Ultrasound.

This was the first time we had ever gone to this ultrasound place. Apparently they do ultrasounds for high risk people, so they check EVERYTHING. We saw the spine 10 different ways, and the heart a bunch of ways, the lips and the nose, the feet, and the hands, the kidneys, bladder, placenta, stomach, umbilical cord ... it was very in depth. The entire time, the baby's legs were super crossed. She kept checking back to try to see the gender ... stubborn baby! She had me get up and walk around to see if that would help. It didn't. She tilted the table back so I was almost on my head to see if the gravity would help. It didn't.

Finally at the very end of the ultrasound, as she's squishing and moving my stomach around to get the baby to cooperate we saw this:Here is our proof that we can do something other than girls. It's actually a boy. Can you believe it? I thought it was, and I had bought a bunch of stuff, because I was so sure ... but I still wasn't 100% sure. But now it's official. We're having a boy!!!

Matt smiled and said, "yessss!" I'm excited and a little nervous now. What do I do with a boy? It's a completely different thing. I guess we'll find out in a few months!

Foot:

Profile:Yay!! (his name is going to be Quinn Matthew.)

Never Too Kate

Today is Kate's 2nd birthday. Wow! That is just so weird. She's still so tiny, it's hard to think of her as a little 2 year old toddler. I went into labor, on my own, 3 weeks before her due date; that was a gift I think. The labor was much longer than the others, (14 hours) ... but it was the least horrible somehow (maybe because I wasn't induced?).

Kate has always been a very opinionated little thing. When she was a baby, I was always surprised that her cries sounded like growls. She was easily disgruntled. She cried non-stop for the first few months of life. (it was not fun) ...

Even now, she's easily disgruntled. However, she's also sweet and cuddly. She will sit with me anytime, anywhere. She will give great hugs and loves to give kisses to all her sisters.

Kate loves to say prayers. When someone is blessing the food or saying the family prayer, she can't help but chime in. It's so cute, because she isn't exactly fluent in English yet, so it's a lot of gibberish; but very cute.

Kate is also my little singer. If she hears music, she just starts singing away. There's not exactly a melody or good tone to her singing yet, but I can tell it will come eventually. It's just so cute when she's singing as loud as she can.

I love her smile and her little laugh. Part of her charm is the fact that she's so tiny; it's just so adorable.

So needless to say, we are happy Kate Ella is in our family. What a little opinionated, snarly, cute Sweetie!

Isn't she the best?

Flu Review

We've just had a bad week. Brielle started it with her fever over the weekend, then ended up having an ear infection and a sinus infection on top of her "flu." (the dr. said it was probably some sort of flu strain not covered by the flu shot). Then Tessa had a temperature of 104 yesterday and a really bad cough. Kate woke up this morning moaning and had a temp of 103. Poor thing. So now the only kid who hasn't had it is Linzi ... let's hope she steers clear. Although the way it's going, she'll be sick this weekend.

The only bright side to the whole thing is that it looks like we're going to get it all done in just about a week ... luckily it didn't drag out for a month or something. (and Brielle went back to school today ... that's a good thing)

I feel so sad for Kate ... her birthday is tomorrow and she's sick. Poor thing. We'll just have to celebrate her birthday when she feels better ... luckily a 2 year old will never remember.

Now let's hope that I, the pregnant mom, don't get sick. Wouldn't that be the worst? Being pregnant is hard enough on it's own.

This Shouldn't Be Happening

Subjecting our school aged kids to this is just cruel.

Lunch Menu for today:
3/25
Chili Cheese Fritos
Seasoned Corn, Apple Crisp & Milk

The corn, apple crisp and milk isn't so horrible ... but chili cheese fritos! For school kids at lunch?

That's just mean. (can you imagine the smell of fritos and chili in the cafeteria ... mixed with a 100 kids or so)

(maybe it's just my pregnant appetite that finds this so gross.)

My So Called Life

I just thought this was so funny. (minus the Zima of course)

Book Review: Kind of ....

Specials, Scott Westerfield

Well ... I finished this last week. About all I can say is that if you've read the first 2, you should read this third book. However, it had a few things about it that bugged me ... especially if it's for teenagers. It was nice to "finish" the story about these people, and definitely interesting how he chose to finish it. (this recommendation isn't as heart felt as it was for the first 2)

There's a 4th book ... Extras, that I suppose I will read, but we'll see how I feel about it after I'm done. I'm not holding my breath for an "I loved it!"

Weekend Rush

We had a busy weekend.

Damon came home from his mission a week ago, and this was his "homecoming" weekend. Siri (with Jack) and Cori came from Utah; that was a treat. We had a baby shower for Cori on Saturday. Then Sunday Damon talked in church ... Amber and I sang (with Mark and Joel Landoe ...) that was good too. We had a big dinner with everyone, which was fun.

This is a picture from the shower ... all the sisters! (Karen, Amber, Siri, Mom, Emily ... Cori, me, Veronique ... thanks Cori for the lifted picture)

Unfortunately, Brielle has had a fever for 2 days, and Tessa has one today ... both with bad coughs. Brielle had to stay home from church, and school today. I hope they don't pass it to everyone. We're going to the dr. this afternoon ... hopefully it's nothing too serious.

Busy times are good ... they make the time pass more quickly until the 30th when we have our big ultrasound.

