On the Eve...

of being induced, and I am feeling so anxious. I think I might throw up. I'm disappointed my body didn't go into labor on it's own. I'm sad to have another pregnancy be over. No more baby kicks from the inside. No more valid excuses to eat a gallon of ice cream. But I am ecstatic to hold you in my arms and to be your mama. 

Just to let you know later on in life when you read this little Sam...you decided my womb was too comfy and to keep yourself in until 41 weeks. My Dr. only allows for that to be the max gestational period (and really...what baby needs to bake beyond that?). 

I absolutely can't wait to meet you and kiss your sweet face tomorrow. Be good to me, Sam. 

40.4 weeks (taken on Saturday)...now this really is the last pregnancy photo! ;) 

Fully cooked. Mama is tired. Done. But I know I will miss it. 

Change

I have had one of those days where I can't believe that big change is coming. I keep looking at my girls and thinking "Can I really take care of three of these little humans?" Too late to back out, huh? Our son will be welcomed into this crazy, chaotic world this week and whether I am ready or not...here he comes. I have felt so very ready for the past 9 months. Really. I have had not had any anxiety or nervousness. I have been just plain happy to be pregnant and adding a little boy to our family. But now that it's my due date, I have to admit it's surreal.

I know Ella and Madeline will be the best big sisters. They have taken such great care of me this pregnancy and their smiles couldn't possibly be bigger as our countdown arrived to this date. They are already fighting over who will hold him and what toys he will want to play with first. They love to look at his clothes and laugh about how his diapers could fit their dolls. I pray they are patient with me as I go through that newborn/infant stage with their brother and re-learn everything once again.

Even though I have definitely complained way more with this pregnancy and being uncomfortable, there are parts I will miss. Not the beginning with all that morning sickness at all, but remembering hearing his precious heartbeat for the first time on my birthday, feeling the flutters of his kicks and punches a few weeks later, and finally finding out we will be expecting our first son at the big ultrasound. Twenty weeks later and even though my feet are starting to swell and I probably haven't slept more than four hours a night in weeks, I wouldn't change it for the world. Pregnancy is a blessing. I know this. Feeling him turn and move and hiccup, it's all a miracle. Babies are true little miracles from God and we absolutely can't wait to meet ours.

I would like to think he was trying to escape in this video, but I was wrong as he is now officially tardy! But definitely the most amazing part of being pregnant.

Wishful Thinking

Today I took the girls for a long walk. We stopped at every dandelion patch and made wishes that their baby brother would arrive by his due date. These girls make my heart smile.

 C'mon little guy...we are waiting for you to make us smile even more.

39th Week

Here we are. In the 39th week of pregnancy with our little guy. I am ready to explode. But somehow we manage to keep our days busy. Constant. Although, when Tom came home from work today he did find me not willing to move off the couch. 

39 weeks ready for church...last pregnancy pic I think I will be taking!

Time at the playground after church (take note of the skirt and sandals for a later pic)

We put together a road trip basket for our neighbor Louisa. They are PCSing to VA and the girls wanted her to have a good trip:) 

Which in turn, her mama Lindsey already had gifts for the girls as well. One of which included this amazing coloring book! 

Madeline is mastering the spider drawing. 

We watched Tangled and pretended Ella was Rapunzel apparently.

We woke up to ice...everywhere. Really, Oklahoma? It's April. Spring. I miss Florida.

During the icy weather, I decided now might be a good time to start the baby laundry.  I have been dreading doing it but in the end I loved having everything all organized.

And what do I do? Go out and shop to add to his laundry

Dentist time! Ella has to have her two lower teeth pulled due to her adult teeth growing in already. I am so sad over it, but Ella is really excited to have the tooth fairy visit her shortly!

 We sadly said goodbye to our sweet neighbors and their daughter, Louisa. We will miss them so much and I know the girls are already looking forward to a trip to DC to visit them. It's all part of the army life, right?

Is it Friday yet? Almost. Almost.

Trendy Tot Tuesday!

Look! We came back again to participate! I just had to show off the little guy's outfit that he will wear home from the hospital. Even though he isn't a trendy tot yet because he's not even here;) I am hooked on anything from Ralph Lauren and I am sure Tom is thinking our bank accounts will only support this expensive clothing habit for so long, but I have to say the clothes are so soft and I just know he will look adorable in them;)

Mid-april is hard to plan for here in Oklahoma clothing-wise. It snowed one year while we were here in April and other years it's been 80+. I figure though with him being a newborn we have to keep him warm no matter what so this coming home outfit will be great. The best part is I bought it on sale.

Ralph Lauren Layette Newborn Sleeper and matching cap

I love baby blue especially on newborn boys. I have a whole armoire full of cute clothes for this little guy. His dad has pretty classic style so I hope we hand that down to him. To me, classic will always be trendy.

ONE WEEK LEFT until he's supposed to be here.

