Being Thankful at 30 Weeks!

For those of you who had the privilege of reading my rant, I'm sorry! I am changing it ;) Who wants to read a blog that is depressing, not I! I am 30 weeks along in my pregnancy. I technically have 10 weeks left. I have never gone to my due date. Hailey was 5 weeks early, Abby was 3 weeks early, Rachel was 2 weeks early and Joe was 1 week early. Everyone teases me that this one will go to it's due date. I don't think so. This pregnancy feels a lot like it did with Abby. With Hailey and Abby, my water broke. With Rachel and Joe, I had my babies natural. I'm always dilated to a 4,5, or 6 when checked at 36 weeks. We'll see how this one goes. It's been a rough couple of weeks...had a horrible cold/cough and no energy. I'm keeping in perspective the fact that I'm happy this cold is before baby and not after baby. I'm anxious to feel more like myself. I'm very happy I'm on the home stretch, what's a couple of more months, especially when Christmas is on the horizon! These next 4-5 weeks will fly by!

Well...to move on to a more positive note...the things I'm enjoying right now ;) (My Thanksgiving Grateful List)

Kids are off track, this is a good thing actually. I have lots of little helpers. I can't tell you how many times Hailey takes out the garbage. Abby is a great at cleaning bathrooms. My kids really are awesome! I just love them to death! They have been pretty patient with me and I'm grateful to them for that.

Dan is awesome! He is blessed to hear me whine constantly. He just listens. Poor guy. He put up our Christmas lights this year and put up our insanely easy to put up artificial Christmas Tree. I appreciate him so much!

Although I hate pregnancy, the one thing I do love and marvel at is the fact that I have a baby in me that weighs approx. 3 lbs. That's amazing! I love to feel him/her move. I love it that I only have a couple of months to go and that I'm not in the beginning stage. I'm nervous to deliver this one, it's been 5 years. It's crazy what you forget in that time. I'm also so very excited to have this baby! I can't wait!

I'm grateful that my husband has a great job! I'm so grateful for him and the time he spends supporting us!

I'm so grateful for online shopping, it makes life so much easier!

I'm grateful to my awesome Mom who helps with the kids and makes life so much easier!

I'm grateful for Shawn, who makes me laugh, understands my love for video games, likes to hang out with his old, huge sister and helps me bring in groceries and put them away. He's the best!

I'm grateful for all of my family in general and that I live near most of them. I miss Dan's family and wish we could see them more often. I miss the old days when we would get together and play games.

I'm grateful for my wonderful friends! Just to mention a few...Tricia, I can always go months without talking to her and we just pick up where we left off! I love it that age doesn't matter, she older than I and I always enjoy hearing her words of wisdom. Melba, my GBFF (gym best friend forever) for making exercise/lifting one of the most fun things I've ever done! I can't wait to get back! Rayna, my old college buddy, who introduced me to some good country music to which I would never have been a fan of. Mark and Trish, my game buddies. Nicole, my visiting teaching buddy, mia maid buddy, jewelry buddy, and healthy food fanatic. Chi-Wen, how I miss my old friend from Portland/Taiwan. I miss her cooking, her smile, her constant stream of compliments and always positive attitude and her love for the Lord. I've never met a person, not of my faith that is more honest and true. She is my Mom's age and I love how age has no relevance when it comes to friendship. The list goes on...I'm very blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life!

I am so grateful for my Savior. I'm grateful for my eternal family!

I truly am blessed! Thanksgiving was a great day! It was pretty crazy when the family all got together around 5 p.m. for dinner, but it's always fun to see my brothers and to visit and laugh with them. They are such good guys!

I hope Thanksgiving was wonderful for all of you! Bring on Christmas!!!

Goodbye Blankie

I just walked into the kitchen to find Joe's baby blanket that he carries around with him everywhere in the garbage! I asked Joe why it was in the garbage and he said "because it's really old". How sad! I seriously feel like crying! My baby is growing up!

Date Nights

We recently started up our "old" tradition of taking each child out on a "date". Every Thursday Dan and I take turns with each of our children. For the month of October, we decided to take them out on an "expensive" date. This was a great opportunity to do something with them that we just don't do very often because of cost. We also thought it would be a good idea to teach the kids a little about manners in restraunts and things like that. Hailey went first. She went out on a date with me (Mom). She had been wanting to go and check out that new store Rue 21. We had a lot of fun trying on clothes (she tried on clothes, not me...lol). We found a few cute shirts. We then went out for fast food at Wendy's. I had a lot of fun having one on one time with her. She is growing so fast!

