It's time

I guess baby E didn’t get the memo that today is supposed to be his birthday!!!!! He really needs to come out and enjoy it. We will see if it happens. Since I have been waiting for what feels like weeks and weeks I see no reason that it will actually happen today. I have been having contractions for weeks but they always stop. I am still just a 3 after a check yesterday so the contractions are not doing much either. So frustrating. Every night we start timing them and we think, “okay this is finally it” and every night they stop. It is so deflating. So disappointing. So stressful. We have cried wolf so many times no one is going to believe us when it does finally happen. I’m about over it. I am trying my hardest to wait him out. They are letting me wait until Wednesday. So he will be forced out then if he does not get his butt moving. He is head down and VERY low. Way lower than the girls ever spent time and just hung out. It is so uncomfortable. Those muscles just are cringing. Can’t believe they have not given out. Moving is pretty painful. This whole time I was hoping he would not be born on Camille’s bday but now I don’t care. I just want him to come. J and I have talked I have come to peace with their close bdays or even sharing a bday. We will make it fun!!

sleep update

It’s going really really well (knock on wood). I can’t really believe how well it’s going. We put them to bed and Av manages to fall asleep when she is ready with or without C being quiet. It’s amazing. Then in the mornings C has been pretty good about being quiet and just calling for us. We go in and get her and usually Av sleeps through the whole thing and sleeps until she needs to. Kids are amazing. They are so resilient. I can’t believe I am going to say this (big knock on wood) but all of us have slept through the entire night for weeks now. We were as well when they had separate rooms but I am shocked that we are again when they are sharing a room. It’s been really good. They seem to be closer now too. It’s not all bc they are sharing a room I’m sure but it’s nice. They play and boy does C love making her big sis laugh. She lives for Av to laugh at her. She is going to be the jokester of the fam.

mini john

I’ve got such a mini engineer on my hands. Or should I say a mini John. Camille loves to take things apart and see how they work. I’m not talking toys either. I’m talking the remotes. She can’t be around a remote without figuring out how to get the batteries out and she has even managed to open the remote and get the little rubber thing that has all the buttons on it out. It’s crazy. She also wants things organized. We were playing memory with Av last night and C was running around with a stack of about 20 of the cards. J took her upstairs with the cards to change her diaper. When he handed the cards back to her they were all un-organized. She squatted down and spent a few minutes getting them all back in order and all the cards facing the same way before she was up and on her way again. As you can tell she is still hoarding stuff too. Just happy as can be to run around with handfuls of something, it does not matter what it is really.

funny av

Av is very funny. We always know when she is hungry bc her behavior goes very far down hill. We have gotten her to the point when we say she needs to eat she does not fight us on it and really had become a great eater!!!!!!!! Yesterday I picked her up from school (where she had had a snack) and took them to the park to eat their lunch. She had half a PB&J, sunchips, grapes, cheese stick and a juice box. She ate it all down and went off to play. After a while she started really acting up. Crying and saying she wanted to leave. She didn’t want to play with her friends and only wanting to slide with her sister. Kind of being mean to friends. At that point I agreed she was not behaving well and needed to leave the park. On the way home she was acting up and I was telling her she was not nice and that was not good behavior. She was screaming at this point, mad and saying she was sorry. Just all out of sorts. Finally she said and this is a direct quote, “I’m hungry, that’s my problem.” If I had been on a chair I would have fallen off of it. It was the funniest thing I have EVER heard. I had not even said, “what’s your problem?” She came up with every word in that sentence by herself. Finally she is recognizing that she needs to eat. Now if she would have sooner and told me I could have feed her more before it got to that point. I had no idea she would still be hungry since she ate such a good lunch. Growing I guess!

Avery or Camille?

C has become a little carbon copy of Av. She sounds just like her. She even uses Av mannerisms when talking. Av will say “umm” a few times when thinking of an answer and C has started to say it now. She uses her hands and fingers to convey messages just like Av would. Sometimes when I am looking at C and listening to her I think, “that sounds just like something Av would say and do.” Av for the longest time said “I not know.” Just when we had Av saying, “I don’t know.” C starting staying, “I not know.” Now all the sudden though without us working to correct C at all she is saying, “I don’t know.” She picked it up from Av. I wonder what other wonderful things C will pick up from Av in their lifetime? I’m sure we will like about half of them.

colored the belly

The girls and I had some fun yesterday. They decorated baby E. The whole time they laughed and giggled and he moved so much my belly was moving for them. It started out bc I had seen some people write the baby’s name on their belly and take pictures. I was thinking every letter in baby E’s name Av could make so she could write his name. So I wanted her to write his name on my belly. C had to get in on the action too. They loved it and thought it was so funny. Had to show daddy as soon as he got home. I went to bed with my belly still decorated hoping labor would come and I could stare at their art work while delivering but no such luck. The water in the shower this morning washed it all away before I even added soap to the mix. We might have to do that again, I think having a decorated belly while delivering courtesy of my two wonderful girls would be inspiring.