Mental Patient

Here is the latest. (this is a little news clip about David Ragsdale.)

Here's another not great article.

Book Review: Pretties

Pretties, Scott Westerfield

This sequel was really great ... I loved how it kept me surprised and wondering what was going to happen. The ending was shocking and I HAVE to read the third one Specials now, so I can find out what happens. Obviously you would have to read Uglies first, but haven't you already? I reviewed it last week. :)

Here is the synopsis of the plot (I copied this from Amazon.com)

"In this highly anticipated sequel to the hit Uglies 2005), Tally Youngblood struggles to retain her mental acuity after undergoing the operation that transformed her into a Pretty. While in the renegade Ugly community, Tally learned that along with cosmetic enhancements, new Pretties are given brain lesions that leave them in a perpetual state of lazy vanity. Tally volunteered to take a drug developed to cure the lesions, but now that she is a Pretty, she has forgotten her promise. A coded message leads her to some pills and a letter that she wrote to herself before her transformation, and after swallowing the cure, she is catapulted into a dangerous new adventure, in which she discovers that the peace and happiness of Pretty society come with a terrible price. Riveting and compulsively readable, this action-packed sequel does not disappoint. Just as good as its predecessor, it will leave fans breathlessly waiting for the trilogy's final volume. Jennifer HubertCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"

Free Fun

Click here for a great Scentsy giveaway. (don't know what Scentsy is? go there and check it out!)

I have used Scentsy before and some of them smell so good. Never hurts to enter a fun giveaway!!

oy ...

Today I really feel pregnant. My belly is starting to feel huge and I just know how long I have and how much huger it's going to get ... it's a little bit of a daunting thought; but, growing a baby is a job, right?

So I am 16 weeks, which means in a month I'll be halfway. Wow! Pretty exciting.

Less than a fortnight now until we find out the big question ... boy or girl.

(I've always wanted to use "fortnight" in everyday speaking ... haha ... I did it!)

Let's just hope it's a healthy baby ... even if it is our 5th girl (which we would be very happy about).

Top 'O The Mornin' To Ya

Today is St. Patrick's Day ... the girls all had their green outfits chosen last night so they wouldn't be pinched today.

It's also my brother Roger's birthday ... Happy birthday Roger! (He's 31 ... which I suppose means he's practically 40)

Yesterday was my niece Alexa's 6th birthday ... Happy birthday Alexa! The girls called her last evening and all had a chance to talk with her on the phone ... (although it ended rather abruptly when Kate hung up on her ... oh well ... I suppose eventually she'll learn phone manners.)

Anyway ... happy day!

Isn't Life Funny?

Life is quite the crack up.

Double Book Review

Cybele's Secret, Juliet Marillier

I LOVED this book ... I couldn't put it down. I read it Tuesday and just had to read and read until I finished it. This is the sequel to Wildwood Dancing, which is also one of my all time favorites. To read about the plot, go here, there are several synopsis. Obviously, you would have to read Wildwood Dancing first, but that one is so great also ... I would suggest this book to almost anyone.

Uglies, Scott Westerfield

I just read this yesterday, and also couldn't put it down. I thought it was so interesting. To read about the plot go here. (sorry for no plot descriptions ... much faster for you to just click there and read them) I would also recommend this book to almost anyone ...

Both of these are great, easy, exciting reads.

In Like a Lion

Out like a lamb?

If the saying about March is true, I'll be very happy. This week our lows at night are supposed to be in the 20s ... brrrr.

Let's just hope the saying is true, true, true!!

Do you know what I am looking forward to for spring?

• flip flops
• no coats
• not paying for heat
• kids playing outside
• vitamin d intake
• flowers
• going on a walk outside (and not freezing)
• not slipping on ice in the morning
• the closeness to summer (and having the baby!)
• and all the other fun things that happen in the spring (Easter, parades, playing, zoo trips)

What is your favorite part of spring?

And the Winner is ....

...winter by a mile! (Sorry spring.)


Seriously ... it snowed again last night (and on and off all day yesterday). We have about an inch. On the way to school, it was a blizzard with the roads covered and everything ... I'm kind of surprised it wasn't at least a late start.

This is March, right? (at least these are covered with large bushes that sort of shield them from the weather)

My poor little crocuses and other flowers are wanting to stay alive ... It's quite sad if you ask me. It's possible at this point that spring won't actually start on the 20th like it's supposed to ... maybe they should push it back here until May when it actually gets warm.

I guess I'm tired of cold. (I'll have to remember this in August when it's 90 degrees and I'm 9 months pregnant and dying.)

On a happier note ... The girls had fun walking to the garage this morning ... Kate has gotten really great at saying the word "snow."

Mama Saw the Doctor (week 14)

Well ... another visit down. I gained 4 pounds (*gulp* ... in 4 weeks?) ... baby's heartbeat was 160, and I go back in another 4 weeks, after my "big" ultrasound.

Pretty standard stuff.

(Matt took this picture Sunday ... so I guess the 4 pounds is going somewhere ... let's just hope it's all in the belly area)

You know, in a month and a half this last pregnancy will be halfway over ... how crazy is that?

:)

Yay! It's March!!

(I'm glad ... I have a feeling this will be a good, quick month!)

(well .... I'm really hoping)