I've Reached Elephant Status

(at least that's how I feel. But what's next? Whale? And then I'll be as big as a house.)

This is my profile today. I am 22 weeks pregnant. (which is 5 months pregnant) I think I'm huge, but know I'll get WAY bigger in the months to come. (yes that's right, I have many months left) It already hurts to bend down and pick stuff up off the floor. That's never a good sign. Growing a baby is sure hard work, right? If only they could realize all that we did to get them here, maybe they'd be a little more helpful.

Da Vinci Dilemma

Brielle is doing a report at school on Leonardo Da Vinci. She has to do an oral report next week with a costume dressed as her person, and a 2 liter bottle pop Leonardo as well.

Do any of you brilliant people have ideas on how to do a SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE costume for an 8 year old girl to be Leonardo Da Vinci?

I really wish we could have helped our kids choose their person, because I would have steered her to a more feminine character ... but this is what I get to do. Leonardo.

So any brilliant ideas? I had thought of doing some sort of frayed yarn beard ... but beyond that I'm a little at a loss for an idea.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Mama Saw the Doctor, Week 22

Same old, same old. I've gained 14 pounds so far, which I feel like is a lot. Everything else is very normal. Normal is good.

Imagine What a Little Time can Do

I just thought these were fun.

Karen Karen Bo Baren

It's her birthday. My sweet 33 year old sister. Here is a poem in honor of her special day.

Ode to my Sister Karen

Karen is lovely
sweet as can be
she's helpful and caring
to my dear family
she stirs children's knowledge
and gives them new thoughts
of things that are cool
or scientifically taught
she's complimentary too
on things that I bake
she thinks they're the best
of the eats she partakes
I love that she'll come
whenever I call
to go to a movie
or just sit and recall
all our fun past year's moments
of life we did share
as sisters there are many
things we can compare
to how great life is now
or how silly we were then
or the messes we made
when we were just ten
and of anyone who comes
to our home unannounced
she's the one who doesn't cause me
to feel even one little ounce
of embarrassment when things are not
perfectly clean or perfectly neat
I love that about her
and so I proclaim that she is so sweet
and lovely and dear to me
Karen you rock
you're the sister of sisters
the best aunt on the block
Happy birthday to you
you deserve the best
I hope that you realize
you're my kid's favorite guest

Slumber Party Friday

Almost every Friday night, the girls have a slumber party in the family room. Brielle and Linzi each take a couch (benefits of being the oldest) and a bed is made on the floor for the little girls. (although Kate doesn't actually sleep out there, she ends up in her bed eventually)

They think it's really fun and spend half the night watching movies. I think it's messy, but a nice way to promote sisterly bonding.

Hopefully they'll still want to do it when they're older.

(and please pardon the messy family room ... obviously it isn't easy to keep it clean with four girls working against you on a slumber party night)

X. I. Ted

I am getting TOO excited for this baby to come. He isn't even coming for 4 more months ... but I feel like I cannot wait. I've been going through all of Kate's old clothes and they're just so little and tiny.

I am so excited to be having a boy finally ... but a little sad it's not another girl. I only know girls. We've done girls. It's comfortable. I love little girl clothes and hair. I don't know how to do a boy. Will I love a boy the same? (logically I know I will ... but I still kind of wonder)

People have told me that moms and sons have a special bond ... I don't know if that's true, but I can't wait to find out.

4. More. Months. Uggghhh .... I am SO impatient.

Babies are just the best, right? (these pictures are of sweet little Kate)

Cut it Out

Look what I did.

It's WAY shorter than I was planning ... but now that it's done, oh well.

Different, huh?

Twenty

I am 20 weeks pregnant today. For those of you who don't really count pregnancy in weeks, that's the halfway mark! (and further than halfway if you have the baby any early at all)

Yay!

I'm so excited. Here are 20 things I'm looking forward to:

1. not being pregnant and feeling sore (it's only going to get worse. Ugh)
2. summer warmth; not having to dress in so many layers and still feeling cold
3. finding out what Quinn's face looks like; will he look like any of the girls, or be something completely different?
4. labor and delivery; call me crazy, but I love that part. Not the pain of course, but the excitement of it all.
5. 2 days in the hospital. Yes, I'm a postpartum room junkie. I stay until they kick me out. I love the tiny break from the craziness of all the other kids, and I love being waited on and brought food and ice packs and things. Plus I get to have the baby almost ALL to myself.
6. finding out if Quinn will have curly hair like his dad; it's totally possible.
7. seeing how the girls react to a new baby. I think they're going to be excited (although Kate might take offense to it)
8. dressing a boy; it's way less fussy than dressing a girl, I'm coming to realize. I think it's going to be nice.
9. not having another head of hair to do in the morning ... usually a new baby adds one more head of hair to fix. Most likely I won't have to do Quinn's.
10. holding a baby all day; I'm just one of those people who love that.
11. watching a little baby grow and do things; those first smiles and laughs are the best thing in the world I think.
12. using the burp cloths I made. I made a bunch of boy burp cloths (partially for Cori too) and was really hoping I would get to use them myself. Now I do!
13. sleeping the night through ... at this point I am so uncomfortable (already?) that I don't get a good night's sleep. I can't wait for that again (although I know it's going to be a LONG time ... but it gets closer each night I suppose)
14. Halloween
15. Thanksgiving
16. Christmas (sorry, needed to use up some #s ... 20 is a lot!)
17. finally being done and having our family ... that is a big one. I'm SO excited for that.
18. seeing how Matt reacts to having a son; I wonder if it will be different.
19. getting on with things. You know when you're pregnant there is this countdown to this future date that you're always waiting for ... I am always glad when I can get on with my life and just live, not counting down to the "due date."
20. seeing what Quinn's face looks like ... I know I used this one but I am SO curious.

