Blessing Number 3: The most awesome due date, December 31st, 2010

Joey is so exctied about this baby. He keeps asking "is the baby warm ?" "is the baby tired?" He is already so concerned for his little sibling. Charlie doesn't really seem to care too much. Although since I have been babysitting a 6 month old-he has been very interested in babies. He is always going to other baby car seats and talking to them, rocking them, and trying to get the baby to take a nuk. He also asks if he can hold babies too. It is the cutest!!!

Blessing Number 3: Due Date, December 31st, 2010

This due date is awesome in so many ways.

1. We don't know if this baby will be born this year or next year.
2. Perhaps we will have another Janurary Birthday (To go with the other 6 that we celebrate)
3. What color will be next for my mothers ring? (So far we have Garnet for Joey and Citrine for Charlie) Will it be Blue Topaz or another Garnet?
4. Will we have a baby bundled up under the Christmas tree? The best Christmas present ever!
5. We might be ringing in the new year in the hospital!
6. Blessing number 3 may be the last baby born in 2010.
7. Blessing number 3 may be the first baby born in 2011.
8. We could have 3 consecutive birthday months to celebrate. Nov., Dec., Jan.
9. We found out early enough to annouce the pregnancy on Mother's Day. (We annouced Joey's on Fathers Day)
10. If it is a boy he can wear hand me downs and it will be appropriate for the seasons!
11. Many of my new year resolutions are already in place.
a. nurse baby.
b. change about a thousand diapers.
c. give baby a bath.
d. go on walks with baby.
e. I could go on and on...you get the idea!

Only God know what day this baby will come into our world!!!

Big boy bed for a big boy

We are in the first week of transitioning Charlie into a big boy bed! We were able to have Great Grandma Lee's bed-as she has now been in a medical bed. Thanks Great Grandma Lee and Mamie! To get both Joey and Charlie excited, I purchased rocket ship themed bedding for both the boys. So cute!!!



Charlie knows his freedom to roam now! The first night it took about 1 1/2 hours to finally get them sleeping. I read them books, sang songs, said prayers, tucked them in multiple times, and snuggled with them. Joey is always the one who falls asleep first! I tell Charlie-shhhh...Joey is sleeping now, so you need to be quiet and I tuck him in one more time and close the door. He then sings to himself, counts, or plays with his little rocketship until he falls asleep.

One night at about 12:30 am, Joey screamed super loud in his sleep! This woke up poor little Charlie and he started to cry. Thankfully all it took was for me to comfort him a little and he was back to sleep.

Another night as I was listening in on them I heard Joey say "Charlie I will read you a book, what book would you like me to read" and chitter chatter... Then Jeff went to check on them and Joey was fast asleep while Charlie was sitting next to him in Joey's bed crying! So Jeff tucked Charlie into his own bed.

I just love it when they interact together on their own, and actually get along! It is so cute how Joey talks to Charlie about sleeping in his big boy bed. I have noticed a difference in their relationship now. They are closer to each other. They joke around more..there is a lot more laughter!

One night at the supper table, it was Joey's turn to talk. We usually talk about what our favorite part of the day was. Joey said "I like it that Charlie is sleeping in my room now, because I love him." Um...MELT MY
HEART!!!

Of course this process isn't without some frustrations. Tonight Charlie is sleeping in his crib because he just wouldn't settle down! I put him is crib and Joey was asleep within 5 minutes, and Charlie was asleep in about 10.

We will try it again next week! We are going to Turtle Lake this weekend-so that will be a totally different bedtime routine!

Blessing Number 3

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

you formed me in my mother's womb.

I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration—what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared

before I'd even lived one day.

Psalm 139; 13-16 (The Message)

I just love these verses. I think it is just so cool to think about God shaping an unformed body. Planning out every minute and every breath. Scuplting an amazing creation from nothing. God is the most talented artist I know! And to apply this to the baby growing right now. God has prepared all the days of his/her life. What an amazing surprise to look forward to.God is watching this baby grow, he is there for him/her from the beginning!

We are at about the 7 week mark right now. Just think. The baby's tiny heart is beating it's first beats right about now!!! God is there. bah bum, bah bum, bah bum, bah bum.


We have been trying for baby number 3 for about 5 months. For Joey, it took about 8 months and Charlie about 6. This time I used an application on my Droid phone to keep track of dates. (Called My Days) I started tracking in November. So every month I would take a test at about the time I thought I would get positive results.  Sometimes I get a little excited and take a test early. On April 20th I took the test and it was positive! This is amazing because it was 5 days earlier than most tests will have a valid result. It was the target brand home pregrancy test-cheap and accurate!

Some cool things about finding out so early:

1. I can cut down on my caffine intake. I normally drink 2.5 cups of coffee a day. Last month I weakend my coffee by mixing decaf in.

2. I can stop drinking my occasional beer or wine.

3. If I do feel tired-I don't have to feel guilty for taking a nap. One of the few symtoms I have had so far is being a little more tired than usual.

4. If I feel hungry I can eat more without feeling guilty. I have been sticking to the ZONE diet as much as possbile...with just a few cheats. For one 2 day hunger streak I ate Zone snacks and meals all day, and finally after supper I would feel full. I was even craving breakfast foods all day one day!

5. I can daydream and think about names and guess the sex of the baby.

6. So far I have also felt a little bit of pre-nesting. Getting the house organized, cleaning more that usual. (Which really isn't much)

7. When I babysit 6 month baby friend, I can imigine what it will be like next June!

8. We were able to announce the pregnancy on Mother's Day!

Cuties

Just some pictures this time!

How to cheat the Zone without Cheating it

Here are a few ideas that I have found. Sometimes I just get that irristible craving for something. Or the rest of the family is enjoying local handmade ice cream like Olsons. So I found some ways to be able to "Eat my cake and have it too"

So if I really want ice cream  I can team it up with some protein to balance it out:
½ cup ice cream plus 1 cup cottage cheese or 4 ounces sliced turkey (4 protein blocks)


MAJOR craving! If I find that frozen snicker bar from last week and I start to salivate. I eat the snickers bar and follow it up with 2/3 cup cottage cheese or 3 ounces sliced turkey.