Last night with 2 kids

It's a GO!

Well, the amnio wasn't that bad... still wouldn't opt to have it in the future unless there was good reason, but not bad. Pretty quick and almost painless. We got the results back and Baby Lucy's little lungs are mature so we are set for induction. Now I just need to go buy some formula... hello! The girl is going to have to eat! I just remembered to buy diapers about a week ago. What happens to a person that makes them so absent minded after you have a couple of kids? I guess that question sort of answers itself.

Parker gave the kids and I blessings this morning, so I feel pretty comforted. I am so grateful that he is worthy and able to do that! Hopefully in 24 hours our family will be 5 and everything will go smoothly for all involved.

Baby Lucy is coming!!

Well, tomorrow morning (Monday) I go in for an amnio (which I've never had) to confirm that Baby Lucy's lungs are sufficiently developed. Per the ultrasound this past Friday, she is already weighing around 7lbs and looks very developed, plus my belly is apparently measuring about 3 weeks bigger than is expected at 37 weeks... so assuming the results come back positively (developed lungs) I will be admitted late Monday evening (10pm) and I imagine Baby Lucy will arrive sometime early Tuesday morning. Hopefully, we'll be organized enough to have some pictures up shortly after. In the meantime, we'll be busy, busy packing hospital bags and welcoming this new little one into the world and into our family. Wish us luck!

(pictures to come...)

Visiting the cows...

Kate & Jackson
Who invented rainboots? Some brilliant mother for sure! They can put them on and take them off themselves, they are taller than regular shoes and boots & they can be hosed or wiped off easily when they get dirty... plus, they're waterproof!

Here's the 4-wheeler Jackson proudly calls his... luckily he's okay sharing it with his sister/best friend
Doesn't Kate just look like a natural?
However, this is probably more realistic
The sad thing is, we had a dead battery, so Parker just pushed them for a while. They had a blast! (I guess there are some perks to keeping your kids away from Disneyland and keeping life simple... and they're too young to know any different!)
Grandpa & Jackson trying to call in the cows
These ones are new, so they aren't really used to people yet... this was about as close as they got. Eventually, they'll be able to pet them (sad, since they're raised to slaughter... but the meat is yummy!)

Monster Jam!!

Parker took Jackson to the monster truck show in Portland (and Grandpa & Uncle Garrett came too). He is still talking about it!
They had these little binoculars, but Jackson couldn't quite ever get the hang of them besides using them for a toy.
Sweet monster trucks!

How I love...

...to watch my kids sleep!! It's a daily reminder of how sweet and precious they are, without distraction, and with time to actually contemplate how blessed I am to be their Mom.
Plus, I LOVE the crazy positions they end up with; usually provides a little comic relief at the end of the day.


This isn't a sleeping picture, but a record of Parker reading to the kids... each night he reads them book after book and they LOVE it!

Jackson's 3-year old Stats

Jackson had a Dr. appointment today--well child check-up. Everything went really well. I was really impressed with the pediatrician. He talked with Jackson about the importance of trying new foods... the first Dr. to actually speak to Jackson about his problem and not just me. Anyway, we have a new plan and have set "food goals" for this year. We'll see how it goes. I'm very optimistic and anxious to see how Jackson reacts to everything. So far, I think he's on board, but I know it will be a struggle (just as it has been for the past 2 years). Health-wise, Jackson is in great shape. Here are his stats:

height: 39.75 in [93%]
weight: 34.4 lb [77%]

In addition to good health, Jackson continues to be a pretty good kid. He is a big helper (which I'm looking forward to taking advantage of when Lucy gets here) and usually pretty gentle and patient with his sometimes overbearing "little" sister. We certainly see normal/typical signs of that 3-year old push and pull for independence, but overall, he is such a fun boy to be around.

Another first...

The morning started out like all the others... cute kids in jammies... just hanging out
Kate playing with her babies (and of course, hauling around her "soft blankie")
Jackson having a post-breakfast snack... love those Santa jammies!
Then, Kate took her morning nap... when I opened her door to get her out of her crib, I found this. Actually, she was standing up with her sleeper unzipped to the bottom of her belly and the front of her diaper hanging out. By the time I got the camera, she was waiting for me like this. I am counting my blessings that there was no poop involved. The diaper was only slightly wet.
So I got her out--which is still weird to me because she has climbed out of the port-a-crib twice, but never since--and went to pick out an outfit for the day (for her). In the meantime, she was trying to get her pj's off, then went to play. Who needs clothes anyway?

Seattle Visit

I looked at the calendar just before MLK weekend and realized it may be a few months before we get back up to Seattle. We will be moving from temporary housing at the end of January, Baby Lucy could possibly be here during the end of February, then everyone will be here when Parker blesses her sometime during the beginning of April... Anyway, I thought, I'm not really tied down right now and not COMPLETELY uncomfortable yet, so I should just go up. However, apparently Parker and I are still honeymooning a little because we don't like to be away from each other, so I left during the week and he came up on the train Friday after work.
It was a great visit. Definitely fun, low-key, lots of quality hanging out and being together. My Mom took these pictures of the kids at Christian's basketball game (which they won... great game... he played awesome-ly!) The kids were pretty good considering they had to just sit for the full hour. However, it was loud and entertaining, so I wasn't completely surprised. Kate got a little fidgety, but it was her naptime.
We (my Mom & I) were also very productive. We spent 2 days cutting out and sewing blankets and patchwork quilts and burp cloths for my cousin who is due with her first baby April 1st... as you can see, she's having a boy. They had shopped for the fabric the week before and asked my Mom to sew it all. We sure accomplished a lot!
Then, Saturday, we tried out a recipe for spudnuts (donuts made with potatoes as a base) I will admit, I wasn't expecting too much. My Mom was really excited about this recipe (I guess my Aunt Gayle used to make these a lot, but I don't remember that). Anyway, they were delish!
Some of our fat-contributing goodness for the evening... my aunt, some cousins & Grandpa came over to hang out with us too
This picture was taken just to send to my sister, who just had a baby boy and couldn't be here to participate with us in consuming these low-fat treats. (My Mom promptly posted this on Facebook to "inform" my sister that she was missing out, but not to worry! She only has extremely "mild" middle child syndrome, so I'm sure this didn't effect her.)

