Noodle dough is rising!

How Far Along Am I?

Today I'm 21 weeks. That's seriously crazy to me. The time is flying through this pregnancy. Now that I'm feeling a lot better, I want to cherish every single moment of this, my last pregnancy, and enjoy the feelings of Noodle moving, the sweet magic of a body that expands exactly right for a human to grow within it, the wonder of the creation of life in my own veins. And it seems so fleeting this time, so quick.

Truth be told, it's a little strange to feel this excited. In my earlier pregnancies I was so busy working sometimes multiple jobs and scraping the bitter, greasy pieces of happiness from the bottom of my crumbling marriage barrel, that I was totally unable to find any relaxed, easy joy. I tried to love each minute, but I was so overcome as life around me seemed to squeeze around my neck a bit tighter every day, that each happiness I found was short lived and pushed aside so I could get on with work and cleaning house. 


So I have never truly had the opportunity to ENJOY a pregnancy. And despite it's miserable morning sickness beginnings, and the somewhat miserable symptoms that come and go, I'm blessed to have this third opportunity. I get to slow down, take breaks, lay on the couch and watch Noodle move...I get foot rubs and back rubs and deep breaths when I need them. And now, as the weeks quickly pass me by, I find myself overwhelmed with a gripping sadness that it's all ending too quickly! I am LOVING being pregnant and I don't want it to go so fast!

21 weeks. *deep breath* 19 to go...

Noodle Is the Size Of?

 A CARROT!!

Noodle is approximately 10.5 inches long this week, which is just...unbelievable!

And to make it even COOLER...Noodle is also about 3/4 of a pound. A POUND.

Yeah, almost a POUND.

Didn't Noodle start off the size of a...single cell?!

*ahem*

Also this week, Noodle is beginning to develop tastes and flavors from swallowing all that amniotic fluid. So he/she is literally beginning to develop a sense of what they like to eat. RIGHT NOW. That's just plain crazy! I guess I better start eating stuff I want to serve for dinner later, eh?

Noodle is also beginning to set a schedule. Will she be a daytime baby? Or will he sleep peacefully through the night? If I pay attention to movements now, I can start to recognize a pattern in the upcoming weeks...

Maternity Clothes?
(Let me begin by making a side note: Whenever I type the word maternity, I instinctive type "maternighty." It's like my fingers don't want to correctly put those letters together!! It's sooo weird!)

Yes, I wear a lot of maternity clothes. Mister just bought me a handful of maternity t-shirts, so it's a bit more comfortable for me. And I couldn't put on a pair of regular jeans now if you paid me. I'm absolutely a preggo penguin at this point.

Stretch Marks?
No, not yet. I keep looking, though...

Sleep?
Sleep is still my hardest part, even this far in. I'm still waiting on my special pillow, but I've confiscated so many pillows from so many people (thanks, Mom!), that I might be able to stave it off for the duration, we'll see. I have about a billion pillows and I an successfully build quite a comfy little nest. I still have a hard time sleeping, though. I have to get up about a trillion times to go potty, sleeping on my back leaves me gasping for air and I have to fight off the insomnia demons like a badass demon hunter most nights.

 Symptoms?
The very first thing that comes to mind is my salad conversation. Over the last few weeks, I've had a hilarious time putting the wrong words into sentences for no reason whatsoever! It's kept quite a few of us in stitches as it happens.

For example, I'll say, "Hey BabyGirl, please go clean up your tree." Then I'll laugh until I cry because I meant to say bedroom. Or I'll combine two words randomly and create news ones, like "Honey, would you please hand me the slatker?" When I mean salt shaker.

Oh yes. It's been fun to lose my most fluid ability.

Other symptoms? Only a billion.
Insomnia
Swelling
Irritablity
Hot flashes
Backaches
Headaches
Luscious hair Woohoo!
Severe Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Heartburn
Indigestion
Sciatica pain
Numbness/tingling in extremities
Vision changes
...and on...and on...and on...

