Crafts Galore

Over the last couple of weeks, we made various crafts. One from the website Flip Flops and Applesauce, and one from another random online website.This craft was found online. We traced their shoe for the reindeer body and their hands for the antlers. The kids decorated them however they wanted, but the one that looked most like a reindeer was the one that I made with Sarah. (we made these one of the days Dylan didn't have school because of parent/teacher conferences)




We made these beautiful snowflakes out of Q-tips, glue, and glitter. I helped Sarah with the green one, and Bekah made red one by herself. They are beautiful hanging in the window.

Catching up on the last few weeks

A few weeks ago, we, along with my parents, watched the boys from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening. It snowed, so the kids and Bobby spent some time outside playing in the snow.

The kiddos also helped Grandma and Grandpa decorate their tree while the boys were sleeping over.

Trip to Cincinnati Museum Center

We were supposed to do something with my family the day after Christmas, but since Bobby has to work the whole day and Melissa a half day, we decided to do it this past weekend. We went to the Cincinnati Museum Center and had a lot of fun!

17ish weeks pregnant (taken last week)

This is not a very good picture. Bobby didn't get a good angle, and the red-eye correction didn't do a good job, but you can kind of see that I am not showing much. Bobby says that I just look like I've gained some weight. Around 10 pounds.

This is me at 20 weeks with Rebekah. I am not turned completely to the side, and I am wearing a big shirt, but I still think that I am smaller now than I was with Bekah.

This is me pregnant with Sarah at 16 weeks. I can definitely tell that this baby is sitting higher and is bigger than Sarah.
Correction- This current baby is sitting lower and I am smaller than I was with Sarah.

So, do you think it's a boy, or a girl? We find out in 2.5 weeks.

Pregnancy Prayer Update

I went to the doctor on Wednesday, and we decided that I may have pulled something in my hip carrying Bekah around when she had her broken leg, and now that this baby is sitting very low in my pelvis, it is aggravating me even more.
She sent me to a physical therapy office last night for some PT. The lady I worked with is the lady that runs the place. She was very helpful, but I came to the realization that I will probably have to deal with some level of pain for a while. We decided that I have forgotten how to properly lift, I use the tops of my legs and my pelvic muscles instead of my thighs and abs, and therefore have developed some tendinitis in my hip.
She gave me some exercises to do at home, and I will be going back 4-5 more times over the next 2 month (at $30 a pop), but she informed me that since I am pregnant, everything is loose, and I will not be truly healed until 3 months after I stop nursing. Because of financial reasons, I am planning on nursing for the whole first 12 months, if the baby cooperates, so this means that will more be back to full strength in my hip until August 2010. This is rather discouraging for me.
Please pray that I am able to do the exercises properly as well as remember how to lift things properly (as small as a gallon of milk,) so that the pain is not debilitating. This surprise pregnancy was going so well, and now all I can think about is how I wouldn't be in pain if birth control was 100% affective. :) We'll get through this!!

Pregnancy Praise and Prayer Request

Praise:

At my appointment on Friday, 17 weeks, I had only gained 10 pounds! Yeah!! This is approximate because I didn't really know what I was weighing when I got pregnant, since I don't really know when that was. I haven't gained more than 10 pounds, but it may only be 8 pounds. With both Bekah and Sarah, I had gained at least 13-14 pounds at this point.

Prayer Request:

I am in a lot of pain. About 4 months ago, I started having some pain in my right hip/inner thigh. It is horrible and causes me to limp a bit when it is hurting. Last week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, was the worst. I felt like I was in labor in my leg. The pain was numbing. My OB gave me a perscription for a narcotic that I haven't filled yet cause I can only take it when I'm in extreme pain. If I take too much, the baby will come out addicted. The pain has been bad today. I think it has been worse this last week because the baby is growing. The doctor says that the baby is still really low in my pelvis, this is why I can still wear a lot of my pants, and the baby is probably causing my hips to spread earlier, therefore making the pain worse. I am really worried that I am going to have to deal with this the whole pregnancy. I cannot do anything when it's hurting, and it is even hard to find a good position to sleep in. I am going to the doctor tomorrow to get a referral for physical therapy or an orthopedist. I can't have anything officially diagnoised cause I can't have an x-ray, but maybe they can help ease the pain and strengthen my hip until the baby comes in May.