Anyway, the trip was perfect! Just what we (especially the kids) needed to get out of the house and have a change of scenery. They got all the attention they were needing too! The boys were SO good to play with them and Kate stuck to Heather like glue... Thanks, Mom for such a fun visit!! Now it's your turn... you can come visit anytime!

Baby Lucy... update

Well, I don't have any new pictures right now. Maybe I'll make that my goal for tomorrow! However, I wanted to journal about my Dr. appt on Monday before I forget. It was my first appointment with my OBGYN in Eugene and I really like her. She came highly recommended, but I was concerned whether or not she would listen to me and really consider my situation and WHY I thought it is best for the baby AND I that I be induced early. My previous OB and I had agreed on this, but as he would not be delivering Lucy, I had to start all over again. This Dr. is so knowledgable, but also totally listened to me and acknowledged that I was coming with an informed opinion, that is also medically sound (as far as we know so far).

[Jackson, birth 7lb. 10oz.]

[Jackson, day 2]

[Jackson, day 4]

[Jackson, 1 week]

Jackson was born 9 days before his due date and weighed 7lb 10oz. As far as I could tell, labor and delivery went well and we were both completely healthy... no complications. Kate was born 6 days past her due date and weighed 9lb 2oz. Without getting too detailed, recovery was much worse (though after talking to other people, my recoveries have been a breeze... but for me, it was definitely more painful). In addition, Kate suffered shoulder dystocia. Luckily, we were being watched over and Kate was totally fine, but after doing some homework, I have found that it could have been an awful experience for Baby Kate, including paralysis, cerebral palsy, or worse.

[Kate, birth]

[Kate, birth 9 lb. 2 oz.]

[Kate, day 2]

[Jackson meets Kate]

Obviously, I don't want to chance this again and now I am aware that this is a possibility. Now the only way to completely avoid shoulder dystocia is to deliver the baby via c-section... don't want to do that if I don't have to for lots of obvious reasons (yucky painful and longer recovery, consequent c-sections and more yucky recoveries, etc and hello! I have other kids at home) The two main causes of shoulder dystocia are the bone structure of the mother (pubic bone) and a baby over 9 lbs. Both can make it difficult for baby's shoulders to make it through "smoothly". Since in my case the bone structure doesn't seem to be a problem... it would be the 9lb 2oz baby. So, being induced before the baby gets so big = avoiding shoulder dystocia.

[Kate, 1 week]

[Kate, 12 days, 10 lbs.]

Okay, that was a long explanation, so here's the summary. I'm almost 33 weeks completed (will be Saturday). At 37 weeks, I'll go in for an ultrasound to determine Baby Lucy's weight. Right now she is measuring very big. Depending on her weight, we will consider doing an amniocentesis (which I've never done) to determine how developed her lungs, in particular, are. If everything looks good and she's huge, I'll be induced between 37-38 weeks (which would be sometime between Feb 20 - March 5th) . If not, I'll be induced at 39 weeks (which would be about March 6th). We'll see what happens. I will admit I'm physically getting a little more uncomfortable each day, but enjoying my two little ones so much right now and not feeling as overly anxious for labor and delivery as I was for Jackson and Kate. However, I'm anxious for that ultrasound and so grateful to have a Dr. who seems to listen and care. I can hardly wait to meet our little Baby Lucy and to see how the dynamics in our little family will change with her around. I am so curious to get to know her personality and see what she'll think of her older brother and sister.

Anyway, it's getting late, but I wanted to record this for myself (because my memory isn't what it used to be... my kids seem to be sucking my memory out of me). I hope to post some new pictures soon. We will be moving from temporary housing into a rental (until we can find a home to purchase that meets our needs and fits into our budget) in a week... this will be MOVE #11 (we'll be married 4-1/2 years at the end of February). But I'm excited and hope Heavenly Father keeps blessing me with the energy that I need to keep up with everything!

{V-Day package from Grandma} ...and Lucy's blankets!!

Kate & Jackson always get SO excited to open a package from Grandma!
This package was really intended to send down Baby Lucy's blankets (and coordinating burp cloths) that my Mom finished--more pics below--but she always has to put something in for Kate & Jackson too. They are just plain spoiled.
Can you see how much our kids LOVE (really are infatuated with) soft things? Both of them are thoroughly enjoying Lucy's blankies.
Then came the loot...
Thanks for sending more stamps and sugary goodness, Mom. I just LOVE regulating this stuff!
Yes! Sheer excitement... then came the question... "Mommy, are these ones mine or Tate's?"
Kate still "breaking in" Lucy's blankets
I am SO in love with this patchwork quilt!! They didn't have this fabric when we were picking out fabrics for Kate... just LOVE!
The picture doesn't do this one justice. The colors are so vibrant and fun... really girly! Besides being SO SOFT!
Same thing... colors are weird in this picture... it's a soft pink and the fleece is beyond SOFT! I'm also a little crazy about polka dots right now.
A receiving blanket made with the "I'm in love with this fabric" fabric used in the patchwork quilt above... love the gathered corners! Thanks, Mom! Lucy's going to love having a couple of her "own" blankets!