Best Moment of the Week?
Did I mention forgetfulness as a symptom? Because it's definitely there.
...Like right now, I don't remember much about the last week... *ahem*
I'm sure great things happened. I'm also sure that as soon as I post this, I'll remember something awesome and slap myself for even forgetting it in the first place. That'll happen, I almost guarantee it. But right now? Totally blank.
I picked my dad up from the airport.
I spent some time with my in-laws.
I ate ribs.

Oooh! I know! The kids had gone to their father's for the night, and Mister had to get up early to go work on my dad's truck, so he let me sleep in. This might not seem very awesome, but as I laid there in the total quiet I was more at peace than I'd been in a long, long time. The summer breeze was lazily breathing through my window, nothing on my body hurt, I didn't have a headache...I just laid there in the breeze, completely relaxed, totally at peace.

Yes. Right now, that is my best moment of the week!

Movement?
With Noodle's growth spurt the last two weeks, movement is becoming somewhat insane! The other day I laid on the couch and WATCHED Noodle kick me. The space is becoming smaller and Noodle is getting bigger and what's left is my battered insides as he/she kicks, flips and turns.

I'm becoming a regular kickboxing bag.
...and that's AWESOME!

Food Cravings?
Well, fruit loops. Oh man.
BBQ sauce.
Sushi!

The other day, Mister and I had a picnic lunch in a park. (It ended very, very weird...but that's another story...) And we stopped a local grocery store for our food stuffs. I could have anything I wanted. Anything in the store. So...Preggo had:

Fresh squeezed apple juice
Spicy tempura shrimp sushi with sweet soy sauce
Red pepper hummus and pretzels

Yes, all together.
Mmm...I'd eat it again right now if I had some!

Food Aversions?
White sauce or gravies are really making me crazy right now.
Tuna fish. No, no no.
And sweets. Still sweets.

Am I Showing?
Yes. Complete with waddle.

 

Belly Button?
Still attached.

Rings?
Still on.

Looking Forward to?
This week I'm looking forward to finishing the last week of summer vacation and getting myself back on a schedule. I've been attempting to get the kids back on their school schedules, but I've had a very hard time dragging myself out of bed because I know there's no consequence of NOT getting out of bed on time. Like missing a bus. With the school year starting next week, I'm looking forward to it.

Is that weird?

Miscellaneous Updates:
This week, my goal is get a few other projects completed so I can begin work on Nursery Corner. I'll be posting pics as it goes.

Uh....um....and....I make awesome soup.

The end!

Well, well, well...

First things first...

I am surrounded by a family that truly loves me and celebrates with me...
It was brought to my attention after I posted the announcement that we wouldn't be having a baby shower for Noodle, that certain members of my family have been secretly planning a surprise baby shower for me. Knowing that my original decision to nix the baby shower stemmed from the original plan to continue with the wedding, after we'd decided to postpone the wedding until Noodle's arrival, they decided to throw me a kickass surprise shower! How AWESOME is that!?? I'm soooo excited, people, I just can't even begin to tell you!

So, YES we WILL be having a baby shower for Noodle sometime this fall.
YES there will be invitations sent out.
YES it will be the best thing you've ever experienced, so you better come!
YES my family is the bestest family ever, so neener neener on you.
And YES, I just said neener neener in a sentence as a 30 year old.

In all sincerity, it absolutely touches me that they were planning this event for me. In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing more fun than hanging out with my family. Even in high school, I opted to stay home with my parents, than go out with friends. I positively adore it. You can find me, most of my free time, at my sister's or mom's houses just chatting about nothing and grinning from ear to ear. So it means so much to me to have this shower. I just simply can't wait!!

Oh...and no...that means we probably will NOT being having a Sip n' See. I'll keep you posted...

*ahem* Okay...enough excited babble. Shall we discuss a bit of a Noodle update? YAY!