My Amazing Husband

Bobby, for the first time in the 8+ years we've been together, won a card game against my parents last night!!
Go job Honey!!

Meditative Monday #5

The things I've been thinking about and thankful for this past week......

-The ability to still wear most of my regular pants at 17.5 weeks pregnant. I could never do this with Sarah.
-A hubby that puts the girls to bed every night.
-A sister and brother-in-law that pay me to be able to watch my kiddos along with theirs so we can save for a down payment on a house in the NEAR future.
-The ability to swim to continue to exercise throughout this pregnancy in hopes of not having gestational diabetes with this baby.
-Being over the early pregnancy sickness and never really experiencing the overwhelming tiredness of early pregnancy.
-Beautiful daughters who teach me new things every day.

Pictures Galore

Various pictures from the last 2 weeks. There really weren't many to choose from. I have been a huge slacker when it comes to picture taking!!

Fun House at Stone Mountain, GA.

Riding the train at Stone Mountain, GA while visiting Bobby's sister at Thanksgiving.

Sarah playing with her "peepulls" while wearing one of Bekah's backpack.

Baby Alexis, I visited her along her with her Mommy Cherie in the hospital the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Alexis had to have a heart operation and is still in the hospital because of complications, not heart related.

Bekah eating the "ice cream in a bag" we made two weeks ago when we were doing the letter I.

Fun Kid Craft from site, Flip Flops and Applesauce

Several months ago, I stumbled upon this site, I think through Michelle McCallum's blog.
The site is called Flip Flops and Applesauce, and it is FULL of wonderful ideas for crafts to do with your kids. I have done a couple with my kids and nephews, but the latest one was a Paper Cornucopia of Thanks.

The kiddos and I had a really good time making these. We actually made 4 of them. 1 of them went with Ethan to my sister's in-laws, 1 went with us to Atlanta (unfolded and re-taped there), 1 of them was made for Sarah to be able to crumple a bit when she held it, and I made a BIG one for my mom.

If you would like to make one of these next year, click on the link above on Paper Cornucopia of Thanks for the instructions.

Brief Update/Prayer Requests

I am finally getting a chance to sit down and write a brief update. I am at my sister's house, as usual, so there will be no pictures in this post. Sorry!! A lot has happened since I posted last Monday, but I will try to be quick. I am only having a chance to type this because my mom came and took the "big kids" aka Bekah and Ethan to get Christmas houses while Sarah naps. Sarah took a lot more to get her to go down than usually, so I cleaned up the kitchen, and now I can sit down and type this. :-)
(At home lately, Bobby's been monopolizing the computer writing a paper for one of his classes. Shame on him! :) )

Sarah-

Talking up a storm! (for several months)
Full sentences and everything! Yesterday, Bekah brushed by her and she started whining about it. I asked her what was the matter, and she said, as clear as day, "Bekah hit me." I proceeded to tell her that she didn't hit her but just ran into her by accident.
At least a month ago, out of the blue, Sarah also started saying "scuse (excuse) me" when she was wanting to be somewhere someone was, or wanting to get by someone. I don't know where she got this from. We say it, but Bekah doesn't. Usually the things she picks up on are things that Bekah says.
Just a couple days ago, she started to ask me to do things, and I started replying, "Why?" Her response has been, "cause" and a great big smile. :-) What an amazing girl!! So lucky to have her in our lives. I hope that over the never few years we never let her fall into the "middle-child" syndrome. This is a huge prayer request!

Rebekah-

Growing up so fast!!!-
Starting the beginning stages of reading. Can spell STOP, DOG, CAT, and a few others. She is also starting to sound out words constantly. She knows all her letter sounds, but sometimes she mixes C and K up. Understandably!
Learning to do cartwheels at tumbling class. Loves to spin around and dance like a ballerina. She even knows some dance vocabulary.
Wants another baby sister, not a baby brother!! She is extremely forceful about this. I don't know what we're going to do if this baby is a boy.

