This time of day is our zero hour. Its our “get everyone out of the house and into the van to go get Dekker” hour. Sometimes its more dramatic than others. Sometimes I’m slightly more on the ball and start a little earlier, just so no one has to rush. Today, the house was silent at this point. Silent. So I waited as long as I could, but finally, I went into the kids rooms to get them up from their naps.

They were ALL fast asleep!

Yes, Solly had opened his eyes in this picture, but when I knelt down to get in his field of vision, he was still faaar off in la la land, deep breathing as though he was fast asleep. Moments after I took this picture, his eyes rolled back and he fell entirely back to sleep.

Sigh.

This almost NEVER happens that I have to wake ALL THREE from a dead sleep, especially after a solid 2-2.5 hour nap! I had even had some company over during nap time, and I assumed that our visiting would’ve at least lulled them awake a little. But nope! Three sleepy little kids were cashed right out.

I started at the top, age wise, and tried to gently lull them awake. It took WORK today. They were all still SO out to lunch. Laela finally woke, and I told her she could take a minute before getting up. Ro was just as asleep, but was up out of bed before Laela was. Solly, on the other hand, lulled quicker, but did not want to stand up. My back is still in rough shape from the weekend, and it hurts quite a bit to pull him in and out of the crib. I tried to urge him to stand up, to which he’d respond with grunts and shrieks when he started getting annoyed with me. I finally got down to his eye level and whispered “We need to go get Dekker.” He giggled like a crazy person and got up instantly.

Sweaty little beast <3

The good attitudes have rolled on, and I’m SO thankful! While it sucks waking them up like that, napping any later than they did would result in a much tougher bedtime. So it was necessary, just kind of a bummer to wake sleeping babes.

But we lived! Can they always nap that well?

WE DID IT!!! We officially made it to my third trimester!! Is it weird that I feel as though it was a joint effort? I could not be where I am, in the mental and physical shape I am in, without SO many of you pouring your love and care into our family. I’m not feeling quite in the home stretch yet, but I know its coming. We are at least in the final third of the pregnancy, and I am thrilled to be here.

Size Comparison: While this weeks comparisons on my Ovia app don’t make a ton of sense, I thought they were adorable! Bambina is apparently the size of a bunch of bananas. 🍌 Also, a camping lantern. You guys know I’m in full lake mode, so I super duper like that one! Though I wouldn’t say a camping lantern is a standard size, nor the size of a bunch of bananas. Google just told me she’s the size of a head of cauliflower. *whispers* Basically, I don’t think anyone knows! I’m going with the more specific estimation of roughly 15″ and slightly over 2 lbs. 

Appointments: To touch back on her size, I really have no ballpark estimation because I haven’t seen her in a long time! Like a month! I have no ultrasounds booked for the foreseeable future, though I admit I’m having a bit of anxiety on that home front (I’ll talk more about that later.) I have a doctors appointment on Friday so we’ll see what Dr. Guselle has to say about it. You guys will know as soon as I know! Beyond that appointment, I’ll do my glucose test this week, assuming I do, in fact, have the new system at the blood clinic worked out! Wish me luck!

How am I feeling emotionally: I’m feeling a bit anxious :/ I have no big reason to think there are problems, because Bambina moves lots and appears to be growing and changing. But for the first time in a long time, I’ve been cramping a lot. I’m familiar with all the weird aches and pains that come along with pregnancy, and these are just straight up cramps. I haven’t had them for a long long time, and I just find them unsettling. Normally, I can hack “unsettling,” but thats been harder for me and my heart this time around. I’d sure love to lay my eyes on her again soon. I know we’re at a point where, if she were to be born, she’d have a great, fighting chance at life! But if I have ANY say in the matter, I’d far rather just run out the pregnancy like normal and have her in three months. If I’ve learned anything over the last year or two, my plans don’t count for much. So I pray, and cry, and pray some more. 

How am I feeling physically: Physically, as mentioned, I’m not feeling ideal. Like, I feel ok in lots of ways. I’m not nauseous. My boobs don’t hurt. My body is fairly well maintained. But I’m cramping lots, I’m very dizzy, and for whatever reason, my lower back has been screaming at me over the last couple of days. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of these things at once, but I’m trying not to let it run my life. Usually I do ok with it. Some days it wins. I just so badly want everything to be ok. 