Today was our 20 week ultrasound. Like most moms, I entered into it full of nerves and anxiety. Would they find something wrong? Since my other pregnancies were so simple, is this the one that gets scary? Is my baby going to be okay? I've been reminding myself over the last week that my Mom-Radar hasn't been going off this entire pregnancy and I have absolutely no reason to believe something is wrong. (For the record, I fully believe in Mom-Radar. If something is wrong, I believe a Mom will know even if the medical tests claim otherwise. My pediatrician agrees with this, thank the Lord.) I have no symptoms of anything, no problems, no lingering voicing in my head...not even a bad dream full of deformed babies. Just...nothing.

And I was right.

Everything on the ultrasound today looked completely normal. No signs of any defects. No signs of distress. Plenty of amniotic fluid. Plenty of room. Noodle was super, super active. He or she even sucked their thumb and waved! Lots of kicks, baby's got a full bladder and well functioning kidneys, great blood flow through the cord, heart chambers looked perfect, brain looked exactly as it should... EVERYTHING looked wonderful! And to top it off, all my blood work looks perfectly in range, my weight is progressing exactly as it should, my blood pressure is awesome, my cervix looks exactly on target, my placenta was placed beautifully where it should've been and spaced perfectly from my cervix, my contractions were exactly as they should be... The list just went on and on. Even my fundal height was exactly on point.

Leaving there today, I feel better than I've felt this entire time.

I'm not naive enough to believe that's a guarantee, nor am I foolish enough to go on as if nothing could go wrong. I am, however, filled with an incredible sense of joyous relief over confirmation of my what my Mom Radar has been saying this entire time; everything is as it should be, breathe easy.

So, onward and upward we go! As we all know, this last half of the pregnancy always seems to go so much faster than the first (until the last 2 weeks, of course...than it's the dreaded waiting game), so I'm looking VERY forward to doing EVERYTHING I can do enjoy EVERY second of what will most likely be my last pregnancy.

Until next time, friends...!!

The Halftime Show!

 

Ladies and Gentlemen! It is my pleasure to proudly present this pregnancy's Halftime Spectacular! 

A before and after, perhaps? 

The above picture was taken when Mister & I were dating. This was late July 2012.

This is obviously me now.
*ahem*
Wait...that's not right...

Oh...wait...no, that's not accurate either...

There we go! This is me at 10 weeks pregnant.

Aaaaannnddd...this is me at 20 weeks pregnant!! I'd say there's definitely a difference there...wouldn't you?

Noodle Is the Size Of?

A BANANA!!!

Beginning at 20 weeks, the baby is no longer measured from Crown to Rump as before. Going forward, Noodle is measured from Head to Toe. Which means...Noodle is approximately 10 inches long! WHAT WHAT!? Yep, you heard me.... 10 whole inches long from head to heel! If you want to lose your mind today, get out a ruler and look at that! WOAH! Noodle is also roughtly 10.6 oz today.

Which just happens to be how much this can of hairspray weighs...as comparison.

Also this week, Noodle is gulping down pretty drastic amounts of amniotic fluid everyday, as well as working on that meconium stuff that will make for a fabulous first diaper. Noodle's genitals are also fully formed, so he or she is now a he or she! Just remember folks, we're NOT finding out what Noodle is until we can hold him or her in our arms...so there's no use asking us...

Maternity Clothes?
They're pretty much all I wear now. I'm still stuck wearing some of my "normal" tees, though, because NOWHERE IN GRAYS HARBOR has any maternity tee shirts. *sigh*

Stretch Marks?
Not as of yet...

Sleep?
This is going to be an all pregnancy joke on me, I'm sure.
...and I'm still waiting on my maternity pillow. We haven't ordered it yet, but I am SO excited!

