where motherhood and fashion collide

I am really excited about being a guest blogger over at Sweet Athena.  The awesome gals that write this crafty blog host guest bloggers for their ever-changing themes.  Isn't a seasonal theme fun?  This season they are writing about fashion and generously asked me to contribute.  Go check it out!  Thanks Jess and Linz!  I had a blast writing this piece.

39 weeks

I'm more than just a little anxious for our third baby to arrive. I got caught up in the hype of everyone thinking she'd come early. The doctors even said the third baby often arrives early. I guess I've been ready for her arrival for a good three weeks now. Every week that I have to go back to the doctors or gymnastic class and hear "You're STILL pregnant?" is kind of rough. To be fair, my due date isn't until October 16 so technically she could still come "early". It's a bit annoying that neighbors or almost strangers act frustrated that I'm still pregnant. I should be the only one allowed to be annoyed that my baby has decided she's comfortable where she is. Am I right?

Three weeks ago I was extremely uncomfortable because I was always short of breath and having dizzy spells mostly because the baby was crowding my lung capacity. Once she dropped I immediately felt like I had more energy and oxygen to fuel my days. The only problem now is that the baby sits on my sciatic nerve and makes it tough to walk. Her movements are painful as well. I'm not sure what's better at this point having her in my lungs or between my legs. Bottom line is that Hokie Bird #3 is getting too big for the space inside.I'm still 4 cm dilated after three weeks at this point. Even after punishing myself with walking and lifting and not taking it easy. If anything I've been pushing myself a little too much at gymnastics class, preparing the house for our new baby's arrival, physically straining activities on the weekends. All with no luck in getting this baby to budge.

After getting over the mental let down of still being pregnant today, when I've literally been packing my toothbrush in my hospital bag every night now for two weeks, I am trying to see the upside to still having this baby in my belly.

The good news is that she's big and strong. Her heart rate is strong and she's moving all the time. Both Addie and Bella were born right at 40 weeks give or take a day or two and weighed over 8 lbs. They came out bright pink, screaming, and ready to nurse right away. Our new baby girl is probably going to follow suit and be a nice big healthy girl right from the start. The other positives I can see is that I get a bit more time with Bella as my baby. I've been savoring our time together alone when Addie is at school. When the baby arrives I won't have nearly the flexibility that I do now and I'm sure that I'll be too tired to play as much right away. My Mommy/Bella time has been priceless.

The last plus for the baby staying put is that we get to stay in America a tad longer. The moment she arrives, our countdown clock starts ticking to move to Ethiopia and right now that's just too much for me to handle.

I do have an end date scheduled. I will be induced on October 21 if the baby doesn't arrive on her own. It's longer to wait than I had hoped. 5 days past my due date sounds like torture right now but at least I know I won't be pregnant after that day. The waiting is excruciating!

*I guess I'm technically closer to 40 weeks now than 39 but the photos were taken on Sunday by Addie when we were apple picking. This one was taken the day before at the pumpkin patch. The girls are always hugging their little sister. Bella won't let Justin leave for work without kissing the baby. He just bends down and plants one on my belly and Bella giggles. It's pretty cute.

35 weeks pregnant

I definitely know how pregnant I am now. No more guessing at the month or week. Our baby girl is getting big and making me very uncomfortable. Sometimes at night when she wakes up and starts moving around I have to get out of bed and kind of rock her back to sleep by moving around. At this point she might as well be out and nursing and getting snuggles if she's going to be keeping me awake at night. My maternity support belt is a must right now. Lord help me if I forget to put it on. Yesterday, at the preschool open house a mom said I took the cake for my "fake pregnant belly" pregnancy. It's definitely in that freak show stage. Have a look.

growing belly

around 6 months pregnantaround 7 months pregnant
My OB in VA says the due date we are sticking to is October 16.

It's a Girl!

We had our detailed congenital scan yesterday and found out the good news that we are having a third baby girl and that she's healthy and growing nicely. Watching her little hands and feet move were the sweetest thing. Even the third time around it brings tears to my eyes. She liked to have her hands up by her face for much of the scan. Addie did the same thing when she was tiny.

When the doctor moved the wand down underneath her legs to determine the sex he didn't even have to point out to us what we were looking at. She's definitely our little girl.

We are thrilled! Now we have to name her.

somewhere between 4 and 5 months pregnant

I'm about 4 and a half months pregnant. I'm still squeezing my belly (and rear end) into my regular one piece swim suit. It think it may be time to get a maternity suit this go around. All in all it wasn't a bad place to be while four and a half months pregnant.

somewhere between 3 and 4 months

I'll tell you the difference between my third pregnancy and my first two. I have no idea how far along I am right at this moment. Justin reminded me the other day we should take a picture of my belly for the new baby and I had to roll around in my head how pregnant I was already.

I know I'm pregnant enough that I can't get any of the buttons done on my shorts or any zippers pulled up on my jeans. My belly band usage is in full force now. I know I am pregnant enough that I don't feel nauseous much any longer; only when I'm crazy hungry. I'm pregnant enough to need some of the back relief exercises I use as well as the little wedge pillow at night. I'm up every few hours at night to pee. My real maternity clothes still kind of hang on me. That's how pregnant I am right now.