Wish Lish/Purchases: Well if I don’t get an ultrasound from my next doctors appointment, I’ll be having to make a quick decision about whether or not to fork over the money for a 3D ultrasound at the UC-Baby clinic in the city. Both Brady and I are itching to see our little Bambina again, especially since all of this cramping started up, and he even has a couple of days off next week and the week after, so that would be the time!! Thats the biggest “wish” on my wish list currently. Besides that, on a much smaller financial scale, I bought a great pair of maternity shorty shorts at Value Village for $4! I bought two nice new pairs of shorts last summer when I was pregnant and starting to show with Jamin, so now I have three, and that is PERFECT because I’ll be rocking jelly belly this summer 😉 So I’m thankful for all the cute bottoms I can find to suck some of that specialness in!

Pictures: The FIRST picture of me being in my THIRD TRIMESTER!!

I feel HUGE for 27 weeks, but I think its just because it kind of just happened! Like, yes, I’ve been growing for a while, and maybe I was in denial?? I’m not sure. But now, when I lay down on my back, my belly is UP and OUT there, and shiny, hahaha! Its there now, no denying! That being said, this weather HAS to let up, because my winter jacket stopped being able to zip a while ago, and my fall jacket is pretty much at its limit now! It NEEDS to be spring! Aaaaany day now!

How are the kids feeling: On Saturday evening, we had some friends fall into a bit of a bind, and ask if we could entertain their baby girl for a little bit while they figured a few things out. Whats one more, right? We obviously said yes, and for the next 45 minutes or so, our family grew to seven!! And I’ve got to say, it was smooth and awesome and a window into what is to come!

The kid LOVED her!! Everyone was around her, hugging her, showering her with stuffed animals and talking to her in their highest, baby voices. It was SO cute! To her credit, she was pretty chill with all the little people being in her face, and accepted every toy offered to her. She flapped madly and scooted around on her bum, following the crowd of kids when they’d suddenly all bolt to a bedroom or wherever else. She fit in beautifully, and the kids were thrilled to have her! I can’t wait to see the dynamic when we bring their very own little sister home, but Saturday’s stand-in was pretty darn cute!

Getting to know the baby: Bambina already kicks strong enough that she gives me braxton hicks contractions. All. The. Time. She has big feelings for someone so small. Which she comes by honestly. She’ll fit in well with the ladies in her family.

The BEST part of being pregnant: The best part of being pregnant recently has been confidently knowing that she is growing! I can almost always find her little body in my abdomen, proving that she’s running out of room in there. Not running out yet, I suppose, but its getting a bit tight! With that, I can also feel more and more of her movements. Its no longer about kicks and more about her rolling and shifting and just moving around in general. Last night she was laying across my belly (transverse) and while it was definitely uncomfortable for me, and was lumpy and weird and hard, I could feel every movement! I felt obvious bumps – what I assume were knees or maybe a shoulder – and I could tap them and rub them and she’d move them. It was so bizarre and awesome and while I HOPE and pray that she gets into the right position for delivery when the time comes, I’m genuinely enjoying the stage (and discomforts) that come with her summersaulting around my uterus. 

Favourite thing: I think I can safely say that my favorite thing this week is my moms spaghetti and meat sauce. Most of the time when she makes it, she makes enough for an army and sends the leftovers home with us. What makes her spaghetti SO good is that, instead of spaghetti noodles, she pours the meat sauce overtop of those shorty white soup noodles. Guys, its a game changer!! Not only do you not have to cut them up for your kids to eat, but they are just a bit lighter so you can eat MORE of them!! I feel like the sauce stays on them better too, as opposed to traditional spaghetti where you basically eat the noodles and then eat the meat out of the bottom of the bowl. This is just SO much better. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it! She also throws a tin of tomato soup in with the sauce, to make it just that much sweeter! Delicious!

