Christmas Day

My time has been taken up by nursing, sleeping and taking care of three little girls...so the blog was put on the back burner for a while. I started this post right after Christmas but wasn't able to get to it until today.

We had a great Christmas and really enjoyed our family time with Memom and Papa. This was the first time they were with us at our house for Christmas. Sarah had a nice sleepy first Christmas and enjoyed her napping and milk. Meghan and Jenna received some very nice gifts from family and loved everything they received.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!!!

Big sisters

Sarah Elizabeth

December 23, 2009

Morning of my induction.

Rob and I were getting ready to leave the house and head to the hospital.

It was 645am.

In the hospital gown all ready to go!

7 1/2 hours after arriving at the hospital Sarah Elizabeth is finally born.

Weight: 8lbs 3oz

19 1/2 inches long

Proud Daddy to three little girls.

Sarah after her bath.

My nurses, mid-wife, an OB Doctor and all the staff at the hospital were wonderful.

I was able to go home less than 24 hours after delivery,

so Sarah and I could be with the rest of the family on Christmas.

Snow in the UK!

Jenna and Meghan enjoying the snow!

Jenna's snow worm!

Nessie (the neighbors dog) is checking out the girls playing.

The neighborhood!

We have had about 6 inches of snow since Thursday evening and it looks like we may not be finished getting it. The girls started out their winter break a day early due to the snow. I have to say I love snow much more than cold rain. The girls have really enjoyed playing outside, warming up with some hot chocolate then heading back out for some more snow fun. I hope some of the snow will still be around when my parents arrive middle of next week...but not enough to mess up traffic or flights.

39 weeks

39 weeks!!!

I never thought I would make it this far....but it looks like I was wrong!!

I had a doctor appointment earlier this week and my body has not started getting ready for labor. I was hoping to get my membranes stripped, but my cervix hasn't softened or thinned....we think I was about 1cm dilated, but the mid-wife couldn't check me completely.

My next doctor appointment is Dec 22nd...so we will see;)

I

Ballet recital

The girls had a Winter Ballet recital on Thursday evening. They did two dances....a spanish dance and one from the Nutcracker.

Meghan and Jenna both love to dance! Meghan is very comfortable dancing in front of people but Jenna is a little more hesitant with the dance moves.

They both did awesome!

The girls dance class and the older girls together in their spanish attire.

Meghan and Jenna with two of their friends after dancing.

creative child

I had to post this picture. Meghan made a shirt out of her scarf!! I wouldn't let her wear it out of the house, but very cute that she came up with the idea on her own.

I bet you can count her ribs!!! She is my little skinny-mini;)

Jenna wanted to get on the picture action too. She is wearing her undershirt and tights....she did have on additional clothing for school today;)

38 weeks

I'm 38 weeks pregnant today and I'm feeling some pain!!!! Not bad pain, but I have been having contractions since early yesterday morning...but nothing too painful, long or worth a trip to the hospital. I am hoping the pain gets longer and harder..which I never thought I would be saying, but that just means she would be arriving sooner than later!!

I hope my next post update on my pregnancy is a delivery one;)

Santa time

The girls and I were out shopping the other day and we ran into Santa at the Bxtra. Jenna was so excited to see him! She went right up to him and told him all the things she wanted for Christmas. Meghan decided she would pass on seeing him and she just hung out with me until Jenna was finished. Santa asked Jenna what her sister wanted for Christmas and Jenna told him she didn't know.

The girls both wrote a letter to Santa so I don't think Meghan was too worried about Santa not getting her list of wants. After we walked away from Santa, Meghan said...."you know that wasn't really Santa?". She is 7 and I'm not sure when kids find out who Santa really is....

I do have to say there really are Santa's in the world....Toys for Tots, the Angel tree kids and the shoe boxes collected by the churches.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and remember the reason for the season!

36 weeks

Picture was taken when I was 36 weeks 3 days.

I am 36 weeks and 5 days today!!!!! So happy to say that because I was a little worried around 32 weeks that my baby girl was going to arrive a little too early....but the contractions stopped and I think she is in for the long haul (or close to it)!

I had my 36 week doctor appointment yesterday and I am measuring at 36 1/2 weeks, gained 7lbs since my last appointment. My blood pressure and Sarah's heartbeat are both very good too. Back to the weight gain.....holy cow and I'm not talking about myself. I am 9 months pregnant but this is the most I've ever weighed in my life and I'm shocked that I have reached these numbers. I have purchased new running shoes and plan to hit the gym as soon as I can after the birth. I have a goal and I may spill the beans and tell you what my weight was and then is and then what my progress has been, but I am still in shock I have reached these numbers;)

I am packed and ready to go whenever my body decides to kick my baby girl out!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

This time of year makes me think of family, good friends and all the yummy food to top it off. Last year we were in Bruges, Belgium and had a fantastic vacation. This year...I will be relaxing on the couch, putting up our Christmas tree and eating as much as I can!haha I have recently had the itch to travel, but I don't want to deliver in a different country or on the road somewhere, so we are staying put until after Sarah's arrival. I can't wait to show her the world (as much as I can) and teach her all the cool things I'm teaching Meghan and Jenna.

