Sing With Me...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to my sweet, savvy, smart, squeezable Reese and Charlotte...

Happy Birthday to you (two)!!

You are 5 today my little ladies!

I am so lucky to be your mama. We love you more than you could ever imagine!!

Happy Birthday, babes!

40 Week Baby Boy Bump

Today was my actual due date, so I couldn't help myself but to do a different kind of "baby bump" pic.

I thought I loved my bump last week, but oh am I SO in love with it this week...

probably because he's on the outside now instead of the inside :)...

(maybe he's not completely on my belly as much as my chest, but in my sling he's much lower.)

(and speaking of chest's, he had a hard time eating yesterday...so I blamed myself...and then I cried. But last night he did much better...and I was so happy...and then I cried again.)

(so basically, I guess crying is how I react to things right now.)

(I'm a big 'ol hormonal roller coaster. Get in line, it's fun!)

Consider me taking a picture of myself 8 days postpartum as a sign of how much I love you ladies. We are friends forever now, there's no turning back.

We might as well set up a coffee date where we can talk about belly binders, net underwear, and engorgement.

Ahem.

SO...I'm off to the store with my mom and the kiddos, I still can't drive for another week. 

I figure I'll take someone with me now for assistance while I figure out the logistics of taking 6 kiddos out to run errands. That way by next week, I'll be a pro at it.

Haha...a pro...who knows what shes doing...yea right.

Oh well, who has time right now to figure it all out when you have this little face to stare at??

 

Sigh...I love that little man. :)

Back In The Swing Of Things

1. We are home, and have been since Friday afternoon. Leaving the hospital is sometimes emotional, I just love those nurses...and that button on the side of the bed that sends whatever you need at any hour.

2. Life is, as expected, a little crazy...but a lot of wonderful.

3. The girls are adjusting well. They have rough moments, but in general are doing great. And like I predicted, always wanting to hold Lincoln...they basically stand in line.

4. I am feeling pretty good. I quickly learned that recovery may be a bit more bumpy this time around since I'm trying to adjust to this I-have-a-half-dozen-kids gig.

5. I'm looking for our new normal, hopefully it will show up soon :).

(and hopefully it will bring a Tall Mocha with a double shot of espresso from Starbucks.)

(I'd be ok if it brought a cleaning fairy as well.)

6. I have yet to take a ton of pictures because it's hard to take pictures of Lincoln when I rarely put him down :). But here is one of daddy and his new little man...

7. I had this thing over the weekend, I like to refer to it as "engorgement-palooza". Sweet mercy, I have never had anything like this happen when my milk came in, the swelling was like something off of the Discovery Health channel. Is that to much information for a Monday morning? Sorry.

8. Rest assured that things are flowing well thanks to some ice packs, cabbage leaves, and an amazing lactation lady from the hospital. Lincoln is now eating like a champ. Again, possibly to much info.

9. I had some questions about what our C name was - it was Colson. We tossed it around, never felt real attached to it, and finally left it high and dry when Lincoln came along. And his middle name is Lynch, it's a family name.

10. And yes, he has peed on me, once. :)

Hope you all had a great weekend!

A Quick Check-In

Just wanted to pop in and say that we are all still here, and doing well :).

It's been a little...well, busy, these past few days. It's been fun, exhausting, joyful, and of course, a little crazy at times. More on all that business later. :)

We are spending the day with family today for Easter - just relaxing, eating, and enjoying the newness that this Easter season brings.

(someone remind me that I'm not pregnant anymore, and to put the jelly beans down...and the peeps...and the cadbury eggs.)

Things look a little different this year, this house has never seen Easter eggs like this before...

Good times, huh??

I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully with some pics of little Lincoln and the girls.

Happy Easter, friends!

And Then There Were 6

Meet the new man in my life, Lincoln...

 Lincoln was born at 7:39am on April 19th, weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces, and is 21 inches long.

Oh, and he is just the sweetest little thing. This mama is definitely hooked.

I'm typing with one hand and holding him with the other.

He. Smells. So. Good.

After searching for and finally choosing a C name, we came across the name Lincoln a few weeks ago and never looked back.

He was without a doubt, the missing Linc to our family. :)

We are so, so thankful for him. And Eric? Well, let's just say he's a pretty proud daddy right now :).

So I'm off for now to feed him and get some more snuggles. I'll be back soon with more pictures!

Delivery Eve

Well, it looks like it's time to bring this babe into our family!

I am not making much progress on my own (and apparently my uterus isn't what it once was), so I have a c-section scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7am.

I'm a little nervous.

Alright I guess that depends on when you ask, cause this morning when I was wide awake at 4am I was really nervous.

Yep, I've already had 2 c-sections before.

And yep, for some reason I'm being a much bigger wimp this time around.