Another successful week has come and gone, and brought me into the final three months. I’m so thankful to see how many things are popping up in my schedule, actively filling my weeks and hopefully helping time more forward. My prenatal appointments will come up more frequently, two of my kids are behind in their vaccines, two need eye appointments soon, and really we could ALL use a visit to the dentist. I have commitments at church, on a town committee, and to my friends and family. Solly will have a birthday. I will go on a road trip with Jerilee, and hopefully we’ll be able to take the kids to the lake for a few Saturdays in spring. I have a makeup job or two booked, and a couple of fun music things coming up, as well. I need to prepare my house for a new baby, and plan her a party! (For the record, I just googled other ways to say “kick ass” because I want the party to be that level of awesome. Most notable synonyms were tubeular, forceful, and chief. Not exactly what I had in mind.) But seriously, those things, in three months. Sprinkle some beautiful weather in there, hanging out with friends in the sun, walking to and from school rather than driving, etc. I anticipate time will whip on by! I’m so ready!

We did this new thing last night, and I’m pleased to say that they all slept!! TOGETHER!

It may not seem that strange for some people. I know people share rooms with their kids regularly, but this is new territory for us. I’m so glad we tried it, and so were the kids! Dekker has been aching to share a room with Solly, so he was pumped. Laela liked having the biggest (tallest) bed. Rowan loved the freedom of sleeping on the floor. It was tricky to keep him from just jumping all over the beds. And Solly was AMPED to have all the company! They were STOKED.

As expected, their sleep took longer to find, and they woke earlier than usual, but hey, it was our first attempt. They were all happy to get up together, but most of them were noticeably worn out before lunch. Nap time was looming, and they knew it!

Laela didn’t sleep, though she sure seemed like she needed to! Rowan did, and Solly is still cashed out 2.5 hours later. He hasn’t moved from where Brady lay him down in his crib. But thats awesome! I love when they nap hard like that!

I’m so glad we tried this with our little circus of sweeties, and I think they are too! I see many more sleepovers in their future.

Once again, my lovely friend hit it out of the park. Cher, who comes over once a month-ish to take pictures of my Bambina belly, offered us a night out yesterday, to go out for dinner and to see a movie. She had seen and been really touched by the movie “I Can Only Imagine” and really wanted us to see it to. So much so that she offered to care for our little brood while we went to it. What a HUGE gift!! We jumped at it, obviously. She came over around 4:00 on Friday and sent us off after my brief instructions of when bedtime happens roughly and if there were any specifics. There weren’t.

Once at Boston Pizza, she sent me this beautiful picture, and I knew my kids were in good hands. Happy hands.

We enjoyed our evening away very very much. Supper was delicious, and the movie was very touching. A definite thinker. The movie is a retelling of the life of the man who wrote the song “I Can Only Imagine.” I don’t want to spoil it, but he suffers through an abusive childhood, overcomes it to a degree, but can’t fully succeed without going back home and addressing his issues. Its very God centred, which I love to see in theatres. It was a great, sad story. I think the general message the movie was trying to send was about keeping God as your centre, and He will direct your path. This guy followed, even when it SUCKED, and he won!! The biggest thing I took from the movie, however, is the reminder that my actions will affect my children forever, and I want those actions to have a good effect on them! I don’t ever want them to feel like they’re not good enough for me, or that they can’t achieve their goals. I do NOT want to minimize them, but build them up!! It is SO important, and its easy to lose sight of some days when you’re struggling to keep your head above water.

Today, news of the Humboldt Broncos accident is everywhere. The last I heard was 15 deceased, 14 injured. Its been confirmed that a few of the deceased were adults, but odds would have it that most are the players. The young players. Teenagers. I know a lot of people are shaken, myself included. But whats burning in my brain the most is that these kids’ parents time was cut short. They didn’t get a chance to go back and fix what they possibly screwed up. They didn’t EVER think that sending their kids out to achieve their dreams would cost them their lives at the drop of a hat.

I’m reminded that life is fleeting, and we just never, ever know. I don’t mean to be dark and morbid, but its been an interesting two-day shake down for me to remember what a huge responsibility it is to parent children, and how I need the do the very best I can, with unconditional, unceasing love!