"labor sweater"

I am wearing my “labor sweater” today in hopes that it works as well this time as it did last time. It is a sweater I borrowed from Marci and wore exactly once when I was prego with C. On the day she was born. It has finally cooled down and so I thought today was the right day to bust it out. My mom came to town this weekend. We did a lot of the same stuff we did the weekend of the false alarm with C in hopes history will repeat itself. So if it works he will come today (C’s labor started while I was at work and Av was in school, timing was great!!!) or he will come tomorrow (on Wed like C). I am wearing the sweater today though so let’s hope for today. Marci told me to put it on yesterday but I was not ready. Today would be much better since the girls are in school. I put it on first thing this am over my PJ’s. John was in the shower when I did and I went downstairs so he didn’t see me in it for about 20 minutes. When he came down he laughed and said I looked cute. I had forgot so it took me a minute to realize he was laughing at my “labor sweater” and PJ’s.

one smart cookie

Av is just so smart. She picks up on things and just knows things. The other day I spelled cookie to my mom and Av piped up, “cookie momma.” We don’t really talk about cookies so I had no idea how she knew that. Then I was talking about how we needed to teach Camille the number 7 rule (Av can’t leave her room until there is a 7 as the first number on her clock) and she said, “like this momma?” and drew an imaginary 7 in the air. She said, “straight line down and then one over.” She could picture it in her head and describe it. Pretty smart. They just finished a unit on the 5 senses and she can now tell you exactly what her eyes, nose, mouth, ears and hands can do. She is amazing.

I am 3!!!

come on baby E you can do it!!!

Our schedule is crazy

Av goes to school M, T, T and F. On M and F she goes 9 to 12. On T and T both Av and C go to school from 9 to 5. Av has music at 1:15 on M. Av has speech on W at 10:30. Av has hbr (OT currently but switching to speech) at 5:00 on Thur. C has music on F at 9:20. We will soon add in there a PT that I will take Av to. We also will add in an OT but that will be while she is already at school so will not add to my stress. It’s a lot but it’s all good. We will take a break when baby E comes and when I don’t have the help to do it.

so happy!

I just got the best news. The therapy place that Av goes to has finally hired another speech therapist (the old one went on maternity leave and never came back and they had trouble getting a new one). Part of the speech program will be on the horse (it didn’t use to be in the past it was an hour of clinic work)!!!!! So Av will be horse back riding twice a week for a while. With our insurance we get 20 visits of each PT, OT and speech each year. I was sad last week to learn that we were on visit 18 of 20 for OT. So we will have to take a break from Miss Katie (so sad we LOVE her) but we only used 11 of 20 PT so we will be going back to Miss Becky and we have all 20 of speech so that will carry us to the end of the year. We also have met our deductible so that makes it kind of nice. So Av will be getting speech twice a week, PT once a week and I am working on getting OT once a week as well. There is a therapy company that comes to her school and does therapy with the children while they are there. We will have to pay for it but bc of her age we need to make sure and get her writing skills up to speed for K next year. It will be very worth it in the long run.