Quilt the Day Away

I bought fabric last night and made a quilt today ... I said I would donate a quilt for a fundraiser, so I thought I would get it done.


For some reason, I am never completely satisfied with the projects I make; they're always ALMOST perfect. I suppose that's the nature of the homemade quilt.


I had planned this to be a wall hanging (Thanks April for the idea which is hanging in Jessica's living room).

Brothers and Sisters

The youngest in my family, Damon, came home from his mission last month. The weekend of his "homecoming" both the sisters who live in Utah, Siri and Cori, came as well. We had all of the family (minus the husbands and kids of the Utah girls) together for the first time in several years. We decided to have a family picture taken (minus the husbands/wives and kids) ... here are the results:


We're all old I guess ... how weird. (well, old-ER than we used to be ... but I suppose that's to be expected)







(let me just say that Cori and I have been pregnant in the past 3 family pictures we've taken; they were all years apart. *sigh*)

Clothes for Quinn

Obviously since we have 4 girls, we aren't prepared for a little boy in our house. I went through all the clothes I have to see if anything was neutral enough for a little boy, and was surprised I have as much as I do. We have lots of white, a little green, yellow, tan, and a few things I think are actually supposed to be for a boy; I think it's "acceptable" for a girl to be in boy clothes more than a boy to be in girl clothes. Poor Quinn. We won't subject him to humiliation I suppose.

So this is what I have. Obviously not enough for a baby (from 0-12 months) ... luckily I have a few people who are willingly going to donate some of their used things, and I have been buying things on the off chance it really was a boy (thank goodness for correct intuition) ... It will be good. As you can see I even have a bright orange Halloween outfit that will fit baby Quinn in October. He'll be a pumpkin!

I had combed their tresses, and put on their Easter dresses ....

Yesterday morning was a busy one ... but we managed to get to church on time (which was actually 45 minutes early to practice for choir), and have everything we needed; all dressed in purple! (Matt and I matched the girls ... we just don't have photo documentation of that) I didn't plan on sweaters for the girls ... it was Easter after all, and the weather would cooperate, right? Uh ... no. That did not happen. So at the last minute Saturday night, I was scrambling around trying to figure out sweaters that would remotely match the dresses that were chosen ... I guess it was fine.

It ended up so stormy yesterday it's amazing we all didn't float away. Seriously, the entire time we were at church it was literally POURING. Thank goodness for a roof and walls, right? We were just glad we got to Easter egg hunt the day before when it was only just cold and cloudy.

We had a yummy dinner with Matt's mom, and a nice day. Happy Easter!!!

(and it just so happens that all the prep work I did last week, to prepare for yesterday paid off ... it all worked out well. The singing, teaching and everything went great.)

Prep-py

This week seems to be a week of preparing for stuff I have to do. Easter Sunday will be a busy day at church. I am preparing a lesson for YW, and a 5 minute talk on General Conference for Sunday School, I am singing 2 songs in Sacrament meeting (one solo, one quartet) and playing for the choir who is singing; so there's been practicing for that. We're having an Easter dinner of course, so there is all the planning of food and the prep that will need to go into that. We are going to be coloring eggs and then going to an Easter egg hunt on Saturday (and of course sending vibes to the Easter bunny about what to send for the girls). Then I have been figuring out the Easter dresses and shoes and stuff for Sunday. Brielle has a report due in a little while that we have been planning and preparing for; and being pregnant, it seems there's always the looming threat of the due date that makes everyday seem like it's preparing for something ... whew. It's been a busy sort of week.

The upside of all this busyness is the fact that time flies by. (that's good when you're pregnant, believe me)

How has your week been? Are you feeling "prep" happy too?

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

This weather has been so beautiful the past couple days. I have been so excited! Yesterday between conference sessions, we went for a walk, and it was actually so warm we didn't need sweatshirts. (in the low 70s) Love it!!The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and Linzi wore shorts to school. Maybe spring will be coming after all ... (although we do realize that it will probably go back down to the 50s for a little while before it actually stays this lovely and warm)

Profiler

This is maybe a better profile shot of Quinn. (I'm mostly putting this on for Matt's mom) Although I've looked at it a long time to figure out the difference between his lips and chin in this picture ... I think the top white spot in that area is his lips ... maybe pouting? (with bottom lip out) and the bottom white spot in the area is his chin?

These ultrasound pictures are all a little vague I suppose. But it's the best we have until he comes out.

Shock and Awe

I am still a little shocked that we're actually having a boy. I now have to say "he" when I'm talking about the baby, and it's SO weird. (after 4 girl babies, you can imagine why)

Hmmm ... a boy.

Kate's Sick Birthday

Poor girl was sick on her 2nd birthday. We kind of stretched it out throughout the weekend. The actual birthday night she was sleeping when we wanted to do dessert, so ended up doing it Sunday. She was crying when she opened her gifts. She wasn't too thrilled about riding her new tricycle ...... and the blowing out of the candle was not a hit. (she was smiling before we sang to her ... frowning afterward.)She did, however, love to eat the chocolate ice cream pie we chose for her (she hates cake) ...

Maybe next year will be more exciting.

Mama Saw the Doctor, Week 18

• gained: 3 pounds
• baby's heart rate: 156
• Blood pressure: normal
• temperature: normal

That about wraps up what happened ... 15 minutes later I was back in the car.