The 3rd Trimester and a NAME!

It's official...I am now 28 weeks along! I can't believe that this pregnancy has gone by so fast. My sister-in-law Crystal delivered the triplets at 29 weeks and I can't help but think how perfect and tiny they were! Maybe sometime I will post an updated pregnancy picture, but I am not feeling so "picturesque" lately. The last 8 weeks have been major weight gaining weeks...and I thought I was doing so well with not gaining as much at 20 weeks! The last month and a half with Caleb I didn't gain any weight, so maybe I am getting close to gaining as much as I'm going to! Let's hope so...

We have been super busy, or I should say that Kevin has been super busy, finishing the basement bedroom so that we can move all our guest bedroom furniture down there. The bedroom is ready with a bed and bookcase. Now he is just working on the closet and the bathroom. We will then get to work on Caleb's "big boy" room. Kevin's mom and dad are loaning us one of their extra cribs to keep Caleb in for a little while longer. The nursery will stay the same (with the exception of changing the name on the wall).

Which reminds me...we have decided that this baby's name is going to be Noah Alan. Noah is Hebrew and means "rest, comfort" (boy let's hope this name fits this kid...especially since Caleb has so much energy) and Alan is Kevin's middle name (and my brother's, though it is spelled differently). I even bought the letters yesterday at Michael's to paint and put up in his room. We have been trying to decide for a while and have always been leaning towards this name, but I wasn't ready to fully commit. I still say that if I perhaps have some kind of divine revelation as to a better name, we will be open to that. Until then, though, this will be his name! :)

ELMO!

La, la, la, la...la, la, la, la! On Saturday we went to the "My Gym" open house. In addition to getting to play in a super-fun atmosphere, the kids also got to meet Elmo. I admit...He didn't really look like the REAL Elmo, but the kiddos didn't know the difference (by the way--is Elmo a "he"??? Elmo just always refers to "himself" in the third person)


Here are some pictures from our visit!

Caleb was hanging on to us for dear life! He didn't know what to think about this Elmo "impostor"

Brent, Crystal, Ethan, Evan, Emma & Candace

The kids weren't so sure about the ball pit at first...it was pretty deep!

Climbing all over!


Rachel, Abbey & Jackson

Daddy, Caleb & Elmo

19 Month Pictures

I am a month behind on the "normal" picture schedule, but I decided to take Caleb to our town's park to both play and take pictures. I knew he would be much more cooperative if the two were intermingled and he most certainly was! We got a new Canon camera in March, so I feel like that purchase was more justified now that I can take my own pictures (even though they still aren't "photographer quality"). Plus, the last time we went to Portrait Innovations, it was a total disaster. I consider getting 1 really good picture out of a photoshoot with a toddler to be a success, so here are a couple of my favorites...

I just realized that in the last 3 of 4 picture sessions, Caleb has been wearing overalls. All different ones, but still! Can you tell that I think overalls on little boys are the cutest??? ;)

baby in the tummy

Apparently we have really been playing this "baby in Mommy's tummy" thing WAY up. So much, in fact, that Caleb recently looked down at his very full tummy when he was wearing nothing but a diaper, patted it, and said "baby." I can definitely see how it could be confusing, especially to a 19-month old! :)

Each day that passes I am more sure of what a great big brother Caleb is going to be! It is sad to think that he isn't going to be my little baby anymore...and he has definitely lost pretty much all of his "baby" look in the last couple months. He is the happiest kid ever and brings so much joy to our lives! And he is VERY busy. I've actually been kind of worried lately because this baby isn't moving NEARLY as much as Caleb did...maybe that just means he will be super laid-back! Here is a sweet picture (with strategically placed hands) of Caleb in the bath.

And another...

Empty Nest

Our houseguests have officially left us. Our baby birds learned how to fly last week and they have decided to find a different home. I don't really blame them...a front door isn't the most peaceful place to build a home! Here is one final picture of them before the left us...(and yes, that is what you think it is surrounding them. We are now left with a very gross mess to clean up on our wreath). It was amazing how fast they grew (and I'm not even their Mama). :)

Ironically, this happened in the same week that my parent's home will also officially become an "empty nest." After raising children in their home for almost 32 years, their child-rearing days are no more. Tomorrow my little brother and sister leave for college *tear*! Good luck Boogs and Kel...we love you, we'll be praying for you, & we'll always be here for you if you need anything!!!

Part Toddler, Part Fish

To say that Caleb loves the water is an understatement! He would be in water--of one kind or another--all day, every day if he had his way. He is ONE HAPPY BOY in Papa and LoLa's pool!

And this one I included just because it is adorable...

On another note, I am starting to get panicked again about getting everything done before the baby comes. After all...we only have 15 weeks left! My previously-made list has now tripled with scrapbooking, video-making, sewing, and random other odds-and-ends that I want to get done. We had originally planned on having Caleb moved to a twin bed by the time the baby is born. However, I am now rethinking this decision for a number of reasons. 1) He seems really little to be in such a BIG bed and 2) I have not been sleeping well lately and Caleb is SOOO good at entertaining himself in his crib in the mornings for up to 45 minutes while I get a little bit of extra sleep. I know that Kevin and I will most likely be REALLY sleep-deprived for a couple months once the baby arrives, so it might be a blessing to have him contained as he occupies himself. Any suggestions from you veteran mommies (or anyone else for that matter...we can use all the help we can get)????

Thank you for the prayers!

The echo-cardiogram results came back and everything looked normal! Thank you for lifting us up in your prayers over the last several days!