I’m so grateful for my children. Aren’t they amazing? I know I am fortunate for every single day I have with them. And I’m so thankful for the people in my life who pour into our family so often. I never realized how necessary they are. People are not kidding when they say it takes a village to raise a family, and I’m SO thankful for our willing, thoughtful, sensitive, initiative-taking village. I’m amazed as I watch it grow. Thank you, all. You know who you are.

Its not been a secret that things have been tricky over here, age and stage wise. This morning, we had a lovely moment of hope, and a reminder to me that things are still sinking in, and my continued efforts to parent diligently and consistently are paying off. Its worth it, no matter how exhausting these weeks have been. No joke, we spent a comfy, relaxed day at my moms yesterday and still I was cashed out asleep at 9:15pm. I am SO tired.

This morning, a few of the kids were playing in the bedrooms. They love to play in the bedrooms, but lately its been something I haven’t allowed. The reason for this is that they fight almost non-stop and I’m either getting up and breaking up the fights every two minutes or I have to literally scream to get their attention. Its awful, and I HATE yelling at them 🙁 I’ve done more of that than I care to admit recently, and I’m working hard to turn that around. However, today, they began playing in the bedrooms and they weren’t fighting, so I figured I’d let it go and see how long it would last.

After just a few minutes, Laela popped out and told me she had made Dekker’s bed! I usually have the kids straighten their beds in the mornings, but it had just gotten missed on this lazy home day. She had seen it and done it all on her own. I thanked her, and told her she was very thoughtful to do that job, especially for someone else. She was very pleased with herself and ran off to make Rowan’s bed. Dekker popped out from behind a couch (no joke) and agreed with me, saying Laela was being SO nice! The lightbulb went off, and he exclaimed “I should go make Laela’s bed for her!!” and off he scampered.

Once all beds were straightened, the kids came out to brag up their good work, and instead of me getting to praise them up right away, they all thanked each other and had a group hug. No word of a lie. I’m SO smitten with them!

These moments save my life some days, haha! We haven’t had many “its working!” moments in the recent past, but I’m SO thankful when they come along! In the midst of the days where my kids scream and snap at each other and disobey at positively every turn, they still have it built into their brains and hearts to think of each other and perform good deeds and give gifts of love. I’m SO thrilled that its in there!! Silly little (brutal) stages won’t change the roads that have been set.

At least I suuuper hope not!!

I saw something on Facebook the other day that asked its readers what their kids names would be if they named after the food cravings you had while carrying them. I thought it was funny, and thought I’d put it on here 🙂 Share yours with  me, if you’d like!

Corn Dog is my oldest. Really, his name could just be “grease” or “7Eleven,” but I think Corn Dog suits him the best 😉 I can’t be sure if he’s ever actually had a corn dog, but I guarantee he’d love them! Less mess than an actual hot dog, which suits his particular “tidy” preferences, and the opportunity to dip it would win him right over.

My girly, Five Cent Candy,” is still just as sweet! Fuzzy peaches, sour cherries, watermelon slices, you name it! Also Nerds and Mike n Ikes. ALL the candy. ALL the sugar. Conveniently, she also loves this kind of food. She LOVES to lick the beater, eat cookies, honey toast, and the icing off the top of cake. Perhaps a more fitting name would be Chocolate, but thats not the name of the game 😉

Unlike Five Cent Candy, Noodle Bowl is NOT a fan of sweet things! He’d far rather have his food without dip or sauce, and would normally say “no thanks” to dessert. He will eat a cookie from the bakery when we’re grocery shopping, but I’m pretty sure he only eats it because his little brother scarfs his own down and then tries desperately to eat his. Before little brother was around, Noodle Bowl would happily accept his cookie, and hold it until it disintegrated and we had to take it away.

Chicken Bowl suits his name very well. Chicken Bowl could really be named KFC, or Colonel Sanders, but again, Chicken Bowl has more personality 😉 He follows the craving well, eating all the yummy hot comfort foods all mixed together without missing a beat. His face post-mashed potatoes looks like my face post-mashed potatoes. It suits.

Lastly, our baby who has not yet surfaced! You guys know I’ve been aching to share her name with you, and today is the day. She will be called Fried Mushrooms! Isn’t it beautiful? We went back and forth for so long between this and “Carrier of Butter and Garlic” but opted for what felt like the more socially acceptable choice. And what a beautiful little Fried Mushroom she will be!! I can’t speak to how her tastes will develop down the road, but so far, she’s a fan.