I have a four month check up sometime in the first week of May and Bella's birthday is this Friday. That's as close as I'm going to get to pinpointing how far along this pregnancy is! My lack of following the days one by one doesn't in any way reflect my excitement level for this new baby. In fact, I love thinking about the little bundle in there without counting the days. I've got other stuff to count down to right now.

Hello, it's me again

I've been very very absent from the blog the past few weeks. My pregnancy has zapped all my energy and all my motivation. It takes every ounce of my will to take care of Addie and Bella all day long. By the time they are in bed I am ready to do the same. I think I need to up the iron intake like when I was pregnant with Addi and Bella. I feel like I want to sleep all day long.

Justin has been on other continents for two and half weeks out of the last four or five (I can't recall which now) so I've been flying solo, which isn't entirely solo when Cora is there to help out Monday through Friday, but as any other parent knows; when one parent is gone the children start getting clingy and behavior starts to dip a bit. We've been staying busy for the most part but after awhile the girls just want their Daddy! I think they could tell Mama's patience was wearing thin towards the end of this last trip.

I turned 31 last Thursday, which was marked my the girls and I baking a cake (Bella playing with the egg shells in the photo). Once my children entered my life the excitement of birthdays completely shifts to them. My birthday is hardly party worthy when I have two gorgeous girls to shower with love and excitement on their special days. All I need on my birthday is a homemade card from my daughters and a big hug and a kiss from my husband. Neither of which I received this year but honestly, no big deal. I got lots of love from my friends and family and being with my two favorite little blondies all day was pretty great. I wasn't going to make a cake initially, I thought I would wait until Justin got home but when I asked Addie if she was going to sing me "Happy Birthday" that morning she said she wanted to wait until birthday time later when we had cake. That's when I knew I wasn't going to get a Happy Birthday from her unless we had cake. Off to the kitchen I went. We ended up eating the poorly assembled (but delicious) cake and then had a dance party in the living room. I don't get too sentimental about my own birthdays. I recognize that in the big picture of life, I am still relatively young. Even though at 20 I could hardly picture myself at 30. I knew I would have a family but other than that I couldn't see that far into the future. So far I've only lived a year into my third decade and it's by far better than the previous one. I'm more comfortable in my skin, I am happy, and content and secure in my wonderful marriage. I couldn't be happier or more content in my role as mother to my two little girls. Then there is the third baby on the way. Pregnancy generally makes me feel alive and peaceful; this time is no exception. I'm very lucky and thrilled to be me right at this moment in my life. I'm not wishing to be younger and I'm not wishing away the years to come. This point in life is pretty wonderful. I know that later on down the road I will look back on my 30s as the time when we were growing as a family, moving around the world, cultivating Justin's career, and raising our young children with all our efforts and energy. I have a feeling this decade we will be busy and happy and tired and crazy; but mostly full of life at it's best moments. Normally, I don't give March 31, much thought every year. I probably gave it more thought this year since I was alone.

The great thing is that Justin returned home on Saturday to a very excited household of girls who welcomed him home with hugs and kisses. The girls didn't even let Justin take a shower in peace after his long flights. They literally stood there in the bathroom giggling with excitement as he washed off the earthy spicy smell of Africa and the middle east.
We celebrated my birthday on Sunday by going out to dinner and retrieving a huge stack of boxes that had been collected in Justin's office while he was away. Good things come to those who wait because Justin surprised me with a new camera lens for my Nikon. I am so excited to start learning to use it. My initial attempts are not quite perfect but I think with time I should be able to get some nice portraits of Addie and Bella.We have about 8 weeks left in Manila before we pack up and head back to the States. It's coming up very fast and I am starting to get very anxious about all the things I still need to do before we leave. I had all sorts of things I wanted to get done and most likely they will not all be completed. I guess I need to prioritize.

Baby number 3 makes a family of 5

We're having another baby! Due October 23, 2011. Please excuse my absence on the blog I have been neglectful but it's only because I feel more tired than I ever have felt before (besides the first 8 months of both girls lives-that was tired too).

I'm also sick with a sensitive stomach, nausea, food aversions (tons of those in the Philippines), vomiting, cravings (too bad no one can send me grapefruit-I just want a stinking grapefruit and maybe a box of saltines) the whole nine yards just the same as the first two pregnancies. I thought I might be spared for the third pregnancy (after paying my dues last two times) but sure enough right at 6 weeks I started to feel crummy. I just hope the next few weeks hurry by so I can start to feel a little normal albeit my growing belly (which also seems to expand faster and faster with every pregnancy).

Addie is excited and talks about having another little sister. Bella might have a rude awakening when her favorite Mommy lap starts to be overtaken with the next baby. Both girls will be exceptional big sisters. Whether they have a little bother or sister.

We are thrilled because we will be welcoming this baby into the world in America! No med-evac travel necessary, no rushing to get passports or saying goodbye to Daddy two weeks after the birth, no traveling alone around the world with an infant and two other kids. Hooray! We get to play house like a normal American family of five for a few months before our next post to Africa hits us. We are very blessed to be able to plan the next baby to arrive just at the perfect time. Perfect timing as in where we will be located. I'm guessing the timing of the birth coinciding with planning for two years in Africa will be slightly challenging; hardly perfect by any standard. I'm not one to make it easy on myself though.

I guess when life get's busy we just decide to throw another child in the mix! Yay for our little growing family of five!