I am so thankful for having a wonderful husband, healthy children, a house to live in, food to eat, clothes to wear, a car to drive and the list could keep going and going. I am also thankful for the aches and pains I feel and being away from our families in the states. Sounds crazy, but it's true.....without being away from the states I wouldn't have seen England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Belgium and Germany (again). I will sum it all up to say....I'm thankful for my life and all that I have or don't have.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving where ever you are and what ever you are doing;)

growing like a weed

I think I have had growth spurt the last few weeks.

I am 34 weeks 2 days in this picture!

Monkey business

One of the bases had a bazaar this weekend and I picked up the cutest blanket and bib. They are both handmade by a lady that lives here, who also sells on Etsy.

In other news.....the bazaar advertised ice skating. It was NOT ice skating. It was a plastic floor with an oily substance on it. My girls loved it, but Rob and I didn't. The girls were covered in the oily substance and it smelled too. I will be searching for another place to take them ice skating...and I mean skating on ice this time!

I was only watching today, don't want to get hurt with Sarah still "cooking" in me!

I'm 34 weeks as of Friday and I'm exhausted. I can't sleep well and she is so low too. I am so thankful to be pregnant and won't complain about the pregnancy too much!! I am counting down until I can meet my third little lady in person. I won't have a doctor appointment until I'm 36 weeks.

We had parent teacher conferences this week and as we expected, both the girls are dong fantastic in school. I am so happy they love to go to school and enjoy learning.

Baby shower

Me with my two sweet big sisters! These are the super cute shirts

I bought off Esty!!

My wonderful friend, Lisa, made this diaper cake for us!!

(doesn't Jenna look excited!)

Group picture!! Yes, Angie is a hogs fan!hehe

Yummy food.

Beautiful cake and it was super yummy.

Two of my wonderful friends had a baby shower for me this past weekend. It took me a while to get up the post..I'm just running on low fuel. The food and friendship was awesome. I took the two big sisters with me and I think they were kinda bored because no other children were at the shower....but thank goodness for cake and candy. I received a lot of very cute gifts and can't wait to use all of it on Sarah.

32 1/2 weeks pregnant

I had my 32 week appointment this week and all is well. I had the little scare with contractions last week, but all is quiet this week. I am measuring right at 32 weeks and gained 3 lbs since my last appointment (4 weeks ago). Sarah was nice to the med tech and let her get her heart rate without chasing her around, which I can guess Sarah is like the little fish that has almost outgrown it's fish bowl, so she doesn't have many places to hide these days.

I will go back to the doctor when I'm 36 weeks and hopefully a few short weeks after that appointment we will meet Sarah in person!!

Halloween and 32 weeks

Happy Halloween!! We all dressed up and had tons of fun with some friends.

The girls with their friend, Cara, having dinner before trick-or-treating.

Milo is under the table making sure nothing drops.

Rob dressed up and ready to scare a few kids (and parents).

Three pretty girls ready to go get some candy.

Rob painted my belly and it was a hit! A few women touched it thinking it was a shirt and a little girl wanted to rub it a few times. Thanks to Tracy for the idea of cutting the hole in the shirt. I was going to have my shirt pulled up and a jacket on, but this worked out even better. I am 32 weeks pregnant and was so excited about painting my belly for halloween.

I've had a few rough nights the past few weeks, with some very painful contractions. I went to the maternity ward on Friday and had a stress test done. All looks good and thankfully my contractions have not started thinning my cervix and there are no signs of early labor. I am slowly learning to take it easier than I'm use to and am counting down until I get to meet my newest little princess in person.

funny things kids say

was on the phone today and the girls started arguing loud over a large bowl of popcorn. When I got off the phone I told them unless they were bleeding because their leg was falling off to not yell while I was on the phone....Jenna asked, "what if our arm was falling off??"!!!

Pumpkins and Ponies

We picked the perfect day to go to the Undley Pumpkin Patch!! The sun was shining and it wasn't too cold.

We were surprised to see ponies at the patch. This was the first year they had pony rides, so the girls got their first pony rides. They loved it and have talked about getting a horse since we moved here and I bet that riding the ponies will make them want one more.

Meghan and Jenna picked out the perfect pumpkin times 6!!

If you look close you can see Sarah is only on my left side! That is her favorite hang out spot!

Daddy and his girls!

Meghan riding Snowy.

Jenna riding Jess.

HAPPY FALL!!!!