Getting ready for baby.

All of the sudden I feel an urgency to "get ready" for Maverick. We are here, strap on your seat belt, we have begun the process of labor. I use "labor" loosely, as I am not rushing into the hospital to push (not that I am anyway). Yesterday sprung a bout of braxton hicks on me. I felt a sinking deep within my gut. "You are not ready to come out" my mind channeled to Mav. Later in the night, Maverick worked his head deep into my pelvis and my belly was noticeably lower when I awoke.

The nesting urge is overtaking my mind. I want to frantically clean, cook meals, tediously press and put together the tiny outfits than hang in his closet. I want everything perfect for my sons grand entrance. I insist he come home to a clean meticulously organized house. This craze happens to me every time. For days I have deliberated hiring a professional photographer or doing my own newborn pictures. I decided I was the best candidate, then obsessively twisted away 2 skeins of yarn into this.



Fortunately, nesting gives me super powers and I can knit at hypersonic speeds.



I have so many things to get done in the next 4 weeks!

Packing for 5

I think about going on vacation growing up and can't seem to recall this much work going into the process. I suppose I am a little neurotic about the steps that "need to be taken." I am the type of person that has to clean my entire house before I leave town. All of the laundry needs to be done. Dishes washed and put away. The car needs to be clean. The car seats usually don't need to be clean, but for some reason they do this time. Last but not least every person must be packed with bags loaded the night before we have to leave. I know what you are thinking..... crazy pregnant woman.... No.... this is an every trip kind of thing. Now there is some reasoning to my madness.... As all of us adult persons know (maybe just us wives), vacation is no picnic in the park, it is a lot of work. I in NO way want to come home to a filthy house, with old smelly dishes, piles of laundry and dust, and have to deal with that after being completely exhausted from said trip. I would simply stress out at the thought of coming home the entire time I am gone. This time I plan to have all my ducks in a row. I am T minus 2 days from going out of town and the main floor is clean, basement clean, and girls rooms clean. Only laundry, dishes, cleaning car and packing remain. That's it.

The progression.

Day to day I am struggling to keep myself sane. I tell myself "It doesn't matter if the baby has a bed set up", "It won't matter that his clothes aren't micro organized by color, shape, & size", "All the baby needs is you." Somehow I just can't make myself believe it. My mother in law told her pool guy today that it looks like I am having twins.... gee, thanks! Mental note to self- NEVER tell a pregnant woman she looks like she is having twins, unless, she is in fact having twins. :MAJOR OVERREACTION ALERT: Her comment sent me into a whirlwind of mental disfunction. All I could think was "Man, he IS going to come early, and I WON'T be ready." Luckily I have a wonderful husband who *most often* knows what and when to say what he does to calm me down. Sigh.

I took some progress pictures of the bathroom and bedroom today so you all can see what is happening and maybe send some positive vibes for a speedy progression. Thanks in advance.

Time is flying.

Life has been in the way of my blogging recently. School wrapped up and construction has begun our master bathroom/bedroom. For the past 3 weeks John and I have been sleeping on a mattress in our living room. Lets just say it has been hectic. Here is a picture of our before bathroom and bedroom, don't mind the random trash scattered about. =)

The contractor has estimated to be done by the beginning of July.... well, he BETTER be done by then! All of our furniture is currently in the babys room and I haven't been able to clean or sort through anything, I am completely unprepared! Not to mention I plan on giving birth in that bathroom, I hope to God it is done. Speaking of the baby, I am getting LARGER by the day. I swear he will be my largest child yet and I am terrified he will come early. I have said this with every child but I am terrified that he ACTUALLY will.... only because I am not ready. Here is a recent belly shot:

On the mom front, I have been busy knitting little outfits for Maverick and creating art scrapbooks for the girls. The best way I have managed to do this is by photographing the work. After each art piece is photographed I am creating various ways to recycle them. The latest was using 4 seperate paintings as wrapping paper for a cousins present. I have also cut them up and stored them to make cards for the grandparents.

Speaking of birthdays we celebrated Sophie's 3rd birthday at the end of May with her cousin Owen. I can't believe she is getting so big! Time needs to slow down.

Tuned Out.

When I was young, I distinctly remember my parents turning the sound up in the back of the car. All I could see was the flapping of their lips, laughter, and the occasional scowl. What were they talking about? I became hopelessly lost in the music, drifting away to a place far away as I gazed out upon open land and billboard signs.

Tonight, I recaptured that moment in time. I simply couldn't take another "MOM!" or "I need...." It suddenly occurred to me, fade the music to the front to drown out all the crying, talking, needy little voices blaring from the two rows behind me. Thank you Kid Rock, tonight you gave me a tiny moment of bliss, a break from my life, a piece of sanity.

Down goes the camera lens.

You know that sickness you felt as a kid when you broke something that was not getting replaced. I haven't missed it. My big fat pregnant self caught the strap of my camera and ripped it right off the kitchen table tonight. BASH!!!! The sound of my lens shattering into a million little pieces. I am devastated. Fortunately for me I am an adult now who has the ability to replace items I mistakingly break, however, the thought of dropping another $500 on a lens is enough to trigger my up-chuck reflux. LAME SAUCE ladies and gentlemen. Let's pay some homage to the last pictures that lens ever saw.

Week 24. Mia turns the BIG 4!

Hooray for Friday! After a brutal break up with our childcare provider last Wednesday, the kids have been home with me all week. Well, mostly all week, they were with grandparents for the duration of my working hours. It has been so much fun hanging out with Sophia and Bella! Sophia gave me a big hug yesterday and said "I like staying home with you." It is little things like so that melt my heart.

Mia turned the big 4 this week. I would say this is her "birthday week", she seems to continuously get presents. Tomorrow is her big birthday party at Faulkner Ranch. Her classmates are totally stoked about it. Mia's "pony party" was the topic for discussion when I ate lunch with her class on Wednesday. I managed to get all the party bags made last night which include handcuffs, sheriff badges, bubbles, and a special treat just to piss off the parents.... FUN DIP. Ah, I used to LOVE that stuff but, I in NO WAY want my 4 year old walking around with a package of it. Ah well, it is her birthday week after all. I am most excited for the cupcakes. Milton, Mia's Godfather, is a professional pastry chef. Together with John he will be creating the most delicious cupcakes for the little dudes. This is going to be one rockin party, I can't wait to post pics!

Last but not least, My weekly belly shot. 24 Weeks..... TIME IS FLYING.