Camille is almost 2

I just really can’t believe it. She still is and always will be my baby. She cuddles up to me and I just think, “You are a baby!!! How can you be almost 2?” Especially when I see her all cuddled up sleeping I think, “you are just a baby.” She is. She sleeps all cuddled up like a baby with her butt up in the air and blanket and giraffe tucked up under her. She is trying very hard to give up her nap. At school on Tuesday she didn’t/wouldn’t nap and then we purposely skipped it yesterday. We had planned on it but she def is not ready to give it up. She fell asleep at 4 on the way home and was out. I carried her into the house and put her on the couch and she slept the whole time. Av covered her up with her blanket and gave her her giraffe and then re-covered her up a few more times and she slept through it all. She looked so cute and peaceful there on the couch even Av felt the need to bend down and hug her and that’s just what she did. She lay like that with her for a few minutes. Then it took both of us to wake her up. Once she did she bounced off the couch and started talking and talking like she had not missed a beat. We put them both to bed at 7:45 knowing they had had a big day and big school days today. She was up ready to go at 6:50 even after 2 days of no nap!! I just can’t believe it. She is just not a child that needs a lot of sleep. I don’t dare let her nap for more than an hour and even at that she fights sleep at night bc of it. She can run and jump (a real jump now with 2 feet off the ground) and she talks in 3rd person. It’s so cute!!! “Where’s Mille’s blankie?” or “Mille come with you.” Mille does this or does that. Love when I hear it. She is VERY attached to her blankie and giraffe. She gets more and more so every day it seems. They may come in the van with her but never leave the van so that is good at least. We are constantly looking for them though bc she carries them through the house with her and puts them in the stroller or in a back pack and then forgets and wants them minutes later. I really wish I had another set of them bc washing them is so hard and it needs to be done so frequently. Last time she cried in and out the whole almost 2 hours it takes to wash them. She cried hard too, like her heart was breaking for them. This week I was able to put them in the wash before we took Av to school and then I ran home between errands to put them in the dryer. I felt very accomplished that day bc she never noticed they were gone. Man the accomplishments that make you happy when you have kids are just weird. She knows her ABC’s, can count (now she skips 8 it was 4), can sing a lot of songs and we are working on colors. She knows them about 50% of the time. John came home yesterday and she said, “Daddy has white shirt on.” It was. She loves writing her “name” like Av can and doing anything with markers/crayons. She still loves Elmo and Sesame Street. Her favorite food is probably a meatball and she still talks with a lisp. It is very cute and sweet all at the same time. She is rough and we still have to worry about her biting. She is very lovey though and will run up to you and give you the tightest hug and wants nothing more than to be hugged back. She adores her daddy and is a big time daddy’s girl. On the weekends she wants daddy to get her out of her car seat. Not mommy which is hard bc she is on my side of the car. She loves dirt, rocks and sticks and knows before we go into the house after playing in the dirt we have to “wash off Mille’s tootsie toes!” She is bad and does not listen all that great. Very much has a mind of her own which in a way makes her ever cuter. She is one of a kind and we love her so! Happy Birthday my sweet little Camille.

Today was the day with Camille

Camille was born today in my pregnancy with her. I was exactly 39 weeks pregnant when she decided to come. It’s not looking like baby E is going to do the same thing. Never in a million years did I think he would pass 39 weeks. Being the 3rd and since Camille came at 39 I thought he would come a little earlier than that. Wow, boy was I wrong. We are all hanging in there though. Nothing really to report. Just still waiting. I go back to the doctor today. I so hope she has better news for me this week. I can’t take another “no change.” I think I will just lose it if I hear those words again, which is not good since I already wrecked the car last time. What will I do this time???? Kidding. I will handle it much more responsibly. I learned my lesson. This is my last schedule appointment. At the time no one thought I would ever make it this far. Guess I will be scheduling another for next week.

Sisters

They fight, oh boy do they fight, but they do love each other so much. It’s really cute to see them together when they are playing, laughing or having fun with each other. Camille talks a lot and is a pretty darn good talker for her age. The stuff she says just cracks me up and surprises me a lot of times. Sometimes though we have no idea what she is saying of course. Most of the time though Av does!!! It just melts my heart every time Av is able to translate for her. The bond they have is just really cool. Sometimes I ask Av what C just said or a lot of times she just tells us when we get that confused look on our face. Too cute! Last night at dinner Camille was saying something about a fork. I got that part and was trying to show her, her fork was right there. Av said, “No she wants a big girl fork.” Av was right made and the new fork made Camille instantly happy. Then there are other times when Av does not want “my little sister playing with anything” in their room bc she “messes it all up!” Those times are not so much fun.

happy Av!

Av still just loves her new big girl bed. She talks about it a lot and has all her friends lined up and covered up on it all the time (that’s what she does not want sister messing up, sister is not even allowed on the bed. Kind of sad but we want Av to have her own space if that’s what she wants). I didn’t realize how much it would mean to her to have a real big girl bed. If I had, we would have done it ages ago. It makes her so happy and I love to be able to make her happy like that.

carefree

How nice would it be to be a 2 year old again and not have a care in the world? To not have a single worry like only a 2 year old could. Even if you have a fleeing thought like “where’s my mom, she’s not in my sight” it is gone a minute later. It’s kind of freeing to think about. Yesterday I took the girls to a indoor play place bc it’s still WAY to hot to be outside (101 today). Av was responsible and took her shoes off in the designated spot and put them away. Camille on the other hand ran into the first bouncy she could find and started playing. Then decided she didn’t want her shoes so she just took them off and left them there. Who does that other than a 2 year old??? No concern about what would happen to the shoes next. She just simply didn’t want them on her feet so she took them off. As easy as that. When I got back to the play place the shoes were not only not where they should have been but they were also no where to be found. Everyone was looking for them and the only reason we knew she took them off in a bouncy was bc the bigger kids told us. She didn’t know and simply didn’t care. We left shoeless after they promised to call when they are found. She was pretty sad today though she didn’t have her “sparkly shoes.” I tried to tell her that she lost them yesterday but she did not at all seem to be getting that. All she knew is that she wanted her shoes and they are always there when she wants them and that is what she is used to. To be a 2 year old again and have no responsibilities or consequences to your actions.