Bobby-

Finishing up his classes this semester and then will have a break until February when he will begin his FINAL 2 CLASSES OF SEMINARY! Yahhhhhh!!!! We are very excited! This has been a long 5 years coming. He is set to graduate May 24, 2009. This is 9 days after my due date, but we are planning on being there!! Bekah came 3.5 weeks early, and Sarah came 2.5 weeks early, so I am aiming for a May 1st delivery. This gives us a whole 3 weeks to get prepared to make a quick trip down to Lexington/Wilmore, for graduation!!

Prayer Requests-
Things that are heavy on my heart right now!
-Bobby's job. He has put in his letter of interest for a full-time job at UPS in Human Resources or a department called IE that has to do with computer "stuff" at UPS. This needs to happen soon so that the rest of the prayer requests can fall into place.
-A house. We need one. Preferably close to my sister so that I can watch the boys in the mornings, at my house, and watch Ethan after AM kindergarten. The problem is that we don't know what Bobby will hopefully be making, so we can't get pre-approved for a mortgage or anything until the job thing happens. We wouldn't qualify for anything livable on Bobby's current salary. That's why we live with my parents while he's finishing.
-This baby/pregnancy. (He/she is moving up a storm right now while I'm typing this) I am starting to be more "excited" about this baby, but things seems to happen every day that cause me to think I won't be able to handle it if another baby is thrown into the mix. Please pray for my peace and strength. I had a touch of postpartum depression with Sarah because she was a horrible nurser and day-time sleeper (was only sleeping about 15 minutes at a time during the day unless she was being held), and I am terrified that this baby will be the same way. (I am also starting to not fit into my regular pants! A lot later than with Sarah.)

Anyways, I hope this helps catch everyone up on what's been going on around here. It's hard for me to update even weekly when I am not at my own home base during the day and my hubby is needing the computer for grad school stuff. I will try to get some pictures on by this weekend!!

Meditative Monday #4

Thinking about this week...
-God's providence
-A husband who puts the girls to bed
-Good health of my daughters. I read somewhere that 85% of children have had an ear infection by the time they are 3. Bekah is 4 and has NEVER had one, and Sarah is 20 months today and has yet to have one. (we've just had 2 broken bones :) )
-Ability to see growth in my daughters and Ethan as I teach them every day.

Bekah's 4-year-old pictures

Bekah did a good job with this, I just wish she was a bit more natural when she smiled. She does this, "cheese!!"

Is 3 the new 2?

With the HUGE SURPRISE of a third baby on the way, I, Paula, have been thinking about this question a lot,

Is 3 the new 2?

So00000 many of the people we know, are friends with, or are aquainted with are having, just had, or recently had their 3rd child. Not many of the others have said, "2 and we're through."

What do you think? Is American society shifting to a "3 kids in a family" mentality, or is birth control just not working as well as it has in the past? (or are people not being as careful?)

Show me the comments. :)

Meditative Monday #3

Thinking about/thankful for...this week

-A rekindled passion for studying the Scriptures
-A husband who puts the kiddos to bed every night
-A warm bed and a place to live right now while we're in transition
-The moving up of my due date and the very good chance that this baby will be early so we can go to Bobby's graduation in KY that he's been working so hard for over the last 5 years (when he's done.)
-The ability to stay home and be will my girls most of the day, every day
-The girls being over their stomach bug
-Crab legs eaten on a gift card FINALLY used from my birthday back in July.

Scroll Down!!