Symptoms?
Heartburn has decided to rear it's ugly head more often now. I pretty much get heartburn from just sitting down or standing up or drinking water and breathing the air.
Indigestion is in there, too. What joy pregnancy is!
My energy is returning somewhat during the day, but not completely. As of now I have about 5 good hours in me, then I hit a wall and have a hard time just holding a conversation. So far, a couple people have been victim to my mid-day ramblings and have even pointed out that I probably need a good nap.
Swelling, swelling and more swelling! Ugh! When I was pregnant with Boo, I swelled considerably. To the point that the nurses used to giggle at my kankles when I'd go in for my appointments. I was hoping not to repeat that with this pregnancy, but it seems to be my impending fate. Yay!
And yes, I'm experiencing a very ucky shortness of breath that's common to this stage in pregnancy. As my uterus pushing up on my lungs I am finding it harder and harder to catch my breath.
Dizziness is still very present as well. I stagger around like a drunken pirate fairly regularly.

 

Best Moment of the Week?

Date night with Mister was definitely the highlight of my week. While other good things DID happen, quite a few of them actually, it was spending some much-needed time with my guy that made everything else worth while. He's a great date! And I haven't laughed that hard in YEARS. 

Movement?

There has been A LOT of movement this week. 

In fact, Noodle woke me up from a deep sleep earlier this week with all the kicks in there! Sheesh!

Food Cravings?
Unfortunately, nothing sounds good again this week. I'm STARVING, I assure you, but every time Mister offers to make, cook or run for anything my little heart desires, I can't tell him what I want. Nothing sounds amazing.
Except hot wings last night after the pizza place closed. Those sounded good...

Food Aversions?
Not much in this category this week, either. Maybe sweets. Twinkies make me a bit nauseous.

Am I Showing?
Yes. Yes I am.
STILL no strangers asking when I'm due, though. I'm waiting for that day..

Belly Button?
Still doing alright.

Ring?
I'm managing to keep a ring on my finger, though sometimes it's getting rather difficult.

Looking Forward To?
I can't even tell you how excited I am about tomorrow's ultrasound! It's the big one that takes forever. We're going to get a GOOD LOOK at Noodle and I can't wait to see him or her dancing around in there. Oh...I'm just bubbling with excitement!!

Miscellaneous Updates:
It's crazy to think that I'm halfway done with this pregnancy. It seems like just yesterday I stared wide-eyed at that test, holding my breath until I got dizzy. This first half has absolutely FLOWN by and I know from experience that the second half is even faster. It's going to be made even MORE quick by the holiday season that is approaching right around the corner. Those make the end of every year fly by. So before we know it, we'll be holding our beautiful Noodle and entering the next exciting chapter in our lives.

Speaking of halfway through, all of you out there who are anxiously awaiting an invitation to a baby shower are going to be mildly disappointed. We've decided to opt out of having a baby shower all together. Instead, we'll be hosting a more traditional southern Sip n' See after the Noodle is born. (Sip and See's are becoming a growing trend these days and are as variable as the parents themselves, but you know me...I like almost every party to have a southern charm.)

A Sip n' See is an afternoon event that takes place some time after the birth of a child. Traditionally, there are various beverages served by the host (that's the "Sip" part) and people are invited to come see the new baby (that's the "See" part). Gifts are not mandatory, but easier to shop for since everyone will be well aware of the sex of the baby, as well as what we may still need. This also allows everyone an opportunity to see the new baby and catch up with us without feeling the pressure to visit us in the hospital, or show up unannounced at our home. Now our friends and family can relax and choose to wait until the Sip n' See, rather than try to cram a visit into a very busy time, especially since Noodle is due just after the long holiday season.

Mister and I are looking rather forward to seeing everyone at the Sip n' See. Invitations will be sent out accordingly. If you have any questions regarding this event, please feel free to get in touch with me directly.

That being said, I'd also like to say that I'm going to begin posting here more than once a week. As the second half of this crazy pregnancy advances, so will the plans and preparations. It seems every week someone asks me about our nursery space, and now that I'm beginning to feel more up to the task, I'm going to begin putting that together and posting updates of it here. I'll also be posting other random things to keep everyone up to date. So I'll apologize for blowing up your blogroll now, but my readers have asked for more...and so more they shall have! Ta-da!