Saturday

We had the most perfect family day Saturday. We had planned a family “tailgate” to watch the U of L football game and the State game. The U of L was on first at 5. So we had some yummy food to make and got the girls in some red and green. While I was making dinner and John was watching the game Camille was out in the fenced in back yard. We were watching her from the windows. At one point John wondered where she was so went to investigate. She came running into view with her arms up in the air and was saying, “I picking tomatoes!!!” She had 2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes. It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen and heard. After watching the “Go Cards” for a little bit (and I mean minutes) the girls wanted to go outside and play. It was a perfect evening so I took them. We played on the swings forever. C even wanted her baby swing switched out for a big girl swing like Avery’s. She looked so big on that swing. She is growing too fast. John came out for a bit and I went in for some reason. Av hopped back on her swing and minutes later John noticed that she was full-fledged swinging all on her own. She had gotten herself started and everything. She was so proud of herself and has been telling everyone now that she can “pump all by myself on my big girl swing!” So cute. After that John lit a fire and we made smores. Av knew exactly what we were doing and was very excited. C on the other hand just wanted marshmallows. Av went to town and loved every bit of hers. C refused to touch her smore so John had a bite and handed it to me. I didn’t really want it but after a minute had a bite. Well I could not stop at one bite and it was soon gone. Just then is when C decided she wanted it and threw a royal fit. After another marshmallow she was fine. We put them to bed on a sugar high. Saturday ended with a GREAT MSU football game. I am really glad I stayed up to see the end of it. What a great play in OT to fake going for a field goal and score a touchdown. I just love my Spartans so much!!! John had fallen asleep but I could not keep my shock/happiness to myself and my cheering woke him up. Hehehe oops.

pictures

We finally had our family pictures taken last night. Somehow the summer got away from us. I really wanted to have them taken with my baby bump so we waited till that got a little bigger (hehehe) then we had to keep waiting bc the terror kept bruising her face. First she hit the corner of that dresser with her eye and then her cheek at the park. (Which you can still see a faint bruise from). They were supposed to be summer pictures and all summer I knew what the girls were going to wear. I had cute almost matching dresses picked out for them. Well when it was finally scheduled for last night the girl taking the pictures mentioned a place that had sunflowers and pumpkins. So that threw me into a panic wanting more fall outfits for them. I think we got some great shots though. It was fun. I just wanted pics of us hanging out interacting with each other. Nothing too posed. We had to walk a long way on this path for the pumpkins and the irony of it all was that once we got there the sunflowers were dead and the pumpkins were rotted. Ugh. She said they were there and beautiful just last week. I guess it’s been so hot this late summer the crops are just turning fast. (high of 96 today when usual high for this time of year is 78, oh my!!) We called a few apple orchards on Sat and all the apples had been picked already bc of the heat. Crazy. So it was hot and the way back we ended up having to carry the girls. That’s when my contractions started. Guess baby E was mad at me for that one. Not mad enough to come out though. I can’t wait to get our pictures back!!!

Baby E just come already!!!

Man he’s a rocking and a rolling right now. Think he’s dancing in there. He likes when I come to work and just sit. It’s his active time. Even more active than when we are trying to sleep. We have had an exciting few days since I last posted. First off on Thursday when I visited the dr there was no change. I was so sad. Not the news I was hoping to hear. Plus she mentioned the induction word and I DO NOT want to be induced so it made me so sad. They will only let me go to 41 weeks and I am going to wait him out as long as I can. So we will see, I may need to be induced but as of right now I am thinking positive and hoping that it will not come to that. So on the way back to work I caused a small fender bender. OMG I was so upset with myself. I can’t believe I did that. We were all stopped at a red light and I saw the light turn green and in my preoccupied state my foot went to the gas almost automatically after a second or two that would be the normal wait for the cars to start at a green light. Hit the car in front of me and then in my panicked state I think I hit the gas more instead of the break?!?!?!? I just wanted to die. I was fine and I knew baby E was fine. We were barely moving but I did push the car in front of me into the car in front of him. UGH!!!!!! This happening in my already hormonal state on top of the bad news I had just received was not good. I was so mad at myself for making such a huge mistake. I still am, but luckily I have the best husband in the world who had managed to get me to laugh about it. Can you believe how good he is? After he made sure we were okay he just said things happen and now is laughing about it. Still can’t believe after I do something that huge he can be so understanding about it. I am one lucky girl. So anyway the van is pretty much fine. It has a few scratches on it and some rub marks. Nothing we will get fixed right now. The car in the middle had some bumper issues and the front car had a little less bumper issue. So hopefully it will not be too big of a deal. Ugh, life really stinks sometimes. On a different note I have had regular contractions on Sat, Sun and Monday night. So much so that last night we called J’s sis over to spend the night just in case. I really thought it was time. They were coming around 6 to 7 minutes apart. Not really hurting so I was just waiting for that. I thought it would take a few hours but once they did start hurting I knew it would not be long. John downloaded a “contraction log” app on his iPhone and there we sat. Trying to watch the premier of How I Met Your Mother but too distracted really. Then they stopped!!!!!! Right after we got Molly on her way. Ugh. So disappointed. I am just so ready to meet him and hold him. Can’t wait. So it’s coming. I hope. I hope these non-painful contractions are doing something. I can’t take another “no change” on Thursday.