Your turn! What would your kids names be??

Alert the media!!! The blood clinics in Saskatoon have changed! Forgive my “information only” post if it doesn’t apply to you, but there have been big changes and ANYONE who ever gets blood taken in Saskatchewan should know!

I’ll start by telling you that I was gifted a few hours away this morning to go get my glucose test done. If you’re not aware, the one-hour glucose test is a pretty standard test that is done between 24-28 weeks pregnancy, to check for gestational diabetes. Some people decline it, and thats their business, but I have no problem with it. I know lots of women around the same size as myself, same level of health, who have turned out to have GD. With my babies being as big as they are, I feel like I’m somewhat at risk, though I haven’t tested positive for it yet! Either way, the biggest pain of this test to me is the scheduling thing. I need to have time to go, wait my turn, drink a yucky drink, wait an HOUR, and get my blood taken. Its a big old time suck. So today was the day! The kids were watched, and I was out on my own.

I called Brady on the way and asked him to check me in. You can “check in” online a half hour beforehand and then skip at least a chunk of the line. Brady tried and tried, but no Saskatoon locations showed up. He tried to get around it, but there was just no way. We finally gave up and I figured I’d just do my best. I parked WAY far away (a full parking lot did not bode well already) and walked in. Or, I tried to. I could barely get in the door. The place was PACKED. I was astonished, and the couple next to the door laughed at me, and agreed that it was nuts. I was about to make my way further in to the front desk when they mentioned to me that they had already been waiting an hour.

“Woah! How many people are still ahead of you?” I asked. They said they didn’t know. There was a new system, and no more screen saying who was next. No approximate wait times. Nothing. I kind of just stared at them, unsure of what to do next. I couldn’t wait an hour (or more!) before the whole process even started!!! So, this lovely couple gave me a bunch of info, I thanked them, and decided to spend my time at Costco instead. After doing some of my own research, this is what I know.

Gamma Dynacare has been bought out by a new company called Life Labs. The next system allowed people to drop in the same way as before, but rather than the online option to check in, there is now an option to book an appointment in advance. I think this could be great, but I’ve been trying to get some concrete info and so far, I’ve found a lot of conflicting details. The hours listed are not the same as the available appointment slots, though maybe they leave some open on purpose. They also say things like “a glucose test is timed, so don’t book it too far toward the end of the day” but don’t specify how much time to leave. And then they go on to say “if your test is one on this list, you cannot book online.” Is a numbered bullet point part of the list? Or do you mean the list I see of tests that are no longer available? I have no idea. On that note, I’ve heard rumor that possibly, tests that aren’t standard “in and out” blood draws may or may not be offered anymore, in which case people would have to go privately and pay for their tests. Its all very uncertain. I did set up an account for myself already, which was very basic and simple, but VERY bare bones. It wanted me to just check a 15 slot box, which didn’t feel right with my test being such a long one. There was nowhere to specify anything. It also didn’t ask for any real info, like my health card number. Very vague, for sure.

I considered wandering in and asking the receptionists, but it was a mad house in there. I have an email in to the company itself, so when I know, you guys will know! But I thought the heads up would be worth something for any of you who need bloodwork in the near future. I urge you to look up Life Labs and book your appointment in advance. With no way to check in early, the location I went to, at least, was bursting at the seems! The couple I spoke to had tried another clinic before settling on the one they did, and said it was even fuller. New systems are always an adjustment, so do yourself a favour and prepare the best way you can!!

I guess I’ll get my veins stabbed another day!

I know two years ago was a while back already, and maybe its unimportant to many of you, but it was the beginning of some fresh air for our family.

Two years ago, we were in that stretch of months between selling our house in Radisson and our beautiful new home being built. We had been renting one place, but ended up needing to leave earlier than expected. We moved from there to my parents house, where we lived for a few weeks. In those weeks, we got better from our long bout of sickness, and found the rental home that we hoped would last us until our new house was ready. We knew our house would be ready sometime in May or June, and I was due to have our fourth little baby right in between those months! (Solly was born on May 31st.)

