Christmas 2012

Can't believe this Christmas has come and gone. And I still have a baby in my belly! Even though it was hard to plan anything, and we ended up changing things at the last minute and being flexible, we had a really nice Christmas with our families.

Early Saturday morning I woke up with regular contractions, so we went to the hospital. We were being cautious because it's our third and we knew we had a 30 minute drive down to Pomerado. We got down there around 2:30 and the contractions stopped. We walked for an hour and still nothing so we went home. 

Here we are walking around on trip #1 to the hospital. Don't you just love the gowns?

The next day we mostly hung around the house, thinking labor would start back up any minute. We napped, played with the boys and took a walk around the ranch. 

The next day (Sunday), we had Christmas with my family. We had a delicious brunch and opened roughly one million presents. 

Eric whacking Jake's new trike with his light saber.

Racing

The boys have a Christmas book where the boy gets a big orange in his stocking and they thought that was the coolest thing ever. My mom put one in each of their stockings and they were so excited!

Chocolate before bed. Must be Christmas.

That night around 6:30 I started having contractions (I had been having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions since Saturday) that were uncomfortable and regular again. Still thinking it was all going to get started and go fast, we headed back down again thinking it was time. Nope. Home again. Not before a drive-thru cheese burger at 1:30am.

Trip #2 to the hospital. I opted out of the gown this time.

Next day was Christmas Eve and we decided to do our own family Christmas then, again, not knowing when baby was coming.

Eric chose these Angry Birds jammies for Christian

I guess I didn't take any other pictures of this...

After presents we went into town for brunch at Denny's.

At Denny's

The boys got to use umbrellas, which they thought was pretty awesome.

For the record, I had an adorable pink and black outfit for Lela which would have gone perfectly with these Christmas Eve outfits... Ah well, she'll wear it soon!

That evening we went to my Gramma's for Christmas Eve dinner. Let me just interject here and say my mom is amazing! She has been doing the work of 3 or 4 different people all at once the past couple weeks. She cleaned my house and has been keeping the boys a lot. Then had to come to our house at 2am, then stayed the next night since we were expecting labor any second. Then she cooked the brunch for all of us, came back the next night and she was also in charge of all the cooking for Christmas Eve at my Gramma's! She's the best!

After dinner, a bunch of us went with Gramma to her church for Candlelit service, and it was so nice! Then we came back for dessert and presents.

Kiddos playing with Angela and Trixie

Time for a sing-along!

The next afternoon we headed to Oma and Poppa's. We had a yummy prime rib dinner and a really fun time.

Eric played with Gracie's princess game.

We had a wonderful, crazy Christmas this year and we are so thankful for people to spend it with.

As for the baby situation, we are actually scheduled for an induction this evening. I had an appointment this morning and we decided to go ahead with it. I have had the other two kids naturally, so this is definitely a different approach than I would prefer, but quite frankly, we really need this baby to come in 2012 (insurance deductible, taxes, etc.). We are so excited to meet our sweet Lela tonight or tomorrow!

Eric is Four!

To Our Eric,

This past year you have grown so much in so many ways! Not only are you growing taller, your heart is growing, too, as you continue to become the most incredible boy! You are smart and curious, driven and passionate. You still like to push boundaries, but in this past year we have loved watching you develop empathy and a desire to care for and protect those you love. You don't like it when Mommy is upset and try your best to talk me out of it or make me feel better when you can. You love your brother and are so excited to meet your new sister.  We can't wait to see how you are with her. Thank you for the laughs, questions, love and growth you bring to this house every day. We love you infinity!!

37 weeks, 6 days

This pregnancy is rapidly (and sloooowly) nearing its end, so I thought I'd check in. I am in the very uncomfortable stage, with a lot of pain in my hip area. I have been limping around like an old person for a week or so :) Other than that though, we are good. Baby is healthy and content and growing well. (Although Jacob is CONVINCED and has told us on a number of occasions that she will not have legs or feet when she is born)

I went to the doctor yesterday and he said I'm about 1cm and 70% effaced. This change all occurred since my previous appointment a week ago, which prompted him to say, "Let's really try to keep her in for another week, rather than 3-4 days." The boys have been sick and I feel like maybe I'm getting it, so it would be better for all of us - especially the baby - if we can bring her home to a healthy/semi-rested house.

We are planning to have a birthday party for Eric this weekend, so it would be nice if she came right after that... But of course, this is not my decision! :)

Almost 34 weeks!

I just got home from my doctor appointment. I am 33w 5d pregnant and getting more and more anxious to meet this little girl! Everything is going beautifully. Dr. L calls this another "vanilla pudding pregnancy". Everything is going normally and by-the-book. I am very thankful for that (and he is too)! He says my numbers look great and I am a model pregnant lady... I celebrated by getting a large fries at McDonald's on my way home :)

I am still feeling ok, though I am pretty sore and tired by the end of the day! Fewer and fewer things fit me and since she is sitting so low, my favorite part of the day is changing out of my clothes into jammies or Christian's old boxers. So much more comfy!! :)

The boys are very excited to meet her and both of them tell her they love her and give her kisses every day. We were a little worried Jake was not going to give up his baby status easily, but the past few weeks he seems to be understanding what is happening a bit more and is happy about it.

Here is our chubby-cheeked sweetie :)

And here is my belly 

(and Jake being very mad about something)

Legoland - Take 2!

We went back to Legoland. This time it was open! My parents came along and we had a really fun time together exploring the park. We didn't see and do everything, but we definitely got to do a lot!

Digging for dinosaur fossils!

 I think they would've been happy to spend the whole day here.

Jake has been really into his daddy lately

Granny & Pa

Riding boats

Eric got to drive his very own car!

And fly a helicopter!

Jake and Granny are in the red one

Playing Legos while waiting for a ride.

Another boat ride

In the aquarium.

We bought Eric his first set of "big kid Legos", so he and Christian had lots of fun playing with them when we got home.

Wally World

So a couple weeks ago we had this plan to go to Legoland and use some discount tickets we had. We have never been there, and it seemed like the perfect place to take the kids. Christian took the day off work and so did my dad. My parents and my sister and nieces went with us. We had been telling the kids about it for days and hyping it up.

So the Wednesday morning finally arrived (many of you now know how this story ends) and we woke up all excited to go to Legoland for the first time ever! Christian had gotten a bee sting the day before and because he has such a bad reaction, he ended up deciding to stay home :(

The rest of us loaded up and headed for Carlsbad....

You remember the movie, Family Vacation, where the family travels across the country to visit their beloved Wally World only to find it closed when they finally arrive? Well, that's pretty much what it looked and felt like to us as we pulled up into an empty parking lot. We had no idea they were closed on Wednesdays! Needless to say, the kids were a little bummed and Sarah started looking for a moose to punch.

The only Legos we got to see

My parents took pity on the carload of disappointed kids and grandkids and decided to take us all to Sea World.

The kids rolled with the change of plans and we all ended up having a really fun day. Thanks, Mom and Dad for coming to the rescue!

Waiting in line for a ride. I couldn't go on anything since I'm pregnant.

Jake was Pa's little buddy

Jake just held the bar and put his head on his hands for this ride. He was a little overwhelmed!

Jake loosened up and had more fun on each ride :)

The kids LOVED the pet show!

Then they got to pet the animals afterwards

Watching a walrus eat lunch

:)