Sis in town

My sis came in this week to help me and to be with the girls in case I went into labor. No such luck. Anyway we had a great time!!!!!!!!! She got in Thursday in time to go with us to hbr. Thank goodness she was there. She saved me. I was still a wreck from my wreck and needed the company. So off to hbr we went where she really helped me entertain C, then off to dinner where she took Av potty for me bc I had just finally sat down to eat after getting the girls settled and then she took C into the playroom for me while I did finish my dinner. It was so nice. That night we stayed up and watched the first 2 episodes of America’s next top model a show she got me hooked on. It was great girl time. On Friday she helped me all day with the girls. We ran and ran and ran. Drop Av off at school, take C to music, grocery store, home to put stuff away and make lunches, pick Av up, park for lunch, home for naps and then a school family picnic for Av. Busy day!! It was so fun having company on all our adventures together. She even took the girls outside to play for me while I got 30 minutes of peace in a shower by myself!!!!!!!! It was wonderful. That night we kicked J out and enjoyed a chick flick. So fun!!! She had to leave Saturday morning but the few days we had together were wonderful!!! Thanks Aunt Anne! The girls love you.

week 38

Never again will I be in this state of 100% anticipation. Every twinge, every pain, every time my belly tightens I stop and wonder if now’s the time. Every night I go to bed wondering if I’m going to be woken up with contractions. Every time I bend over or pick up C I hope my water will break. I wonder about it constantly. It’s always in the back of my mind. When will it happen? Will it happen at a convenient time, meaning will it be easy for us to just take off to the hospital or will J be dropping me of with girls in tow until someone can stay with them??? Just such a state of unknown. There is not too much in life that happens that is as huge as this and you have no idea when it is going to happen. That’s the really cool part of it. Just a waiting game. My two girls were pretty stubborn about coming out. They both have to be talked into it. Av with meds and C with my dr working things. In the end though when C decided to come there was NO stopping her or even slowing her down. I have a dr appointment today. Wonder where I will be??? I went to bed last night after having a few big contractions and I really thought, “Tonight is the night!!” Guess it wasn’t though bc baby E is still happily kicking away in my big belly.

big girls room update

It’s been 4 nights for the Big Girl Room and everything is going pretty darn well with it. C has been fighting sleep very badly lately. Guess just a phase she is going through. It’s making us put them to bed earlier though since we know they both will be up with C’s nonsense. Plus after we leave and turn the lights off they talk/play/act silly for at least 15 minutes which is soooo cute but we want to make sure that time does not take away from Av’s sleep time, so early bedtime it is right now. They were in their room before 8 last night. We think though that Av is able to go to sleep with C still fighting sleep. Last night we heard C up there until about 8:40 but we didn’t hear Av at all for most of that. We also heard C saying, “wake up Avery!” hehehe kind of funny. It does not seem to bother Av so that is the good news. I guess when she is tired she is tired and she is going to sleep! She is a good girl. C has not taken a nap in 3 days. She is sooooooo tired but just will not sleep. I hope she gets over this phase soon.

Bear-homework

Av had a small bit of homework this week. It was really cute. They have a classroom bear that they all take turns bringing home and taking care of for a few days. At the end of the few days they are supposed to document in a journal their time with bear. That’s his name. Bear. That’s what the class decided to name him. Anyway we all sat down last night and talked about what we did with Bear and how she should decorate his journal. We decided on coloring a picture of bear and then Av told daddy what to write in his journal. It was really cute. Av talked about how she took Bear to speech, to the park, how he slept in her new big girl bed with her and all her friends and how when Bear rode in the car with us she would strap him into the seatbelt in the back row of the van. It was very sweet and cute. We took a pic of the finished picture that Av drew all by herself and how she wrote her name and the word Bear ALL BY HERSELF!!!!!!!!!!! This picture is done 100% all by Av. Look how great her letters are coming along. She has been totally writing her name for a few weeks now but Bear is the first word she has written. Look at her name at the top. Notice how all the letters are the same size, inside the lines she was working with and pretty darn perfect (yes I'm a proud parent). She is just doing so great!!!

crazy baby

Wow, I have been at work for exactly 1 hour and 17 minutes and I think baby E has moved every second of that. He is just going. He has slowed down a little in the past few days and I have been missing him. He is making it a little hard to work at the moment. Oh well, I love it.