But he's more than worth it and the fact that we will be holding our little boy this time tomorrow makes me want to run outside and do cartwheels in the front yard at almost 40 weeks pregnant!

(we really like our neighbors though, so I won't make a scene like that.)

Eric has been making me laugh because he all the sudden has this "it still could be a girl" feeling in the back of his mind.

Which would be fine. But I saw the ultrasound :).

I'm trying to get last minute things done today - like laundry, the store, and packing our hospital bag. I would like the house to be perfect when we leave tomorrow...but I'm not holding to tightly to that!

We have to be at the hospital at 5am, which means we will need to get up at 3am - I'm hoping that we get some sleep...but I'm sure we can rest a bit after the delivery...or maybe I'll just stare at his sweet little newborn face instead :).

I will be updating twitter when I can (on my sidebar)...probably not a lot, but most likely to at least say "He's here! Pictures and details coming asap...".

Sooo, that's about it. I would love for you to pray for a safe and healthy delivery, and that my recovery would go smoothly and quickly :)!

I'll be posting soon! Happy Monday, friends!

Mean Anonymous Comments Are My Favorite!

Updated to say...

I've thought about this, and I hope I didn't deal with it in the wrong way. The comment(s) were hurtful. Any mother's feathers would be ruffled when you feel like your mothering skills and/or your family was being attacked. BUT, I do want this blog to be honoring to the Lord, and maybe sometimes that means I need to just turn the other cheek when people don't have nice things to say. I'm workin' on that :).

I really want to give you all the biggest hug for your encouragement and your sweet-make-me-laugh comments - you know the ones where you hug someone and just shake 'em with love? Yea, that kind of hug.

There's no such thing as the perfect mom, that's why we kinda need to stick together and uplift one another. Being a mom is a rough job, we need each other :).

----------------------------------------------

Original Post...

I really don't even want to take the time to address this, but seriously, I just felt like I should. This blog is a journal of our fun, loving, crazy, and yes, growing family. I love sharing the ends and outs of life with you ladies (and maybe some men?), it's a gigantic blessing in my life.

You're never going to come here and not get reality, because I don't want to look back in 10 years and say to myself, "wow, I wish I would have documented how our life really was...the good, the bad, and the crazy...instead of trying to pretend to be something we're not."

Right?

If you're coming here to find the perfect mom who has all the answers and whose kids are always perfect and well behaved, you've come to the wrong place...cause she ain't here.

Hopefully what you'll always find here are lighthearted, funny, might-as-well-laugh-at-your-situation, real stories and tales of our family. Knowing how to determine between what is meant to be funny and what is meant to be serious is a must around this place.

Sarcasm, I've got it, and I use it.

I usually ignore and/or delete useless comments, but when this hormone charged pregnant lady got this one, I was a tad frustrated...

Anonymous said...

"our walmart has them, too...and our target..bt my 31-months old twins have not gotten near it at all. why? because i control them. because they are in the shopping cart or a stroller...that's why. it is not the norm, if you will, to have two sets of twins, a singelton, and be pregnant, too..that's a lot of kids, with all due respect. it is your choice, of course, but you have to think that people will always pay a lot of attention to you and will say things. i have twins and even with just one set, we get a lot of attention.
i do think that kids need to learn how to behave in public. of course, OF COURSE, you will have an outing with tantrums when they are 2-4 years old...but...come on...how do you think that you will have any time to teach any of them any behaviour if you simply can't do that because of the number of children you have??? maybe 6 kids will teach you the lesson and you will stop making more babies!"

(insert me taking a deep breath in...and trying not to breath fire out.)

Each to their own I always say, and not every family is cut out to be a big family. Just have the amount of kids you think God wants for your family, and for what you personally think you can handle. But leave the judgements and assumptions to yourself.

That's why it's so stinkin' hard for women to get a long these days, everyone is so busy comparing and passing judgment. Goodness, enough is enough!

And just for the record, in my defense - I do have control, my children do listen, and the fact that my kids have pulled a few to many balls from that stupid display doesn't say anything about the "behavior" that I'm teaching them. We're not perfect. I do the best I can to teach my kiddos how to treat other people with kindness, to not pass judgment, to love each other, to love the Lord, and to have fun while doing it.

And it appears that they are turning out to be pretty sweet little girls.

Thankyouverymuch.

SO, now that that's out of the way, the majority of you will be happy to know that I had a Dr's appointment this morning and there is a little boy coming very, very soon :).

I can't even tell you how excited we are, and how beyond blessed we already feel by adding this little guy! I will post before we head to the hospital, I'm hoping to get another belly pic in here at some point.

Can you believe it's almost time :)!?

The Worst Display Ever

After a crazy trip to good ol' Target the other day, I decided to re-post my letter to them about my least favorite display on the planet.

It's like my nemesis.

And this letter is like my therapy.