Two years ago, we moved into the home we lovingly referred to as “the cabin.” It was an absolutely marvellous home, and we have very fond memories of living there! Had we needed to stay for longer, it would’ve been no problem. Ok, well, to be fair, the kitchen was miniscule. It had no microwave or dishwasher, but a friend lent us a microwave, and we gave in to disposable dishes for the two months that we lived there. The cabin had a little breakfast nook area that was more of a drop zone, but also had a large dining area for us. We had a big living room, and three bedrooms upstairs. Laela and Dekker shared, and Rowan had his own. We had to block the windows with cardboard because they were SO high up and SO bright, there was just no hope of anyone sleeping past the break of dawn, but the main living area of the house was always gorgeous and bright! The highlight of the home was the loft. It was a little carpeted paradise, with a window overlooking the yard, and toy shelves lining the walls. The kids moved in and, I swear, they never left that loft for two full months. The basement was also HUGE and finished, tho we had no real reason to use it. We used the furnace room for our bulk foods, but I other than that, I have special memories of Brady and I building the kitchen cabinets for the new house together in the basement. He built the boxes, and I built the drawers. It was SO fun. You know the joke about couples who fight to the death over assembling Ikea furniture? We love that job! If anything, we fight about it because we both want to do more and have to share, lol! Either way, they got done there, in the basement, while he and I watched my pregnant movies. I was largely pregnant, but we made it happen. Its a good memory.

When we got the dates figured out and realized that our house wouldn’t quite be done on time, and that Solly would have to come home to the cabin first, I was sad. I wanted him to just be born and come straight home to our HOME! But once I accepted this fact, I realized how well set up we were at the cabin, and it would be ok.

And it was! Those four days living at the cabin before moving to our home were a total blur. I honestly remember so little of them. I know we did a lot of running around, from inspections to lawyer meetings, and we even had to drive to a public health visit because we couldn’t coordinate a time for a “Healthy and Home” nurse to come over. Those days were chaotic, but never once did I return to the cabin with an “ugh” feeling in my heart. The cabin was cozy and lovely and warm, and we all just fit in beautifully there. What a God send that place was!

As much as I loved the cabin, I love our home so so much more! But this place was built for us, and it suits us just perfectly!!!

If only we had a loft, lol! THAT would be the whole package 😉

Twenty six weeks. Mind blown. One of the best things about these busy weeks is that time is finally moving! It still feels a little bit inchy, because I’m watching it pretty closely, haha! But here we are at 26 weeks, only one week away from trimester THREE! There are SO many ways to look at where we are. Just the other day, I saw that we had 100 days left, which feels long and short. But that was a few days ago, plus I’ll deliver a week or so early, so we’re already down to 90 ish, which still feels long and short, but shorter than 100. On another hand, I know that we’ll have the baby shortly after Dekker is done school for Spring. So, three more months ish. But then I realize that the end of this school year is coming up! Which feels close and far away. And that means summer is soon! Guys, I know I’m not making any sense, but I’m just SO so excited, and there are SO many different dynamics to consider! I just can’t believe we’ve made it this far.

Size Comparison: I hear that this week, the baby is roughly the size of a butternut squash, or a bowling pin. But really, how many of us have held a real bowling pin in our hands? I, personally, have not. Also, squash vary in size. So in reference to our app, our baby is hypothetically 14″ tall, and putting on fat! Its been a while since we’ve had an ultrasound, so I can’t verify anything. I can say, at Bambina’s previous scan, she was on the smaller side, in the 28th percentile. Yet, by birth, that has never been the case. So who knows, haha! 

Appointments: This week, I will go in for my glucose test, but thats it for appointments! I’ll see my doctor late next week, but we’ll talk more about that then. I’m looking forward to getting my glucose test out of the way. I don’t feel super strongly about it, like I know a lot of people do. I don’t object to going. I mostly don’t care for the time wasted at the clinic. But its one hour. I should be thankful to have an hour away, haha!

