the most part I am normal through out the day and can eat almost any foods.   I am back to having my beloved coffee in the mornings.  :)

People keep asking me if I want a boy or a girl.  Honestly, we'd love a son.  It would be so fun!  But we'd also love a house overtaken by girls, so either way, we're blessed.  I would just like to know so I can know what to name this baby! ;)

growing way too fast

These past 2-3 months, baby sister has been growing WAY so fast.  All of a sudden she's speaking in full sentences, repeating everything sissy says and it's so cute.  It seems weird to hear a "baby' talk so much. lol

In early September we started potty training.  She's been doing so well.  We're still working on night time, but during the day she's doing super well.  I'm so proud of my big girl!

On October 18th, after much debate, we decided to convert her into a toddler bed.  She was screaming everytime we put her in the crib, and begged to sleep in sissy's bed.  I was nervous about the transition for many reasons.  Mainly I didn't want her to have the freedom to come up and down the stairs unsupervised.  I didn't want to have to train her to stay in her bed for naps and bedtime like I did w/ her sister.  Training big sis to stay in her bed was HARD, I wasn't ready to do it again.  Nevertheless, we converted her.  And she has surprised me!  She loves going to her bed, asks for naps and stays put!  When she wakes up in the mornings, she either stays in her bed until I get her, or she plays quietly in her room until I get her.  I love it :)  She is so different, I love how quiet she is. :)

Daddy converting her crib

First night in her big girl bed.  She was so proud and excited :)

 We have on occasion found baby sis fast asleep on the floor. lol 

My big girl!

Big sister turned 5 on Nov 3rd.  Her birthdays are always bittersweet for me, but I handled this one pretty well.  That night, after the girls were fast asleep, I went into their room (like I always do) to check on them.  I stood there watching big sister sleep.  I thought about how I used to love to watch her sleep when she was an infant.  It's amazing just how fast these 5 years have gone.  I used to bawl my eyes out on her birthdays.  But I'm focusing on thanking God for blessing us with 5 healthy years with our girl.  I know there are a lot of people out there who don't get that with their children.  

All in all, we had a good weekend celebrating her!  She said it was her best birthday :)

My big 5 year old in her new outfit from nona! 

 sweet sisters :)  We are blessed for sure! 

5 years old!!

November 3rd 5 years ago was an amazing experience.  There are no words to ever describe that day.  I had barely slept the night before, in anticipation for the arrival of our firstborn.  We woke up early the next morning and headed to the hospital.  We had to wait, and wait and wait.. I was so anxious, I just wanted to hold my girl.  Finally I get set up and taken to the OR.  Once I was set up there, hubby came in the room.  Within a few minutes the doctor said, she's "out".  Hubby stood up then quickly sat down.  He says, only her head is out.  He seemed bothered to have seen half of her still in my body. lol

Then I heard the most beautiful cry.  They cleaned her up and handed her to me.  Oh my word.  She was so beautiful and was a dream come true.  That whole day I would cuddle her and I just could NOT believe that she was mine.  I mean, was that sweet and cute little bundle really all mine to take home!?

Here we are 5 years later.  How can it have been 5 years already!?  Sounds crazy!  I am so thankful for 5 years with my sweet blessing.  

At 5 years old she:

-Loves anything My Little Pony

-Loves Littles pet shops (not as much as MLP)

-is is kindergarten

-Loves going to Disney

-Enjoys video games

-loves playdates

-Would spend all day coloring and drawing

-has way too much energy

-is a published author :)

-is a big daddy's girl 

-is super excited to be a big sister again

-loves animals

This girl talks NONstop all day long, she wakes up with the sun and goes all day long.  I can barely keep up with her.  I love when she comes in our bed in the mornings and cuddles with us for about an hour. :)  She loves to help mommy bake and clean up.  

So thankful for my sweet girl.  I'll have some pictures of her birthday soon :)