7 years

7 years ago yesterday I married my best friend. It was one of the best days of my life and I am so thankful and lucky to have him. Not sure how I got so lucky but I hit the jackpot!!!! He texted me all day to let me know he was thinking of me and surprised me with a babysitter and a nice peaceful dinner. He told me he had a small gift for me and it was a cute State hat for baby E. Then on the way to dinner he really surprised me by telling me he had one more gift for me and it was somewhere in the car. I do not do well with waiting and I could not wait. I found it kind of quick. It is a blue ring that almost perfectly matches the pink one he got me when I had Av. So beautiful and sweet of him. It will be hard to decide to wear pink or blue everyday. Heheheh We went to a really fun restaurant that I had never been too. It had neat and different food on the menu like very normal food all fancied up. Like a grilled cheese that was made on sourdough bread with goat cheese and other fancy cheeses. It also had everything all mixed up on the menu. The apps, entrees and dessert were all over the place. I had mussels and a BLT&A. It was simply delis in my prego state. I got him a U of L package. Tickets, babysitter, date with me and a tailgate party with for Nov. 13th! I am as excited about it as he is.

music class

Both girls are now in music classes. Av’s is Monday at 1:15 and C’s is Friday at 9:20. The times and days are perfect. On Monday I pick Av up from school at noon, we eat lunch in the park and then head to music. On Friday we drop Av at school and head to C’s class. It works out perfectly. Av was so excited bc now that she’s a big girl mommy does not go to class with her. Not really sure yet what all they do but she was very excited when she was done. It is an introduction to playing music so by the end of the semester they will get keyboards out and start to get used to them. It’s pretty exciting. She is getting too big too fast. Jackson and Caroline are in the class with her but also when we got there she knew 2 other kids in the class so that was a fun surprise.

big girls room!

Av and I were at a bday party on Saturday and John and Camille were supposed to be at home moving her bed into Av’s room or the big girls room now as we are calling it. In the middle of the party I get a text from John that says Camille said, “NO!!!” to her bed being moved. So they went to the park instead. UGH I am glad they had fun but it had to be done. So that night when I got home we talked it up all night. It will be the room for the big girls and you get to sleep in the same room as Avery!!!! Doesn’t that sound fun?? She came around and they both were very excited. So Sunday we did it. We put Camille’s crib in Av’s room. We have been putting this off for 2 years (the plan was always for them to share a room that’s why we never did a room for Camille and left her crib in a room with all the guest furniture) and now it’s finally done. Sunday night was their first night together. They did great!!!!!!! They had little flashlights and played with those and talked for a bit and then C did her usual “I’m going to fight sleep routine.” John went up there to tell her to be quiet and Av was fast asleep so that was good. For the first time in months Av woke up in the middle of the night with growing pains and she did wake C up but after a little leg rubbing and meds they both went right back to sleep. C slept till 7:45 so that means Av got to too! Last night Av was so tired so we tried to put her to bed first and then a little bit later C. Which usually when we put C to bed later she does go straight to sleep so it should have worked but last night C was not going to do it. She woke Av up and they played for a while. It was pretty cute to listen to. We were torn between intervening or letting them go. Av needs her sleep esp and since she does not nap and C does they are just on different sleep schedules. Finally we did tell them to go to sleep. Av did but C continued to talk and play for close to an hour but she didn’t cry and there were no peeps from Av so we were pretty sure she was sleeping. C woke them up about 7:25 today. My only concern is Av getting enough sleep at night. Sleep is so important for her at her age and with all the learning she is doing at school. We will just keep working on it until we get it right. Once all the changes die down we should be able to fall into a great routine too and that will help.

perfect weekend

Everything about this weekend was perfect including the nice fall weather!! Friday I had my girl’s night and my girls had a great time with their daddy. On Saturday we worked around the house again for a while. Then Av and I went off to the bday party while C and J went to the park. Afterwards we have a family dinner and then family movie night!!! The girls were so excited to get in their pj’s, make popcorn, sit in their chairs and watch Snow White. It was really fun. Sunday we worked some more, ran errands, enjoyed the perfect weather and grilled out. One of J’s friends and his two girls came over for dinner. It was nice esp for me bc I got to relax while they all played and grilled. The house is really coming along. Nesting has really taken over in the last few weeks and we have worked hard to get things in better shape. So much junk is gone and we have so much more room. We can finally see how the 5 of us will fit pretty okay in our house. John is doing a great job on our bathroom and it should be done soon.