I haven't been frequenting the store lately cause I'm having trouble keeping up with the girls with this sweet little (but most likely big) guy strapped to the front of me :). And more than that, I have started to not care as much about them running a little wild in public...just cause I don't have the energy to stop the wild right now.

And when I stop caring about the wild even a little, well, people start to whisper and point.

SO, anyway...

Dear Target,

I don't want this to come between us.

You know you're my favorite.

But this is an incredibly tempting display. Not to mention a pain in my side every time we stop by.

You must know that in 30 seconds my 2 yr olds can go from normal children, to destruction master minds. It's a gift.

I don't understand how someone who can't tie their own shoes, can unhinge a metal display. I can't spend anymore time trying to figure that out.

This contraption says 5 things:

1. Children, run don't walk to this tower of  (destructive) opportunity.
2. Pull ball(s) from cage - scream till one is in cart.
3. The more you pull out, the more fun you will have.
4. Take out as many as you can, and do it while the tired, waddling, pregnant lady isn't looking.
5. Charge parents $5 for something that cost .05 cents to make.

I took my eyes off them for like 5 seconds, I don't even know how one (or two) can pull that many bouncy balls from the display in such a short time. It's a total mystery to me.

Now I have to go fetch the ones that rolled all the way back to your automotive section.

Target, get rid of this. Please. For me. For all mom's.

Stop making mothers stand here and explain why they can't buy another one...since they have like 100 at home.

I don't want to fight. I just want to come in, get a Mocha Frappuccino, and cruise the ends of the aisles for all those red sticker deals.

(thank you for my $4 lamp from last week, btw. It looks just delicious in the babe's room.)

This display is your decision, not mine.

Next time, I'm not going pick them all up. You might end up with 50 giant bouncy balls in your electronics department - sometimes, you just have to learn the hard way.

Target, you know I love you, we just need to work through this.

Sincerely,
Kate

I Wish I Didn't, But I Do

I worry, I get anxious, and can I let it consume my mind from time to time.

It's kinda funny, actually. Because for the most part, I'm a pretty laid back, go with the flow kind of gal.

Kids are running crazy in the store? No idea what I'm feeding the crew for dinner? Someone has emptied the entire tube of toothpaste onto the bathroom sink? No worries, life is not an emergency, remember?

But the big things, the situations that are basically out of my control, those things that I can't change - that is what I worry about, even though I am fully aware that we have a God who tells us not to worry.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

We came across some things yesterday that are pointing us in the direction of a c-section, that could be scheduled next week sometime. The details aren't really interesting enough to go into, but the bottom line is that there are just some concerns that my uterus has been stretched to thin after carrying 2 consecutive sets of (pretty big) twins.

And so I start to worry a little and get nervous...about a c-section and all that comes with it, even though I've already had 2.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

I am still praying for an early vbac, that labor would start when my body isn't completely maxed out, at a time when my body could handle a natural delivery. But if not, that's ok too. I know God gives us the desires of our heart, and right now, my desire is to just get our little guy here safe and sound, to a mama that is safe and healthy as well.

I'm a work in progress when it comes to this worrying thing, this anxious feeling that I let sink in a little to often. And right now I just feel like God is trying to teach me to wait on Him, to stop trying to figure things out, to be patient, and to remember and believe that He knows what is best.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

It's easy though to let worry consume some of your time, isn't it? The bills, the kids, the future - those things can get into my mind and raise all kinds of trouble, even though I know that God is in control and that He wants me to trust Him completely.

I say that I trust Him, but it's time for me to start acting like I trust Him, in every area of my life.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

So that is what I'm doing today, praying through my concerns and thoughts as I wash and fold these little blue clothes and blankets to prepare for our little man.


Maybe after the laundry I'll pack my hospital bag, you know, just so I'm prepared for the unexpected :).

Mondays Are For Lists, Don't Ya Think?

1. It was a busy, but good weekend around here.

2. We decided to do Reese and Charlotte's birthday party yesterday just in case...you know...I get to go into labor in the next 14 days.

3. I felt a little guilty for doing it 2 weeks early, but it turns out they don't care if the party is on their actual birthday, or a month before. As long as there is cake and presents, life is good!

4. Can you believe I made that cake all by myself???

5. Alright I didn't, but I did eat a big ol' piece all by myself...at the party...and then again at 11pm...and then maybe again at 6am.

(but who's counting?)

6. I fully expect to pay for it on the scale this morning at my check up. And it was totally worth it.

7. It was 81 degrees here which makes this pregnant lady a little nervous...excited for summer, but nervous because like I've mentioned before, I have been known to swell when I'm with child.

8. Swelling as in people point and say, "maybe you should have your doctor look at that..."

9. But the good news is that up till now, I haven't really had much swelling. The little man has been good to me already in that way. In my last pregnancy my ankle bones waved goodbye at about 25 weeks.