Alright, I'd better get back to the Christmas projects I'm working on. (This SAHM intends to be very, very prepared this year so her very, very pregnant self isn't in a holiday panic! I am putting myself on self-directed bedrest the last week of December until after the New Year, for some very important reasons and I'm NOT about to be diverted from that plan by being unprepared...) Holiday projects, here I come!!

Until next time, friends...

 

Wait...wait...SERIOUSLY!?

This morning when I woke up, I knew it was Monday and I needed to do a Preggo Update. I also knew that I had to take a bump pic and get the kids dressed and out the door for errands. It didn't hit me that I'm writing a blog for my 19th week until JUST NOW.

19 weeks...ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
That means that NEXT MONDAY...I'll be HALF WAY THROUGH.

*deep breath*

That's freaking me out a little. Well, more than a little. I'm now in full-on panic mode!

*add British cop siren sound here*

 

Honestly...19 weeks...that's just...that's just crazy, people. CRAZY.

Noodle Is the Size Of?

 

A Mango!! 

(And no, that's not me. I wanted to find the weirdest picture of a person holding a mango that I could find...and this one just seemed RIGHT to me somehow...)

Average Noodle is 6" and 8.5 oz! 

This week, Noodle is developing Vernix Caseosa all over his/her body. It's a white, greasy protective coating that will remain on Noodle's body until after birth. Imagine you're in a 9-month bath...you'd want some protection too!

Also this week, Noodle is beginning to work on his/her 5 senses! Can you believe that?! 

Maternity Clothes?

Oh, yes. I'm even beginning to fit into my tops.

Which means...SHOPPING TRIP!! Woohoo! Mama needs a few more maternity tee shirts, that's for sure!

Stretch Marks?

Nope. But I've got a funny feeling...

Sleep?

Sleep is still a total struggle for me this week. Mister has even gone so far as to begin researching pregnancy pillows for me in the hopes that we can get me more comfortable. It's becoming very, very difficult for me to get comfortable at all. 

Symptoms?

Still having fun with swelling. Yesterday at the fair my shoes looked like they were just going to rip off... 

LOTS of aches and pains. 

Round ligament pain, for sure! My poor abdomen feels like it's made of broken glass. 

Still more dizziness, of course. I feel like a drunk. 

TONS of hip pain. I've NEVER had this before and it's just completely awful. Just today I have had to nurse this hip more than ever before and it still feels like it's going to break if I use it too much. 

Best Moment of the Week?

We took our daughter to the fair for being such an awesome kid all summer. While we were there, we ran into some friends of Mister's from work and BabyGirl was attached to them at the hip! They convinced her to go on the scariest ride at the fair and SHE DID IT!! I was so proud that she faced a fear. By far, best moment of my week. 

Miss Anything?

Normal size bras. I haven't yet purchased a bra that fits, but I can tell that when I do...it's going to be seen from space. 

Movement?

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to announce that Noodle is moving around like crazy again this week. I'm not sure what was keeping me from feeling the movement last week, but it's over. I'm once again feeling movement fairly regularly. And I've had an easier time catching movement on the doppler as well. It's been really fun to listen to Noodle squirm around! BabyGirl got a chance to listen yesterday and she and I had a good time just listening to the kicks... 

Food Cravings?

This week it's been ice cold water and sweets. However, whenever I have something sweet, I only want a little and then I'm done with it. I never want a lot of ice cream or a lot of cake. Just a piece. It's kinda nice.

Today, I'm proud to admit, I'm craving RED MEAT!! That might be a sign of iron deficiency...yes...but it's exciting because I haven't had a good steak since I got pregnant and I MISS IT!! So I bought some and I'm looking forward to eating it in the very, very near future.

Food Aversions?

Hot chicken is still troublesome for me. 

Anything sour. Ick. 

Am I Showing?

Are you blind?

Belly Button?

Looking more and more like a black hole in space...

Ring?

I'm still wearing one of my bigger ones and I'll continue to do so. I won't go without a ring on my finger. But I'm considering putting my "actual" engagement ring on the necklace I wear everyday...

Looking Forward To?

STEAK!