This is just another cute something I bought from Etsy seller Addie Kakes Kreations. I don't care if he's a boy...he will have things with his name embroidered and monogrammed:) 

Easter Weekend

                         I know this post is a little late, but 'tis life. At least I am not a month behind.

We took the girls for the giant Easter egg hunt on post this year. It was the first time Madeline could actually participate and she had an awesome time finding eggs among the complete chaos. I remember the first year we did this with Ella and it was a crazy time as well. Hard to believe here we are four years later...still at Fort Sill and still going to the giant egg hunts. It was a beautiful day though and living on post we were able to take a long walk there and enjoy the sunshine. The girls bounced in the bounce houses, took a few pictures with the Bunny, and ran around with their little buddy, Louisa.

                           

 

Later, we dyed eggs. Thank god egg dye doesn't stain because Madeline literally took one of the dye cups and spilled it all over her cute dress. (Whyyyyyy did I let her do this in clothes? Mom fail.) It all came out so no big deal, but maybe I will learn my lesson for next year's egg-coloring extravaganza.

On Easter morning the girls woke up to tons of eggs hidden around the house. I really do love being a parent and I think anyone could agree, it makes each holiday that much better! To hear them giggling and helping each other find eggs just makes me happy. (that silly bunny had eggs hidden in the toilet of their dollhouse) They get so excited over the littlest things and I know this part won't last forever. Even though I want it to. We enjoyed part of the day at church, playing outside with the new chalk and bubbles and the best part...Tom picked up takeout from Outback so I didn't have to cook or wash dishes:) Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!

38 weeks on Easter morning

Outside play!

It's taking me a lot longer to catch up to these running girls!

Welcome Home, Vietnam Vets!

Last Friday, the girls and I attended a Welcome Home ceremony on post. It wasn't the typical Welcome Home ceremony that we are used to seeing. It was a ceremony recognizing our Vietnam Vets and it was by far the most meaningful and humble experience I have had as an army wife. Our Vets were never welcomed home like they should have been all those years ago and even though many, many years have passed since those days, I am grateful to Fort Sill and to my husband for planning an incredibly historic event to give them the welcome home they deserve.

To see the Vets walking into the gym and waving to the crowd was an emotional sight. Many were wheeled in by their nurses. Many held on to canes or walkers. All of them beamed with pride. They served our country with dignity, and our community wanted to show them our true appreciation for their sacrifices. The audience held up "Welcome Home" signs and "Thank You" signs. Soldiers saluted while children waved flags. The army band played, Major General McDonald gave a moving speech, and the National Anthem echoed throughout the building.  I have to say while watching all of it, my girls stood in awe quietly watching history in the making.  And me, being the very pregnant girl that I am, let the tears fall.

 I wish I took a picture of the streets lined up with people waiting to welcome the Vets. Even the school children were out there saluting them. Such a sight!

Usually these white buses are never appreciated around the post as they typically mean deployments.  But it was pretty neat to see how many lined up to take the Vets around to each event that day.

Surprise Baby Shower!

My husband works with some incredibly thoughtful people. I was truly blown away by their generosity when I walked into our local mexican restaurant and discovered it was really a baby shower for me and not a Hail and Farewell for my husband. (Something the military does when someone is moving away).  I couldn't believe the women in his office and his boss's wife would plan something for me. They told me I needed lots of blue after so much pink and I couldn't agree more! They spoiled this little boy with a ton of adorable clothes, a huge diaper cake, an abundance of diapers and wipes, gift cards, and many other sweet gifts. These soldiers, civilians, and their spouses all took the time to show us how much they love us and how excited they are for us to welcome our first son into this world. I cried with appreciation. We couldn't possibly ask to be surrounded by a better group of people.

Trendy Tot Tuesday

So my beautiful blogging friend Kelly asked me if I would like to participate in her Trendy Tot Tuesday segment. Of course I wanted to...but then my computer went crazy and wouldn't let me upload any new pictures. We bought a TB passport hard drive from Amazon to empty my computer of pictures and somehow my computer crashed. I don't think in any way it could be my fault for storing like 83,000 photos on here. I feel like Apple is in this two year conspiracy theory to destroy all Mac products after two short years of use. Either way, we finally got rid of some of the pictures and it's running a little better. For some reason, it's still hard for me to "trash" every picture on the computer, but I am working on it.

Trendy isn't what I am known for, but I do try to dress the girls cute. I have an awesome aunt in NY who always sends the girls dresses for holidays so this year I didn't even look for an Easter one for them as theirs arrived back in February! I love that 1. it saves me money and 2. the girls always look extra girly in the outfits she sends. I am not one to buy the frilly, taffeta dresses, but for some reason when she sends them...I love them on the girls. I think I am the problem...I am just not girly enough! Maybe it's a good thing God is giving us a boy next;)

They are happiest outside. But outside in pretty dresses? Simply ecstatic:) I am just happy they managed not to fall before church!

Can't wait for next week when I share our baby boy's hospital homecoming outfit.