Thank You

Thank you for everything you do. 

You are an incredible husband.

A loving father.

Always supportive, always looking out for our family's best interest.

And the weird part is, I don't think you know how unique and remarkable of a person that you are. 

Thanks for letting me be your buddy. Just feeling so grateful for you today.

I love you.

32 Weeks 3 Days

A bump picture at last! We have been terrible at taking these, mostly because my phone storage is always full.

How Far Along? 32 weeks, 3 days. Baby's Size Equivalent? A half-gallon of milk! Moooo Maternity Clothes? Same old story! I ordered some sweats pants with a Nike gift card I received at a White Elephant gift exchange, and they are my favorite thing. How Are You Sleeping? Not great, to be honest. On my best nights, I'm up twice. But usually it's three or four times. Additionally Jace's flu/cold finally caught up to Colt and I this weekend, so I was up every two hours. It's harder to get comfy, and breathing is a bit more difficult these days...and the last two nights I've been woken up with a charley horse in my leg! Doesn't make for restful nights ;) Hopefully it will get better once I'm over this cold. Best moment this week? Even though we were sick, it was super nice to have Colt home all day. Weird pregnancy moment? Those dang leg cramps in the middle of the night! My calves were still sore the next day. I woke up yelling, and scared Colt to death-I'm sure he thought I was in early labor.  Any Movement: Yeah! He definitely stretches out in there, trying to get comfy. He pushes out my sides a lot, which is weird to watch. Anything making you queasy? No! But I'm feeling so much pressure and fullness after I eat anything, especially in the evening, and especially with this cold-flu. Even drinking water makes me feel like I'm about to pop. How About Cravings? Strawberries...natural peanut butter (yes, the runny kind, so weird!) and honey...and caesar salad! Not together. What I'm Looking Forward To: Snuggling this little guy! I'm simultaneously excited and terrified to have him here. I'm excited and worried about labor, excited and scared about having a newborn and a toddler, and just plain scared about the sleepless nights! But I'm reading the Tao of Pooh, and it's a helpful reminder that there is a natural rhythm and "way" to things. When you learn to work with circumstances for what they are, things have a way of working out, with little stress and minimal effort. When you fight situations and try to make them into what you think they should be, it makes life more difficult. I'm going to try to remember that this time around!
There is a brief analogy shared in my book from the works of Chuang-tse, about a man who was standing in front of a waterfall, watching the churning turbulence created by the force of the waterfall hitting the pool below. All of a sudden, he saw an old man in the middle of the turgid water, and called to his friends for help in rescuing the old man. But by the time they all ran over, the elderly fellow had emerged from the water and was strolling along the bank. They were mystified as to how he had survived, and certain that he must have magical powers. When they asked him how he managed to live, he replied:
"I began to learn while I was very young...now I am certain of success. I go down with the water and come up with the water. I follow it and forget myself. I survive because I don't struggle against the water's superior power. That's all."
:)

30 Weeks and 5 Days: So Close, And Yet, So Far

Sorry, this is obviously not a belly picture. But it's the only recent photo I have of myself, and it happens to be the one I took on Photo Booth to send to my sister after I cut my hair off in a fit of pregnancy-induced spontaneity last week. I'll try to post a preggo-eggo picture soon. 

At almost 31 weeks, I find myself starting to think  "I'm almost done!" Then I remember I have at least two more months, probably more like two and a half, and I feel a little deflated knowing that I haven't hit the home-stretch quite yet. ;) I was talking to my cute cousin who just announced that she is pregnant with her fourth child, and she concisely summed it up for me: "Pregnancy gets less glamorous with each baby. You just have to remember you DO get a baby at the end." Preach!

How Far Along? 30 weeks and 5 days...7 months and 3 weeks on Saturday. Not that I'm counting down, or anything ;) Baby's Size Equivalent? A summer cantaloupe. Not a spring cantaloupe, mind you. Summer. Maternity Clothes? Some of my normal clothes still fit, like my sweaters, lower-rise jeans, and longer, stretchier shirts...but I really just prefer my softest pair of leggings and a hoodie, or loose-fitting shirts. I've had a really low tolerance for anything even somewhat fitted around my midriff this time around. I've given up on bras unless I'm at work or church. How Are You Sleeping? Pretty well, all things considered. I have to get up at least twice a night to, ahem, relieve myself. And some nights are better than others. But overall, I can't complain! Best moment this week? Jace has been asking to sit on the potty, which is cool! He's also been talking up a storm. It's so fun to watch him grow. Weird pregnancy moment? Well, over Christmas break I got the random but powerful urge to chop my hair. So I did! Not myself, mind you. I sought the aid of a professional. And I love it! Any Movement: Yep! The movements feel a bit smoother, though, rather than pokes and jabs. I think he's running out of room. Anything making you queasy? No. I don't know how some ladies deal with morning sickness their entire pregnancy. They are warriors and should be canonized. How About Cravings? Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies sound puh-retty tasty right now. But I've also been enjoying really strong flavors at meals, such as dill or sweet pickles, blue cheese, or salad dressing made with balsamic vinegar and mustard. What I'm Looking Forward To: A beautiful new year with my incredible husband and TWO little sons. I can't believe I'm going to be a mama of two...I can't be old enough for this. I'm pretty sure I just got my drivers license like a couple (twelve!!) years ago...Also, my wonderful sister is expecting her little girl any day now!! They've kept her name a complete secret, so I'm excited to find out what they are going to call her, and meeting the first gran'baby girl on my side of the family.

Holiday Recap

Mimi was making him laugh hysterically by offering him sips of her drink, then wiping his lip with a napkin. He might have inherited her peculiar sense of humor. ;)

Enjoying his new coloring book and crayons back at home. All great artists work best while wearing pants on their heads.  

