Update & a blogging break

Just a little update... I am still not doing anything major so it looks like it may be a little while before our son decides to make his grand appearance! He is just not in any hurry what-so-ever! =)

If he is not here by the 8th, we will talk induction. I want him to come naturally but I am being realistic. Both girls were inductions. So, the odds are not great that he will come on his own anytime soon.

Anyway, I will be on a blogging break for awhile. I just have so many things on my mind right now and things that need my major attention. I just feel a shifting of my priorities and right now blogging is not one of them. I don't know how long the break will be but I will be sure to post pictures and let you know of baby Drew's birth!! And, I will blog periodically after that, I am sure. Blogging is something I love but I just can't make it an idol. I have to take care of my family first. So, I will be back as soon as everything settles down and our schedule is going good.

So, I will still be commenting some on your blogs, I just won't be around as often or posting here quite so much. I hope you all have a wonderful month of September and a joyous and blessed Fall season. =)

Love to everyone & Thank you for your prayers!!!

Julie

Where o' where is Baby Andrew?!

Just an update: I am dialated to the big number of 1 maybe 1 & 1/2!!!! That's it! 38 weeks and I am a 1 & 1/2 at the most! AGH! And, I was not really happy with my visit yesterday and I actually bawled after I got out of the dr.'s office. =(

Anyway, all of that to say, that I know God is teaching me in this moment. He is using this waiting time to bring some things to my attention and I know that I must abide in HIM as I wait. It is difficult to not demand and whine and cry that baby Drew come out today as right now that does not seem to be in our Heavenly Father's plans for this little one! I MUST trust that HIS plans are perfect and that He has the perfect birth day for our little baby boy. Just please pray for me that I can have the strength and peace to do that!! =)

In waiting out this time, maybe I can get a few more things accomplished before he arrives! Or, maybe I can just spend more time just being with my amazing husband and little girls! =) If he is not here by Saturday, Charlie & I have a big day planned with homemade doughnuts for the girls, outside playtime with them, and lunch and shopping(for the baby) in town just me & Charlie! So, that will be fun!!!! Time by ourselves!!!! Yay!!!! (Can you tell that I am excited?)

Well, I have to get off of this computer and make breakfast and play with the girls for awhile. They are SO exhausted from the trip and missed naps yesterday! It will be nice just to hang out here at home and let them play and help Mama "clean". They love to "help" me "clean"!! I hope it continues as they get older but I am not holding my breath!! =)

Oh, and we will be listening to a "SELAH" CD that I bought yesterday while we work and play! I have been wanting a CD of theirs for awhile and I am blown away!! My Mama even likes it and we very rarely ever like the same Christian music!!! So, I would say, that if it bridges generations like that, it must be awesome!!! We listened to it all afternoon yesterday!! Mama even loved the African stuff!! REALLY cool!!! =)

So, enough rambling for today. I hope you enjoyed my little ecclectic post about anything and everything! I am finding that as I get closer to the birth, I am rambling a lot!

Blessings and Prayers on you and your families,

Julie

38 weeks-No baby yet!!!

Well, there's not much to report except to say that there is no baby yet!! Contractions have been coming off and on for awhile now but still not regular enough and they are slowing down and then just stopping. It's irritating but I know and I am trying to remember that the baby will come in the Lord's good time! I just do not want to go very much longer because the baby will be huge and I am SO ready to hold this baby boy in my arms!!

So, I will definitely try and post some baby shower photos today and show you my HUGE 38 week belly!! We had an unbelievably sweet and thoughtful shower Saturday afternoon! Charlie couldn't be there (the first one he's missed!)because he had to work so, it was bittersweet but I enjoyed myself anyway and we got some really cute stuff for baby Drew! =)

Hopefully, unless I go into labor, I will get the pictures posted later today! For now, I am off to go walking with my Mom and try out my new double stroller with Lily! =)

Have a great Monday everyone & thank you so much for your sweet and thoughtful comments and most of all, your prayers!! They are much needed and appreciated!

Love and Prayers to you all,
Julie

stuff going on at our house...

