Thursday, August 28, 2008

Getting Ready for Baby

Sorry for the recent silence! We were without internet for over a week, and I guess I didn't have anything too exciting to post about anyway! We have mostly been sticking close to home lately, as we get closer to having a new baby in the house. I am really slowing down! Things are gradually getting marked off of my "to do before baby comes" list, but the sad thing is that it is NOT because I'm actually doing them, but rather because I'm deciding not to! LOL....




First, here's a picture of Joshua preparing to be a big brother - again. :) We had some friends over a week or so ago with a darling little girl, and handsome son that the kids enjoyed playing with.










And here was my (failed) attempt to get some nice pictures of the kids together while there were still only three of them! Israel did NOT like his hat, and was just out-of-sorts in general, and the other two's smiles faded quickly, as you can see in the next shot!























An here was another attempt, this time to take pictures of the kiddies with their "sibling under cover". It didn't work out too well either, but anyway, here we are!




































And my friend Kendra brought over the birthing tub this week! She also painted my toenails for me, which I SO appreciated! Hard to reach down there these days....


Anyway, we went out a few days ago to clean out the tub and bring it in the house, but the kids asked if we could fill it up and swim in it instead, so we did! (Or rather, they did!)





And that is how they have been spending the pas three days!











And no, I'm not going to leave it in the driveway!! Although, if we lived out in the middle of nowhere and the weather was right, an outdoor birth might be kinda nice......










Anyway, Israel did NOT like getting wet, so when he got splashed, he promptly removed his swimming trunks and took off running! I was on the phone and couldnt run in and get clothes for him immediately, so I took pictures of him instead!

















Why do babies think it is so fun to be naked?


















More preparation: sitting on the ball! This is actually one of the only relatively "comfortable" things I can do at this point, and it is supposed to be really good for optimal fetal positioning, too. ;-)















More prep: washing the liners for the carseat and infant rocker:











And this was a biggie. ALL summer I have looked for a chest of drawers for the baby at garage sales and found NOTHING suitable. The few I saw were either they were too junky, or they were asking way too much. Anyway, I'm glad I waited, because I found these two identical antique chests of drawers a couple of weeks ago, for FIVE dollars a piece!!!

So, we cleaned them up and aired them out, and replacing the dresser Joshua had with these two gave us the space we needed to keep them all in the same room. All ready, and stocked with freshly washed baby clothes, too!


Why all in the same room, you ask, when we have other rooms available? Well, because that is what is working right now. :-)
They like to be together, they don't get scared at night that way, the room is big enough for them to fit, and it is nice for me to have all their dressers in a row so I can get all their clothes out and put them all away much easier. We don't really use the bedroom for anything but sleeping or dressing, anyway, and it's good for them to learn to share. :)



I put up the pack-n-play in our room too, where the baby will sleep for the first six months or so.

And what is all that junk inside it? All the supplies for the birth. I think I have everything we need all gathered up now.





























If there is one thing I have tried to do with the small energy reserves I have on occasion, it is put food away in the freezer. We can live with dust on the baseboards after baby comes, but the longer I can go without having to cook too much, the better! The ladies at our church lovingly bless us with homemade meals for the first while, and then I can start pulling stuff out of the freezer. :)



So, anyway, it won't be long now!!!!!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Family Party, Milwaukee and Misc.



Here is a hodge-podge post of the past week:

The children just LOVE helping me in the kitchen! Sometimes it is just easier to "get it done", because with so much help, it takes me three times longer, but I'm trying to keep in mind that one day, it will pay off!





Their favorite part, of course, is licking the bowl and spoons - even though we were only making bread dough! I don't share their taste, although I do enjoy it if it's cookie dough!

















Isn't this just adorable??? Dominique and her friend, Kaylin. They were so giddy they could hardy stand still long enough to get a shot, giggling and falling all over each other! Girls!....














A few days ago, after lunch, Fabio and I were talking in the kitchen while the kids finished up. It was refreshing that they were being rather quiet and we could actually have a conversation - even Israel, who was crabby and ready for a nap. When we looked back, we realized why he was so quiet and just how ready for a nap he was!







Last week we had a family birthday party compliments of my Aunt Diane. She had the idea, since there are so many of us, that instead of sending each of a card, she would just sponsor a pizza party and we could celebrate *everyone's* birthdays, all at once! So, we did. :)




Mom got punching baloons for the kids and they were a big hit! This is Cheyenne with hers. She said it was a "pregnant belly". LOL - I do kinda look like that, don't I??







Our family birthday party happened to fall on Jessica's actual birthday, so even though we had celebrated once, we celebrated again! I can't believe she is 12 years old! (and almost as tall as me!!!)















Israel with his punching balloon:


















We all sang "Happy Birthday to us" and each had a cupcake to blow out the candle on!












Suzy's parents, sister Rhonda, and nephew Benny were also in town from GA to celebrate with us. It was great to see them!













Rhonda and an inflated Elizabeth:
















Then we left early Sunday morning for Milwaukee to visit a church there that is special to us. The Peruvian pastor there is the one that founded the church in Japan that Fabio and I were a part of years ago. They have been serving the Lord in Milwaukee now for about six years.
We stayed until Monday afternoon and had a wonderful visit with them.






Pastor Edgardo, Ana, Fabio and I













Their oldest daughter Katy and I:













With their youngest daughter Genesis:













And with their middle daughter Gizeth:














The little princess on the slide with my littles is Gizeth's daughter Priscilla, who is 14 months old:






















I will share one last little bit of *almost* excitment to for this week before I close. I had my prenatal check-up on Tuesday and the mw was unsure when she palpated my belly whether she was feeling one or two babies....
So, she came back on Wednesday to feel again and listen carefully for heart tones, thinking that if baby was in a different position, she may be able to confirm the presence of only one baby, or not.
Unfortunately, she was still not sure of what was going on - I was "so full of baby" and there were "little parts all over the place". There was enough doubt in her mind about the possible presence of twins, that she highly recommended that I go in for an ultrasound. So, I did, on Thursday evening. The ultrasound confirmed that there is only ONE baby present in my womb, but s/he seems to be very BIG. Surprise, surprise, huh? So, after two days of anticipation, I was rather disappointed, but I am glad to know for sure now instead of wondering from now until the birth! We still have one surprise to look forward to, though - we opted out of finding out baby's gender....

Anyway, even with only one, I am extremely "full of baby" and actually feel like I might burst sometimes! I am slowing down considerably these days out of sheer necessity, and what little energy I have I am trying to use for nesting and preparing for baby's arrival, while I can still move!

More later!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The Hairdo

This post will mostly be in pictures, because I'm short on time! But we got some nice time with our friends John and Gina and sons the other day and here are some pictures of our time at their place:














Friday, August 08, 2008

Bellies and Buddies








Where did my feet go???













Hehe. Joshua took these pictures of me about two weeks ago - which means that I've gotten bigger since then!























Do any of you "old" friends of mine remember my "old" neighbor Julie? We got together last week for the first time in about six years! She is also expecting her fourth baby. It was great to see her!












This was at Joshua's soccer game last week. He was playing against our friend's little girl's team!


It was a good thing Tammy and I took the opportunity to take this picture, because the next day Tammy left the "belly club"- by giving birth to a beautiful baby boy!



One more of Michelle and I. She is my belly friend that is closest in timing to me - due five days before me! :)


And now I have a brand NEW belly buddy!! My sister-in-law Amanda recently discovered that they are expecting baby number five! Congratulations, guys!