Baby girls...

I love babies. I find myself stealing borrowing any new baby I can get my hands on. My newest darling niece (well, I only have two!) was born yesterday morning at 1:25 am. Lavera Marie. And she joins her 15 month old sister Venora Grace. Of course I had to buy pink. Pink w/ brown polka dots. Soft, fuzzy, ruffly pink. Oh how I love ruffly butts.
And yet, I adore my boys. Their meaty hands, their rough and tumble ways, and the way the just love their mom like no other. I'm sure it's the same with girls. And really, I'm hoping I get a little pink of my own. But another boy sure would be a blessing too.
It's a good thing God knows just who is supposed to end up in our family. ♥

Quality time with my love.

Most of the time I think about "quality time", it's with my little love bugs. But how will I teach my little boys to grow into strong men capable of being wonderful husbands if I don't show them how their dad does it?! In honor of my birthday tomorrow, Benjamin and I took off for the day and went shopping. Over an hour drive there, which means lots of time to talk about ourselves, our family, our plans and dreams. It's just soooo important. And I love that he's willing to give me the time I need to be with him.

We had a delicious lunch at Outback, followed by yumminess at Coldstone. And lots of shopping. Yay! Plus it was super fun to buy baby girl clothes. No, they're not for me. We are NOT peekers. Unless I somehow become a totally different person, I think we'll continue our tradition of letting the baby show us who he or she is. But since my newest niece is due any day now, I had to pick up some goodies for her new arrival. Can't wait to meet her!

One-third of the way there?

I find it amusing how comfortable I am assuming that my baby will come on time. On time I said, AT 40 weeks. Just like Quinn (alright, 40 weeks, 1 day) and just like Nolan (such a prompt little peanut). But I know my timing is not necessarily the baby's timing, or for that matter, God's. I am thankful for an uneventful 1st trimester, and even more thankful for this new beginning of the 2nd phase. It's my fave.

I feel my own physical progress, and our home is coming along nicely too. The garage foundation was completed last week, and weather permitting we'll have WALLS by the end of this week. I can see the end in sight and it will be amazing to park INSIDE this winter... I hope!

We had our morning adventures at Kent Farms - my favorite pumpkin finding location. Mostly the boys just want to ride the indoor vehicles on the indoor track, play in the feed corn sandbox, and walk through the "spooky" tunnel of carved pumpkins. I mostly like to sit and chat, with a delicious donut and some delightful company. Both my parents, and my SIL Ashly came, along with "Baby Nor" and we took lots of lovely pictures to commemorate this stage of live. Ashly is due in one week with her baby #2, and with our family expanding as well I'm really trying to appreciate the now.

Off to celebrate my OWN birth with the 'rents, my brother & GG, the in-laws & darling Eden, and my sweet little men. It should be fantastic. Pepper steak. Yep. My favorite in the WHOLE WORLD. Thanks Daddy! He always makes it, just for me.

A case of the crazies.

Friday morning my sweet and darling children awoke as usual... and promptly turned into crazy people. What I'm beginning to realize is that I might have been a bit of a crazy person myself. I need my sleep. Lots of it. Always. And so do my boys. I've been having a great deal of trouble sleeping lately. And while my midwife is wise, and tells me it's my body telling me I'm hungry and should go get a snack, night after night I continue to lay there thinking I'm going to fall back to sleep ANY MINUTE. Yeah, that's not working so well for me.
Tonight I WILL eat something before bed. Something substantial. And delicious. I really hope it helps.

In other news, we've heard a wonderful, precious sound. The heartbeat of our newest family member. I'm just so curious to know who he or she will be. When I speak of baby, it always comes out "she", but when I see a picture in my mind, it's a bouncing baby boy. The gift of a wonderful surprise will be ours, whether boy or girl. And I can hardly wait.