How am I feeling emotionally: Emotionally, I haven’t been great, if I’m being honest. However, I think a lot of it plays into the stresses I’ve had with the other kids, and with Brady’s schedule being fuller than usual. When I’ve had a great sleep, I feel much more capable and am slower to anger. This morning has been far smoother than any morning in the recent weeks, and I think much of it has to do with me being calmer and not raising my voice. However, yesterday evening, I could barely squeak a word out without breaking into tears. I was so overdone. Some of my anxiety inevitably rolls over into my pregnancy, but I don’t think its rooted there. 

How am I feeling physically: Physically, things are still nicely under control pain-wise! My pelvis only gives me trouble if I get cocky and go grocery shopping or do a lot of walking and don’t bring my handi-belt. But for the most part, I’m pretty pain free! I get lots of braxton hicks contractions, and reflux is managed with medication. Nothing I can’t handle. Not so far, anyway! I’m juuust starting to feel that shortness of breath when I lay on my back, so I guess the baby is growing, which I will HAPPILY accept! I’ve never been so excited for the uncomfortable part of pregnancy, where the baby kicks me until my ribs bruise, and I struggle to breathe and sleep. I’m ready! Bring it, girly!

Wish Lish/Purchases: There is always a wish list, haha! It has a few little bitty things that I’ll likely snag next time I’m in the right stores, and the rest of it is expensive and hard to justify :/ Merp. A BIG wish for right now is to go get a 3D UC-Baby ultrasound done. We did one with Dekker, and then justified one with Laela because we couldn’t identify her gender at our anatomy scan. When we were expecting Rowan, we decided to do another, but even though we were well within the “recommended” weeks, he was already just way too big, and it wasn’t the best scan. This being said, these things are expensive :/ With all the craziness of moving and building our home and being suuuper broke, we didn’t get one done for Solly. They’re luxuries, and definitely not something a person NEEDS. Bambina is one well documented child already, but I’m just aching to see her again. I’d also love to see who she resembles, and who she might take after! We were able to see very clearly who Dekker would look like, and that Laela wouldn’t look like Dekker, and that Rowan would look a lot like Laela. So its been pretty accurate! If Bambina looks like Dekker or Solly, she’ll likely be HUGE. If she looks more like Laela and Rowan, we might actually need some smaller stuff for her. Would be so fun to know! But I’m not sure we can justify it :/ So, I’ll keep dreaming. 

Pictures: Today’s picture of the bumpity bump…

It doesn’t look like much here, but it was pre-food and pre-coffee and post-pee, haha! It gets WAY bigger by the end of the day! However, she is still nice and big.

For example, I had the laptop sitting on my legs for a minute this morning while I finished my coffee before starting the blog. My laptop was barely resting on the edge of my pubic bone, and Bamina was just booting at it!! While I could feel that happening, I could also feel her up at my hand! She’s filling up her house nicely.

How are the kids feeling: I feel like the kids comprehend having another baby WAY more than one would think. Obviously Dekker gets it, and Laela, too. Rowan gets it more and more, drawing her pictures and saying he’ll rub her belly when she’s sick. Solly has no idea, but he understands so much that I don’t anticipate much of an issue when she gets home! Eek!

Laela feels less and less shy of her, and willingly comes to rub my belly and talk to her sister. She’s always been a bit reserved until she’s 100% comfortable, which is actually a really beautiful thing about her 🙂 You KNOW when she’s totally comfortable. And she’s getting there! I can’t wait until Bambina is jut that much bigger than I can always easily feel where her body is, so the kids can at least feel that, and hopefully her movements, too. None of the kids have been lucky enough to feel them yet.

Getting to know the baby: I think she knows who we are 🙂 I know that sounds crazy. Every app or developmental tidbit you’d read about her tells you she can hear sounds now, and that the more we talk to her, she could recognize our voices by the time she’s born. Already these days, she very specifically responds to Bradys and my voice. The few times here and there that I haven’t felt her move in a while, we talk to her and she’ll move for us. So maybe she doesn’t know who we are, but she responds to us!

The BEST part of being pregnant: Uuuuuhhh… the boobs that come with?? 😳 Awkward, lol! I’m a tad stumped on this one this week, as my answer is much the same as last weeks answer, which was planning ahead. I LOVE to picture the summer and months beyond with a new little lady added to our mix. I LOVE planning her party. I LOVE planning where she’ll sleep in our room, and who she’ll move in with when the time comes. I LOVE planning for the lake. I LOVE planning where her car seat will go, and where everyone will walk/sit when we grocery shop. Everything is going to be just that much sweeter with another family member. 