I'm taking my son to his first dentist appointment this Thursday and I think we're going to have a fun time. My new pediatric dentist is AMAZING. 

And the sweet possibility of a maternity pillow. Ahh...it haunts my dreams...or lack thereof..*ahem*

Miscellaneous Updates:

I haven't been able to hang out with my sister much this week, since she's been gone on vacation and I was unable to join her due to my own obligations here at home...and I can tell you it's really taking it's toll on my motivation and happiness levels! She's coming home very soon and I'm looking forward to spending some time with her as soon as we can. I miss you, Sissy!

The new school year is getting very close. And usually, as a mom, I get a bit excited at the prospect of returning to the scheduled days, albeit early, and the regimen that helps foster growth in my children. This year, however, I'm getting really quite sad at the idea that my daughter won't be here to spend the days with me anymore. She has not only been an incredible help to me through some of my hardest days, but she and I have grown quite close over this summer and I'm not looking forward to her being gone from me. 

Alright...that's it for now.

See you next week!

 

All is quiet....

This last week has been more than a bit anxious for me. I haven't felt Noodle moving around in quite some time. I've been reassured that this is rather normal for this point in my pregnancy, but going from feeling Noodle constantly, to not feeling Noodle at all is making me crazy. I have a home doppler (thanks, Sissy!) and although I'm not at all good at capturing Noodle's heartbeat, I love to use it to listen to Noodle squirm around and kick. When I tried this the other night, it wasn't at all reassuring and I'm left here nervous and anxiety-stricken. We have a doctor appointment on the 20th, but I assure you, if I don't start feeling SOMETHING between now and then, I'll go in and get checked out. For now, I'm running on the reassurance that Noodle is still small and can easily get lost in the vast expanse of my fat tummy. I'll keep everyone posted.

Now, let's get on with it, shall we?! We're already days behind schedule...

How Far Along Am I?

In this picture, I was exactly 18w. 

Noodle Is the Size Of?

This one is a bit controversial. Some say one thing, some say another. After much research, I've decided to agree with this: 

 

SWEET POTATO!! 

Average baby size: 5.6 inches long and 6.7 oz! A sweet potato. Seriously! Weren't we an onion last week? I wonder what next week will be! Hoorah!! 

This week Noodle is yawning, hiccuping, swallowing and sucking his/her thumb! Noodle is also doing A LOT of moving around and this is the time when first time moms usually begin to notice all the movement. He or she should be in there twisting, rolling, kicking and punching! 

Maternity Clothes?

I'm definitely in maternity clothes. I'm still not in my tops, though. 

Stretch Marks?

Nope.

Sleep?

Sleep is a mythical land told by legends passed down from generations long ago. Sleep is a place where magical things happen like rest, relaxation and pleasant dreams. Rumor has it that people who experience this magical land are less stressed, less tired and happier in general. I haven't visited this land in a long time, not without the aid of complete and total exhaustion. And then when I do succumb to the exhaustion, it's not Sleep I experience....it's a near-comatose state. No rest. No pleasant dreams. 

Symptoms?

I'm starting to experience swollen hands and feet throughout the day. 

My back is DEFINITELY starting to hurt. As my center of gravity shifts forward, all I want is a massage and a hot pack. Ugh.

Insomnia.

Headaches. Oh joy.

These hot flashes brought to you by Estrogen! 

My poor, poor boobies. Not only do they ache and experience the frequent stabbing pains that make pregnant boobs so great, but they also have begun to protest against any and all bras. It's time to get a couple new ones, that's for sure...because NONE of mine fit anymore.

The bathroom is where you'll almost always find me because I'm peeing every 2 minutes. Going ANYWHERE is hilarious because I'm constantly asking Mister to pull over at a gas station or stop shopping so I can visit the ladies room. Whew! 

Dizziness is a new and exciting development, as well. At first I was only experiencing this every once in awhile but now it seems I suffer with some moderate bouts of it throughout each day. 