Girls night

My friends put together a little last hurrah for me on Friday. We went to a Japanese restaurant for some quality girls time. It was so nice of them and very fun. Marci, Jennie, Melissa, Jessica, Heather, Kristal, Amanda, Leeann and Hope were all there. Rachel, Kim, Angie and Alison all could unfortunately not make it. We have some nasty bug going around Louisville and they all were dealing with that. We had sushi, hibachi grill, and cookie cake. After dinner we all went to a patio to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather. By midnight I made myself leave although it was hard!!! Thanks girls, you all are the best!!!!!!

week 37

Well it’s getting close. It’s about time. Very scary and very exciting all at the same time. I know I will be sad to never be pregnant again but right now I am very much looking forward to it. Pregnancy is very exciting and very amazing but when you have 2 little ones at home counting on you it’s just down right hard. Bending over is nearly impossible and every way around it is hard and uncomfortable. When you are pregnant with your first it’s just a matter of “how am I going to get my shoes on?” But with your 3rd, it’s totally different. I have to bend constantly either to take care of the girls or to keep the house in some sort of order. It’s just hard. The worst is that cuddling is so hard right now too. I can manage one pretty well but of course the other wants to join and then someone is leaning on the belly and that is painful. It’s sad. I love cuddling with them more than anything. We manage and it’s nice to have all three of my kids with me though!!! Man I have been a hormonal mess too. Worse than ever before. I had another crying night last night. I will spare you the details but needless to say it had to do with a biting incident (Av bit C?!?!?!?) and J having another evening work commitment come up at the last minute (on top of a board meeting tonight). The burpy problem at night has continued as well. To the point it takes me almost 2 hours to get comfortable in bed after sitting up countless times to let the air out. This morning Camille woke both J and I up at 6. Although she went back to sleep we didn’t. We lay there for an hour enjoying E’s movements together. It was pretty special. The light is at the end of the tunnel. I had a “check” today. I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. So it starts!

catch

While Av spends her time putting her “friends” to bed each night Camille throws hers. That’s the difference between them. Av is very nurturing and so far Camille is turning out to be very athletically motivated. Camille picked up one of her favs and said, “catch mommy” and threw it to me. After that it was a game and John got into it as well. She’s got a pretty good arm on her. Lately Av has been getting into it as well and Av and Camille with play catch together. So far neither can actually catch but they both are throwing pretty well. We had the corn hole boards out the other night and they both had fun throwing the bags at the hole. Each was rewarded quite a few times with a score!

which is the real Av????

"daddy be so happy"

About 3 weeks ago after dropping Av off at school Camille and I went to get the van washed. It was right after being at the lake and it had stormed one night there very badly. The hood had like leaf stains on it so I wanted to get it washed for John. I knew he would be glad I did so in my ramblings to Camille I told her “Daddy will be soooo happy with us for getting the car washed.” She repeated that many times that day. “Daddy be so happy daddy be so happy.” It was pretty darn cute. Well 3 weeks later she is still randomly saying it. 2 nights ago the last thing she said to me while I was putting her in her crib at bedtime was, “daddy be so happy we got the car washed.” Then today as I was taking her to school again she said, “daddy be so happy.” It is so cute. I just wish I knew what triggered in her mind at those times to think of that and then say it. She is just something else.