The next week Dan took Abby out to "Desert Star". It's a melodramatic theater where they do spoofs on movies/stories. Abby went to see "Snooty and the Beast". Dan and I had just recently seen this on our date night a few weeks earlier and thought Abby would love it! Abby loves acting/singing/dancing. We also found a great class called "Up With Kids" for Abby to attend once a week. She will perform in a play called Wicked/The Wizard of Oz in May. She has been loving this class! She learns how to perform and also all about acting. On her date Dan, they ordered pizza and hollared and hooted with the rest of the crowd during this fun play. I was super jealous Dan got to take her out, I really wanted to watch her face as they performed. Dan had a lot of fun with Abby.

The following week it was my turn again and I took out Rachel. She has been begging me to get her ears pierced. So we took a trip to Claires. She chose some very cute star earrings. She was a little nervous but did really well! She loves her new earrings! She then wanted to go out to Applebee's for dinner. I had so much fun with her! She is such a sweet little lady. We talked and laughed and took lots of pictures!

Joe changed his mind about a hundred times on where he wanted to go on his date with Dad. At first it was riding motorcycles, then it was bowling, movies...but he finally settled on Chucky Cheeses..LOL! I was so glad that it was Dan's turn! I wish we had pictures of Hailey and Joe but didn't take our camera with us on these dates. Dan said Joe earned like 300 tickets and was really excited to "buy" a little toy gun with his tickets.

This months is free month. It's interesting listening to the kids brainstorm about what they want to do with us on their dates this month. Hailey went shopping to the mall. Our price limit is $5. Hailey found a cute necklace on sale. Dan helped her look. It's fun to see him in action with our girls. He is such a good Daddy.

Abby wanted to make necklaces (I have recently acquired a new fun hobby of making necklaces, watches and earrings). So she chose some beads from my collection and we made a necklace and went out for an ice cream cone.

I'm excited to see what Rachel and Joe will decide to do. This has been the BEST thing for us and our kids! I also love getting in the habit of having time with each one, especially with a new little one arriving in the next few months.

Rachel before her ears were pierced.

Ray after her ears were pierced.
Ray and I at Applebee's

Abby in front of the stage at Desert Star.

Halloween Parade

Rachel (Princess)

Joe at home before parade (Darth Vader)
Hailey (Witch) Blurry, dang it!

Abby (in the middle, Runway Diva)

No Weights

I have low iron...resulting in some not so happy things I'd rather not get into. Well, when baby is stealing it from me, lifting weights will only result in robbing me of more iron. I am not allowed to lift weights for now, and maybe not until this baby is born. I have to tell Melanie (my GBFF). I am sad :(

23 Weeks

I visited my doctor today. She asked me how I was doing and feeling...I told her I felt as though I'd "popped" in the last couple of weeks. She just smiled and took out her measuring tape. I hear a gasp and a "WOW, you did grow!" I am amazed at how easy this pregnancy is in some ways and how hard it is in others. I can't believe I have kept up with my exercise! My only hope is that is makes some difference when it is all said and done. I do know that I've been able to keep my weight down this pregnancy and that is nice! I've gained only 6 lbs total (lol...not counting the 10 I gained before I ever went in to the doc, haha!). Crazy! It has been hard in that I just shut down in the afternoon and evening. I have a great deal of energy in the morning, and then I don't feel like doing anything the rest of the day. It takes all I've got to make dinner, help the kids and anything else planned in the evenings during the week. I feel bad that I'm not more social. This is why...I'm so tired!

We have a list of names for girls and boys and it's cute to hear what the kids think this baby will be and what names they like. I'll share our list with you...

For a Girl:

Lilly

Molly

Ruth

Lucy

For a Boy:

Jessee

Benjamin

Cody (for Joe)

Tell me what you like best and maybe a middle name to go with it;)

One huge difference between this pregnancy and the others is my craving for sour things. I love sugar, as you know. I usually love things that are sour and fruity, not the biggest chocolate fan. But, things are different with this one. I LOVE chocolate. I have to ration it or keep it out of the house all together. I can't stand the thought of eating something sour. I have totally loved the farmers market and seriously ate a whole huge box of peaches and tomatoes on my own. I am lovin my veggies and that is usually another thing I can't handle well during pregnancy.

Well, I hope to update when we are a bit closer. I've tried to keep up on pictures and blogging, but am falling short. I love reading your blogs and love catching up on what all of you are up to!

Baking...Oh the Sweet Temptation!

Is it possible to bake something gooey, sweet, warm, soft, and wickedly delicious without eating it?

PLEASE TELL ME HOW!

All I have to say is I'm the hit of the house right now...with my amazing meals and yummy desserts. Going to the doc will be all sorts of fun in a couple of weeks when they tell me they no longer have a scale big enough for me...

Maybe I'll just bring them in some cinnamon rolls ;)