I finally updated what we've been up to the last few weeks. There are a couple things that I didn't post about, but for the most part, this is what we've been doing for the last several weeks. Busy, busy, busy!!
The first weekend of November, we went to Indiana to celebrate Bobby's Grandma's 90th b-day. The camera never came out. I was dealing with children, food, and spending time with people that we haven't seen in a long time. Bobby has been the picture taker lately when we're out and about. When I'm by myself, without him, I have to force myself to take pictures. (around the house is another story, I take pictures like crazy!!)
I also went to the doctor for the first time. I got to see the heart beat and see the baby. Everything looks good. The doctor moved up my due date to May 15th. This means I'll probably be having the baby around May 1st. Unless this baby is completely different than it's sisters. I go back to the doctor on December 5th for my 17 week appointment. It looks as though I will have an ultrasound right around the 1st of the new year. I am definitely leaning towards another girl, but I know Bobby would love a boy. I will try to update more often!!

COSI- Sesame Street, The Body

pedaling, kicking, and jumping. What they did transfered to what the Sesame Street characters were doing on the screen.

Posing in front of Big Bird.

Our hands. The letter of the week was H.

Elmo's World set where they could dress Elmo in different clothes for the different weather.

Standing in front of area that looked so much like the Sesame Street set.

On this past Friday, my mom and I took the kiddos to have Bekah and Ethan's pictures taken, (separately) and then we headed downtown to COSI for Sesame Street, The Body. We try to watch Sesame Street every day that we are around when it it on from 11:30-12:30, so it was really neat to go to this exhibit. It was a long day!!! But fun was had by all!! I even saw Nicole Hummel at the mall when we were having lunch. Cool!

Halloween

For Halloween, our girlies were a mermaid and a giraffe. Bekah was a giraffe when she was a little bit older than Sarah, and Sarah did a lot better job keeping her hat on. Bekah's costume was purchased last year after Halloween. She was so excited about it throughout the whole year.
This was the first year that Bekah has really been into the "whole thing." She was so cute going from house to house. Sarah was even cuter because she wanted to do everything that Bekah was doing. She walked herself right up to the house and took candy out of the bowls. Bekah would never have done what she did at 19 months. It was so nice also because this was the first time Bobby wasn't at work. He was home and could go with us. Yeah!!!

Dylan's 8th b-day

Our nephew Dylan turned 8 at the end of October. We, me and Bobby, along with my parents, took the 4 kiddos to a place around here called Coco Key Water Resort. A blast was had by all. We went back to their house afterward and had a fabulous meal, cupcakes, and watched Dylan open his presents. The next weekend he had a party with some of his friends.

Final Tumbling Class of Fall Session

A few weeks ago was the final tumbling class of the Fall Session. When the classes started, Bekah had just gotten her leg cast off. We had 2 classes, with a 1 week break because of no power, and then she broke her arm. She participated in 2 classes with a broken arm, and then she finally got her cast off for the last class.
The picture above is of her holding her paper and her ribbon up while saying "ta da." Ethan was a bit more shy because he had just come out of the bathroom. He was the first of the three kiddos to get a stomach bug. (Each child had it for about a week!)
We started the second session of tumbling last Monday.

Bike Riding

We have been slacker parents when it comes to bike riding. Right before Bekah broke her leg back in July, we had just started to really work on bike riding with her. She got her leg cast off 6 weeks later, and we started to work on it again. Then she broke her arm. A couple weeks ago, we started to work on it again. She's doing pretty well. It's getting really cold and nasty outside now, but I think when spring comes around she will be a pro. The other picture is of Sarah, who of course has to do everything her sister does. :)

Meditative Monday #3

Lots to post about, but for now, you'll have to be satisfied with my list of things I've thinking about and things I have been thankful for this week.

-The ability to swim, even though it's hard to get up at 5:20 and 5:45 am 3 days per week, I always feel great after, and I hope the continued exercise will keep me from having gestational diabetes with this pregnancy. I exercised a lot with Bekah, and never had a problem. Sarah was a different story!
-A husband that puts the girls to bed EVERY night! (Can you tell I'm thankful for this? It's the 3rd time I've mentioned it)
-God's providence and God's sovereignty
-Celebrations that bring family closer together, even for a little bit
-MANY maternity clothes from Bobby's cousin's wife (Sonya) since I gave away/sold mine. (we were not planning on having another baby)