Favourite thing: We’ve recently been fortunate enough to start buying eggs locally. Since thats started, we are burning through eggs like there’s no tomorrow! Brady is able to take a couple in his lunch every day, which is probably the biggest win of all. They give him a great boost of energy and aren’t just empty, sugary treats. But since we started doing it this way, I am just LOVING egg salad sandwiches!!! I’ve always been a fan, but for some reason, I just can’t get enough! I’m a very boring lunch person, and I never care to go to any trouble to actually prepare myself anything. I’m quick to either heat up leftovers if we have some on hand, or just eat convenience food. But I love cooking myself up some eggs and indulging in egg salad, probably a little too often. But yes, easily a recent favourite. 

I want to close today’s post off with a question for you guys, and I’m really hoping to get a little feedback! I talk a lot about Bambina’s baby party, and I’m really serious about throwing it. I already am trying to iron out certain details, because I would be devastated to run out of time at the end and not actually be able to make the party. It will be simple, but the purpose of meeting this beautiful baby that SO MANY of us have prayed over and waited anxiously for will remain the same. My question is, invites. I LOVE the idea of sending out invitations, and because I want to send them to everyone I know (haha!) I would love to have lots of time to do that. I’m not kidding around when I say I want YOU (yes, you!!) readers to come, too! But the thing is, lots of you are silent readers. I get many more views than I get likes and comments, and I think some of you prefer it that way. I’m not sure why, but thats completely your call. I would LOVE to invite ALL of you!!! But how does one make that happen?? I’d need you to actually (gasp) admit to me that you read along, and give me your address! I thought about making invites, and posting the proof/picture of it on here, but that also leaves me putting my address on the internet, which is far from ideal… 🤔 See my problem? I want everyone to come, and because she’ll be born in summer, I know some people will be away or busy or whatever else, but maybe some people who are “away” could be away over here!! Lol! I don’t know what else to say, except I need some help and some brainstorming! Do I just leave people out? How do I leave it open without it being impersonal? I want a CELEBRATION!!!

As I mentioned previously, the kids were too sick to come to church on Good Friday, and my bestie, Jerilee, came over and hung out with them so we could go as a couple, and lead half of the music. Saturday left us hopeful that we’d be able to swing Sunday morning church, as the kids were less snotty and seemingly less sick. So we decided to duck out for some funtivities in the late afternoon, to break the day up and get a change of scenery. So often, that lifts everyones spirits, they sleep like rocks afterwards, and it would be the perfect set up for Sunday!

Except yesterday afternoon and evening were a HUGE flop! Our few small plans were butchered upon arriving at our first stop, and I mean butchered. It went so badly that we hauled the kids back out to the van and went home. All kinds of devastation there, for everyone. They fought us like crazy all evening and went to bed in a whirlwind.

Solly lulled in the night around 4:15. It seemed like maybe his throat was sore because he had a HUGE drink and settled a bit. But he was awake on and off until we all got up at a more reasonable time. But clearly everyone was feeling the broken night and within moments of everyone getting up, the kids were screaming at each other over everything, in tears. They ate breakfast with their heads half on the table. It just wasn’t our morning. So once again, we called for a movie morning.

After the movie, we had lunch and informed the kids that they’d ALL have naps afterwards. Dekker was devastated, as I’m sure you can imagine, but he was among the first to fall asleep. I’m not sure if he or Rowan dozed off first. Regardless, everyone slept. And now, here we are.

These days make me a bit gun shy about the week to come. Once again, school is out, and I’m SO hopeful that the kids will catch up on a bit of rest. But its been a long, difficult stretch of time for us, and I’m nervous for a week without activities. Yet I don’t want to be super busy! Because they NEED rest! Yet another tricky balance to find…

I love my kids. I really, really do. They’re amazing human beings! I just hope the weather warms up soon and we can play outside just that much easier. This weekend has not gone as planned, but if anyone knows that our plans are not our own, I know it.

Happy Easter, friends.