Jace got a very realistic-looking toy Dyson vacuum from C and I, and his cousins gave him a cute little broom/mop/dustpan set. He loves them! He has been extra helpful around the house these days, sweeping up dirt into his dustbin and throwing it in the trash. Love my little helper.

At Leavenworth, pre-tantrums.

He LOVED the Christmas "tee." His favorite ornaments were a little red car and a miniature train. He said goodnight to the Christmas tree every night before heading up to bed, and he wanted the lights on first thing in the morning.

December was a bit of a whirlwind over here. I think that's probably how the holidays are, once you become a parent. My birthday was on the 16th, and both boys spoiled me with flowers and cards, perfume/body spray/lotion, and the traditional Oreo ice cream dessert that Colt has been making me every year (except for one) since before we started dating. Bonus: Colt took a half-day and surprised me by coming home at lunchtime! My parents came into town that weekend, and Colt took me out for a birthday lunch and a movie (we saw Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and we both liked it a lot. I'm excited for it to hit Redbox). Then, on Sunday, we braved the pass and headed out to Leavenworth. We didn't stay too long; it was bitter cold (14 degrees or something like that), and Jace was having meltdown after meltdown. We still enjoyed ourselves, though, with lots of hot chocolate and a German bratwurst for dinner. We watched the movie "Miracle," over and over again-it's Jace's latest favorite. He wakes up every morning asking for "Hockey? Hockey?!" Then he goes and grabs  one of his plastic golf clubs and a little golf ball and runs around the house using them as a hockey stick and puck. Should I start saving for skates and pads now, or wait a few years? ;)

We spent Christmas and New Years Eve at my parents house in Oregon. Remember how I mentioned in my last post that Jace was having some weird night-wakings? Well, while were at my parents house, the purpose behind those bizarre sleep patterns was manifested: his language took off in a pretty epic way. He learned multiple new words and phrases every day, started finishing the sentences in his books as we read together, and has been putting 2 and 3 words together. Additionally, he's been pushing our barstool chairs up to the counter and climbing over to the sink to play in the faucet (we've been working hard to teach him that sitting in the chairs is ok, but climbing on the table and counters is a no-go). He also started refusing to drink out of his sippy cups at Mimi and Papa's. He wanted to drink out of the regular cups, and he did a great job most of the time. And over the last couple days, he's started asking to sit on the potty! December was a big month for Mister Jace. 

Colt and I kept the gift-giving rather small this year. We only bought JJ a couple of presents and stocking stuffers. He doesn't really need anything, and isn't old enough to ask for anything specific. He also hasn't quite grasped the magic of opening presents, and he's not super interested until after he sees what's inside. He did really enjoy the few small gifts we got him, as well as the gifts from his aunties and uncles, though. He especially loved his choo-choo bathrobe, the "janitor supplies" from his cousins, his Lightning McQueen hotwheels car, and his truck and train books. He's a spoiled little monkey.

My parents did a "giving tree" Christmas this year: they put gift cards to stores, restaurants, and movie tickets all over the tree, and my sister and her husband and Colt and I were able to use them for date nights all week! It was so nice to be able to spend some quality time together and take advantage of the free childcare-Jace LOVES when Mimi and Papa watch him, and he's asked for them pretty much everyday since we got home. 

We drove home on New Years Day so that we could enjoy the following Monday off together as a family. We cleaned the house, took down all of the inside Christmas decorations (I'm holding out on taking down the outdoor Christmas lights, I just love them so much), ran a few errands, and tried to soak in the last little bit of the holiday season. I've had a little bit of a hard time adjusting back to normal life this week. I think my brain is still on vacation!

My resolutions for this year:

1. Worry less, and trust God more.

2. Read the New Testament from cover to cover.

3. Be kinder to and more appreciative of my body, and be grateful for my health. Pregnancy is truly an exercise in being kind and patient with yourself-while growing the baby, in recovery, as well as throughout the post-partum aftermath! But our bodies and our health are such miraculous gifts. I want to treat mine with more gratitude and appreciation, and become adept at recognizing it's cues and giving it what it needs. It is doing a pretty awesome job at growing this baby for me, after all.

4. Use my body as a tool to do the things I love. Run more! Go swimming! Ride bikes! Hike with my boys! Go camping! Snuggle my babies! Enjoy being the only girl in a houseful of adventurous boys.

5. Relax and enjoy Colt, Jace, and Littlest Man. I think with Jace, the shock of new motherhood and the responsibility I felt to take care of him and do things the "right way," or way I thought things should be done, created more stress and prevented me from fully appreciating every moment. And I would get so frustrated and stressed out once he hit his 3 month sleep regression and his naps got so short, and his night wakings increased...I was so tired and just wanted to fix it so we could get some rest! This time, I'm going to try to be a little more easy-going and accept the good and the tough times for what they are, and be grateful for each moment. Because there is purpose in both. And I'm realizing time goes so fast-I think I'll try a bit harder to treasure those private moments in the middle of the night with my new babe, rather than frantically googling "how to get my baby to sleep through the night" on my phone at 3:00 am. Or at least, reduce the googling. ;)Reducing the googling in general should probably be my 6th resolution...baby steps.

I can't believe Jace will be two years old at the end of this month. And in 9-10 weeks, we get to meet our newest little guy! There will be so many changes this year, and last year brought so much joy...I'm a little sad and scared to see 2016 go! Sometimes I get a a bit anxious that life is too good right now, too easy, and that trials and adversity MUST be right around the corner to balance everything out (see New Years Resolution #1). But I'm hopeful that 2017 will be just as great, if not better, than 2016. God is good, and mindful of each one of us. So grateful for my boys, for our good health and strong bodies, for our home, for our families. Happy 2017!