10. I was telling my mom that I needed to get out some of my summer clothes, like my capri's and such. And then I realized that when you're 38 weeks pregnant, that basically just means trading your sweat pants out for sweat capri's.

11. It's all good. Sweat capri's are cool , right?  Riiigghht.

12. Sooo, our little almost 5yr olds had a blast at their unseasonably warm birthday party - and they are super excited to eat cake and ice cream on their actual birthday with their new little brother who will have joined us by then :).

13. I'm heading out for my check up with the Dr. Here's hoping we have some progress from last week!

14. And here's hoping we have a baby next week!

(or, you know, whenever he's ready to come :))

15. Oh, and I laughed and smiled and laughed some more at your "what it's like to have a boy" comments, they made my day :).

Hope you all had a great weekend! Happy Monday!

What I Didn't Know About Boys, I Learned On The 1st Grade Class Field Trip

I went on a field trip yesterday with Ella's 1st grade class to the Kid's museum. Yep,  with all 26 of them.

I thought if running around the museum wouldn't help labor along, at least the bus rides would. Goodness.

I knew the moment I heard Ella and some other little girls singing a cute girly song, while the little boys in the seat behind me were yelling, "my butt is on fire, my butt is on fire!", that I was about to get a close up view at how different the 2 genders are.

(I had to turn and look out the window to try to hide my laughter as the teacher told them to stop yelling that.)

And while you would think it was full of learning about science and solar systems, I got to spend the day with a group of boys who taught me a few things.

1. Boys run, they don't walk next to you. And they don't care about leaving you in the dust even though you're pregnant and waddling.

2. "Get in a straight line" somehow translates to "push each other over and act like you're throwing grenades."

3. While the girls play tea party at the water table, the boys will try to dunk each others heads. Repeatedly.

(note to self - its hard to correct and/or discipline them when you think what they're doing is hilarious as well. Insert parent chaperon fail here.)

4. Pointing at you with the fake gun they made with their hand and making shooting noises is sort of a sign of endearment.

5. They can go to the bathroom alone, unlike the girls in the group who have to go together. And they don't play in front of the mirror while in there. They get their business done, and they get out.

6. At lunch, they just eat. They aren't sitting down to chat with their friends about the 1st half of  their day, they are re-fueling, catching a quick breath, and then moving on. Why chat when you can play?

7. Sweating is just part of who they are, because they never stop moving.

8. They don't really want to ask for help, but when they do, it is so, so sweet.

9. The girls are clearly more interested in them than they are in the girls. They have bigger things on their plates, like saving the universe.

10. Bodily functions are a topic of interest, and apparently are hilarious as well. The more embarrassing, the better.

11. There is no drama with boys like there is with the girls. There is a disagreement, maybe a shove or a "stop it!!!", and then they carry on. It's wonderful.

12.Pregnancy doesn't interest them like it does the little ladies who have a million questions. One little boy summed it up well when he said, "Umm...Ella...I think you're mom is pregnant...or something." I'm pretty sure that was the nice way of saying, "Ella, your mom has put on some weight in the mid-section since the Christmas party."

Oh my, I just smile when I think of how fun they were, a small glimpse at what it's like to spend the day with such rambunctious little spirits.

Made me even more excited for our little guy :).

So what else can you tell me about boys? What else am I in for, friends? :)

Rounding The (Delivery) Corner

Well, we truly are in the home stretch!

37 weeks and counting down the days.

The Dr says I'm dilated to 1.

He also says that he will not let me try a vbac even 1 day past my due date, once I hit the 27th, we will do a c-section

Unless we opt to do a c-section instead of a vbac, then he will do it on the 20th.

Which is only 15 DAYS AWAY.

Reese and Charlotte's birthday is on the 28th, 1 day after my actual due date.

I'm being a little obsessive about not wanting all 3 birthdays on the same day.

Am I throwing to many dates and numbers at you?? :)

The doc also says he doesn't think I'll make it much past 38 weeks before I go into labor...but who knows, right? :)

I am already having contractions off and on.

So my Target habit will be reinstated. You see that crazy lady running up and down the aisle with her cart? Yea, that's me.

I have 22 days to produce a bouncing baby boy before the vbac is off the table.

(but again, it's totally OK if a c-section is the plan, as long as my little man gets here safely...a successful vbac would just be an added bonus!)

22 days or less till we meet our little love...

till we hear his sweet little cry.

Goodness, I can't wait!

Sooo...

Tell me...

When did you go into labor?

Please tell me many of you went into labor a little before 40 weeks. Tell me there is a chance that I will go into labor before the due date. Lie to me if you must.

Have you done anything to naturally, you know, move things along? (will running laps around Target help??)

I would love to hear!

Happy Tuesday!