1000 Words

1000 Words

 

10 On The 10th

Here are the 10 pictures I snapped on September 10th

Howard has started communicating in his own special way when he wants me to come with him somewhere.

 

Morning fun with play-doh... everyone still in pajamas.

My pregnancy email update...

Tracey sat at the bottom of the slide for Howard and Caroline to slide into her (no one was hurt)

Tracey decided to help Howard climb the slide using her head... she kept saying, 

"You're not falling Howard, not on my watch."  

I don't know where she heard that language, but it was really funny.

Lloyd and I went for a walk just the two of us on a trail that I've been wanting to try for awhile.  This beautiful tree was on the trail and it reminded me of big wonderful trees back in Michigan.

Everyone climbing on Daddy.

I saw this on facebook during the course of the day, and it made me laugh pretty hard.

After nap, we split some popcorn and watched America's Funniest Home Videos as a family.  Tracey is old enough to laugh at some of the videos, and Howard and Caroline love all the animals they show.

This costume was labeled on Amazon as a "newborn swaddle" caterpillar costume... I guess by "newborn" they mean "4-year-old."

How are you doing mid-month?

 

 

Happy Birthday, Hubby!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Hubby.

I love you more than I could possibly say.  

I cannot imagine going through life with anyone else.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday. 

Preggers III -- 34 Weeks

How far along?  34 weeks, 1 day

Comparisons:

 34 Weeks with Tracey

34 Weeks with the Twins

34 Weeks with Baby Number 4

 

How I am feeling?  Pretty overwhelmed most days.  The compulsive nesting seems to have lessened... which is bad because I still have a lot to do before the baby arrives.  But I will say, I think I'm feeling very tired at the end of each day... sometimes at the beginning of each day... and then overwhelmed when I think about the next few weeks and all we have going on.  At the same time, I am really excited about our new baby on the way.  I am excited to have a newborn on the way and watching our little ones accept a new sibling.  Even though I know it will be a hard adjustment, I'm getting really excited.

 

How big is the baby?  The size of a butternut squash -- 17.7 inches long, 4.63 pounds

Sleep:  I've been sleeping better, but its getting harder to find a comfortable position throughout the night.

Boy/Girl Predictions:  Well... we know our baby's gender so no need to predict here.

Baby Nicknames:  I call the baby, "Baby," but Tracey still insists the name should be "'Punzel"

  Best moment this week:  I'm really trying to cherish all the little baby kicks and movements because we don't know if this might be our last pregnancy, and I love feeling our babies move in my belly -- in this pregnancy one baby move in my belly.  I am going to miss being pregnant when the time comes that our family is complete.  Also, I am loving watching Caroline playing with baby dolls lately, and Howard learning to rub my belly and say, "Baby."

Food cravings:  I have been craving chocolate chip cookies... luckily we've stopped buying cookie dough from the store so if I want chocolate chip cookies, I have to make them myself.  That's a good system for right now -- if I want the cookies, I have to bake them.

Missing:  Cool weather.  I look at the pictures of me when I was pregnant with Tracey and the twins, and I was wearing such warm sweaters at this point in the pregnancy... and those sweaters were so nice and cozy and big and wintry.  Given that Rifle often has days over 90*, there are no pregnancy sweaters in my future at the moment... so I'm still wearing these pregnancy sun dresses as I get bigger and bigger and bigger (and hotter)... and I really wish we'd get a wintry cold snap right about now.

 

Movements:  Yes, and I love them -- although they can be uncomfortable at times.  I'm not sure if the baby is still breech -- there's a good chance it might be, but the baby is definitely moving all over... hopefully flipping to a head-down position, but I don't know.

Labor Signs:  Not yet, thankfully.

General Attitude:  I think tired and overwhelmed.  I wish I was cherishing and enjoying these last days as a family of five more, but I'm not at the moment.  We are just on such a treadmill from now until October and I'm tired just thinking about it... and of course not knowing when the baby will arrive (hopefully in mid-October, but only God knows).

 What I am looking forward to this week:  I have another doctor's appointment this week and I'll be interested to know that everything's going well.  Also, we're heading to Colorado Springs this week... I'm trying to be excited about it (although I'm a little overwhelmed about the trip at the moment).

Milestones: Thirty-four weeks... I had the twins at 36 weeks, and Tracey at 38 weeks... so this pregnancy is flying by and I feel like I have to be ready to have the baby really soon -- even if its still a few weeks ago... its really soon.

Every Year

Every year I remember September 11th. 

Every year, I make myself remember the horror, the devastation, the terror, the anger because it needs to be remembered.

 Each year, there are days that I make a point to remember certain things and certain people -- anniversaries of the days that special people have died or events happened.  Truthfully, when I remember those people, often the memories become less painful with time.  Often, the joyful memories remain and the days of remembrance or days honoring their life and less focused on their deaths.  This is not the case with September 11th.

Every year I remember September 11th, I become more angry.  I was 18 years old when 9-11-01 occurred, and the day was horrible.  These years later, I reflect on the day but I am now an adult, a voter, a wife, a mother... a homemaker who dreams of someday taking my children to see sights in New York City.  A mother with small children who would rather do anything than watch my children be harmed and scared... as so many children and families were harmed and scared on that day.

Every year I remember, the tragedy of that day becomes more real to me.  Every year I burn with more anger.  Every year I shed tears and wish it wasn't real.  Every year I wish it wasn't a memory.  Every year I fear the next attack.  Every year I dread the day when I will actually explain this day to my children complete with videos, news footage, my personal memories, and the true events of the day.

Every year I remember September 11th.

Every year I burn with anger about September 11th.

 

1000 Words

1000 Words

 

Football Is Back!

Football Season is BACK, and with it, my favorite Michigan Wolverines!

They beat Florida handily last week and they play Cincinnati today!

September 2016

I have always loved football season, but it has an added element of fun now that I get to share it with my little ones.  Tracey actually threw a fit yesterday morning because I wouldn't let her wear her Michigan cheer leading outfit to school.  Luckily, she gets to wear it today!

September 2017

... and just think, another little wolverine will be here to cheer and join in the fun before the end of the season (just please, child, do not come on a game day like your twin siblings did).

GO MICHIGAN!!