Labor day weekend

We had such a nice weekend! My parents came to visit so that is always a treat. Friday I kept Av home from school. She just has been fighting a cold and looked and sounded horrible on Friday. So we just had a nice lazy but productive morning. We got the entire basement cleaned and ready for G&PP and for the new bed that was being delivered on Saturday. Now we have a very nice guest room with a new bed, dresser and there is a full bathroom down there so it is pretty much a great space for company. Anyway, we took Av to the doc and it was confirmed she had a sinus infection. Poor thing. I got a dose of meds in her and after lunch and quiet time she was feeling better. John’s friend Matt came over to see the girls that evening and brought them tattoos, which they loved. The girls were in bed when G&PP arrived so I got some time with them!!! On Saturday the girls were very happy to wake up and see G&PP there. We played for a long time and then my dad and I took John to the game. On the way home we stopped for an impromptu chilidog and did some underwear shopping (hehehhe) at Target. When we got home the girls and Grandma had walked to the park so we went and joined them. After the park we had a nice dinner at a pizza place while we watched the end of the game and then picked daddy up!! The girls were so happy to see him. On Sunday we played most of the morning away. We had a party to go to that night so after much convincing with the girls, esp Av, we made them take naps so they would enjoy the party. While they napped my mom got out for a bit and shopped. We had sooooooooooo much fun. Her and I had not shopped alone together for so long. Over a year I think. We got lots of cute stuff for all 3 kids and had the best time doing it!!! On the way home we learned the party had been canceled. Which was horrible news when you had made your almost 5-year-old nap in anticipation of a party that night. Hehehehe. Luckily some friends offered up their house and so we just moved the party. All the parents there were in the same boat, made their kids nap with the promise of a party at the end of the day so we had to do something. Monday the girls did more playing with G&PP while I tried to help John finish up all the projects he was working on. He finished scrubbing all my hairspray off our bathroom floor, finished Camille’s and E’s sign and started painting our bathroom cabinets. It looks so great. He was very right on that one. My dad took apart the toddler bed for us so we could store it easier and we got the 3rd dresser moved out of E’s room and into the guest room. Our house is really coming together and looking great. John is doing an amazing job on it. Then last night we had a cookout with John’s dad and fam. It is always so great to see them as well. It was a very nice night with us leaving about 7:30. It was a half an hour drive away and the girls had, had no downtime so they were exhausted. They were both totally out in their car seats 4 minutes into the drive home. We were able to get Camille changed into her PJ’s and into bed without her really waking up. Av woke but of course went right back to bed in, “my cozy big girl bed.” I had to drag them both out of bed at 8am today so they got some good sleep!

too much

It’s been a little bit of a crazy week in the Hoekstra house. Somehow John ended up with 3 different social things and 1 work thing this week. Bad bad bad luck. Not usual at all. One is an end of the season softball party that his team has every year that he has not gotten to go to, the second is a good friend is coming into town that he rarely gets to see and the third is the U of L vs. UK football game. I see why he would want to do them all and I do not have the heart to ask him to skip any of them. So I have been trying to grin and bear (not doing the best job, hehehe) it all knowing that next week he is home all week and I have a few fun things coming up. So the work dinner was Wednesday night, softball thing tonight, seeing Matt tomorrow and game Saturday. Ugh!!!!!!! So on Tuesday after working all day and rushing home to get the kids and knowing I would have to rush and get dinner together and looking towards the next few days and being hot and 36 weeks prego and just not comfortable I get to Av’s school and there is a big tracing of her that we have to decorate and bring back Thursday. Thursday?!?!?! What? How am I supposed to add that to my schedule??? My Wednesday was already totally filled. We were going to play with a friend in the morning, then head straight to Av’s speech at 12:45 and then I had to drop Camille off at a friend’s so she could nap there while Av and I had 2:30 and 3:00 dentist appointments to rush back and pick up Camille. Then I guess off to the craft store to get stuff to decorate Av, then rush home to make/decorate Av, do dinner, bath and bed by myself. Thursday (today) I have to work all day, rush and get the girls, rush to hbr, rush home (hopefully get home by 7) to have a late dinner and put the girls in bed again by myself. At that point I just lost it. I sat on the couch Tuesday after work with the girls playing around me and cried and cried and cried. I could not pull myself back together. I was crying so hard I could not even explain to John why I was crying. So overwhelmed and uncomfortable and hormonal and just done. Now I love my husband dearly and I know he means well and was just trying to help but his suggestions were to skip the friends in the morning and put the girls in school another day?!?!? What?!?! Skip the one thing I had in my schedule in the next 72 hours that was fun so you could make it to all 3 of your social things?!?! Are you kidding me? I just wanted to punch him at that point. The suggestion to put the girls in school another day is totally meant to be sweet and when I have baby E I may for a month or two but right now? Put them in school another day now??? NO!!!!!! I am home, I want to be with them, I just want help at night when you should be home!!! He is the best husband though; I don’t want to make him look/sound bad. He is trying and would stay home if I asked him too and he went to the craft store for me and got GREAT stuff to decorate Av with so that was a huge help. We made it through Wednesday and although the girls were pretty bad we actually managed to have a fun day and I canceled hbr for today so that just makes things 100% better. Av has a cold right now and her energy is lower so I just felt like after being at school all day hbr would be too much on her anyway so I felt it was best for her and I to cancel. So that takes a LOT of stress off of me and I feel a million times better. He got home after the kids went to bed last night but still in plenty of time for us to get some time together so that was nice. Tonight he will not be home at all but he is not leaving Friday until the girls are in bed and Saturday he now has a ticket for me if I want to go to the game with him so it’s all fine. As it usually is, bc he makes it that way for me after I have my little dramatic fit. Hehehehe He’s so good to put up with me.