Extreme shortness of breath is also a fun symptom I get to manage. I can't go up a flight of stairs without having to sit down because I'm having such a hard time catching my breath. This, friends, is NO fun whatsoever. 

Best Moment of the Week?

Playing guitar and singing with my sister and a birthday party for my grandma takes the cake this week. It was an emotional experience for all of us and all the hard work we put into it was worth it. Our grandma was very thankful for the song and it touched my heart to spend the afternoon with her and extended family. 

Miss Anything?

I miss quite a bit this week. Being able to climb a flight of stairs, for instance. Riding in the car for more than 10 minutes without a potty break. My American Eagle jeans. 

Movement?

As I stated earlier, movement has become hard for me to feel this week. I'm sure Noodle's in there causing quite a ruckus and I'm just out here too fat to feel it.

Food Cravings?

My newest craving is going to shock the people closest to me. Before I reveal it, I want each of you to take a second and take a couple deep breaths...because this one, friends and loved ones, is going to freak you out.....

.....

.....

....

....

 

Yep, that's right ladies and gentlemen. I'm craving ICE COLD WATER.

I feel like I deserve a medal or something!

The other things I'm craving this week are avocados, cherry tomatoes and black midnight grapes. 

Food Aversions?

I've still got a few aversions to warm proteins, but that's slowly fading. Thank goodness! 

Am I Showing?

Yes. It's beginning to be ridiculously obvious. 

Belly Button?

A place where the umbilical cord once connected me to my mother's body.

Also, still an innie.

Ring?

Hello? Who's there? 

Looking Forward To?

It's a busy week here at the Matchett Residence this week as we begin to prepare for back to school for BabyGirl. I'm looking forward to finishing going through her clothes. I'm also looking forward to getting the motivation to make some more homemade bread...it's been about FOREVER since I did that. Also this week, I'm hoping to get a chance to take BabyGirl to the county fair to look at the animals. That girl has been my saving grace this summer and she deserves something fun, just for her.

Miscellaneous Updates:

As summer winds down and I start to feel the chill of autumn in the night breezes, I find myself becoming more excited about Noodle's arrival. It seems I was in a fog most of this pregnancy thus far, due in part to the all my terrible illness and physical strains. This pregnancy has been, by far, the hardest and most demanding of all of my pregnancies and for the entire first trimester I was defensive against it to better handle all the illness. Now, however, as the illness begins to fade and the seasons start their slow waltz together before they officially change, I am getting more and more thrilled and excited! This is my last summer with my two children. This is the last summer I have to enjoy the quiet moments as a blended family of 4. This is the last fall holiday stretch I'll have before another small child joins us on our trick or treats and Thanksgiving feast. And while I'm silently sentimental about all of that, I'm beginning to yearn to hold Noodle close and smell that glorious baby smell. As much as I dislike the lack of sleep that comes that first year, I am beginning to look forward to the warm, sleepy weight of a feeding newborn in my arms again. 

In all the places I've made mistakes as a mother, and there are many I assure you, that pain and regret can so quickly be salved by the snuggle of my children. ALL of my children. It seems to me a silent understanding crosses between the unspoken lines of me and my babies; we know we're growing TOGETHER. Learning TOGETHER. Building TOGETHER. And as the due date looms for this Noodle to join that blessed team, I'm getting more confident that all the things I've learned before will be so much easier to apply this third time around. Our team will concrete. Our home will be happier. 

And let's not forget, dear friends and loved ones, that this magical confidence is brought to you by Mister The Great. While I can pat my own back in reference to all the years I toiled as a parent before I met him, I MUST give him credit for all the things he's taught me since his arrival and all the ways he's changed me. Noodle may be a mixture of him and I, but so, dear friends, am I. He is my perfect compliment and my only true partner. Together, he and I will continue to do the wonderful things we've done with Boo and BabyGirl, making me no longer afraid of the pressure of Noodle's arrival. With Mister as my team mate, true love, and co-parent, our family will be as beautifully blended as a cup of coffee with cream. <3 I love you, Mister.

And on that sappy note...see you next time!