Well, I have been having some definite strong contractions but still they are really sporadic although they are starting to be a little more regular! lol.. I know that really doesn't make any sense! =) Anyway, maybe the baby will be here soon. Pray that he is and that he is safe and healthy!!!!

This weekend we have organized and cleaned and with the two kids just basically cleaned in circles! We clean and get organized, they drag it out and make a mess! Ah well, that's life with a preschooler and a toddler and a baby on the way very soon!!! =)

Charlie is not at work yet today because he is having some pretty bad pain with his hernia and he is kinda hanging around in case the contractions come any closer. So, it's nice to have him here right now.

This morning I read a post here and I have to say that this woman's writing constantly gives me something to ponder and examine in myself and my own life. She really amazes me with her faith and what amazes me even more today is the awesome very real battle that we all face with Satan every day and how sometimes what we are fighting for is not clear until much later. I don't know if that is making any sense to anyone but it is what I brought away from reading this morning! Definitely was something I needed to read right now! Please pray for their family as they go through more struggles this week.

Here on the homefront, Claire is fighting allergies and just feels yucky. Lily is cutting more teeth and now has a 3 & 1/2 tooth smile! So cute! They are getting excited and Claire asks constantly "Can we go get baby Drew?" Lily rubs my belly and says, "Awww" which is her way of giving you "loves". So precious are my little girls! =)

Well, I have to go. I am getting uncomfortable and need to get some more things done if I can.

Love and Prayers,
Julie

36 Weeks!!! (and a picture!!)

Okay, I finally have a picture to post!! =) Loving the new camera!! Now, if I could just get a new computer !! Ours is pretty much shot. Anyway, here I am at 36 weeks. It is an awful picture but you get the idea!

I am so tired and Drew is so huge! His feet are constantly trying to find more room but I have to tell him, there is no more room! lol. The dr's estimated him at already 7 lbs and 19 inches 2 weeks ago at the ultrasound. So, I don't know how big he will be. Anyone want to guess?! =)

We are not sleeping well and by we, I mean, everyone except Lily! She sleeps like a rock. Claire is going through some sort of attachment thing with me and I can't sleep for the baby being restless and my hips and back are killing me! So, Claire is up like every hour and I am up going to the bathroom just as much! Charlie has a hernia so that is fun. He is not sleeping good, either, but is trying to help me with Claire at night and get up at 4 am to go to work! It's FUN.

We are getting a lot done for baby Drew. I hope to post some pictures of gifts he has received and some of the girls, too. Hopefully, I will get that done. =)

Well, not much to report. I am not eating much or really wanting to eat at all right now. I think that I am just trying to prepare for the birth.

I will try to keep you updated and Thank you so much to everyone for the sweet comments and emails! They really lift me up! =)

Love & Prayers,

Julie

34 Weeks

I am going to try to get my scanner to post a fabulous (who am I kidding?) picture of me 34 weeks pregnant. I will keep trying until I get it posted so hold on...it will be here before long, I promise. =) I realize as of yet, I have only posted one pregnancy picture. That is pitiful! I will try to do much better in the coming weeks. I have just been, can you say, overwhelmed?


34 weeks! Whew! This pregnancy has flown by, for sure. It has really been nothing but a blur since I found out about this wee little one in my womb. I am still in shock that I am having another baby. Many may not understand that, but for 7 years I did not really believe that I would have children or to be more accurate, I really did not let myself think of it too much. So, to be blessed with not only one precious babe but 3 in 3 & 1/2 years? I am still dreaming. Most of the time, it doesn't seem real that I can be living this life out. But I am. Thank God I am.


Claire is going through some temper tantrum episodes and man, those are fun! haha. Some days I feel like a prisoner of war in my home. Lily is becoming more and more sweet and affectionate but also more independent! And, she can throw some whopper temper tantrums, too!


So, all in all, in the midst of baby preparations and day to day life, we have our hands full! We hit the bed exhausted every single night but praise God, we do sleep through the night most of the time! Claire is up to go to the bathroom but that is usually it. Lily usually sleeps like a rock. I just hope it continues after baby Drew arrives! Those all night feedings are tough enough without the other two waking up!


Lily will be 15 months old next week and we are on the countdown waiting for baby Drew!!! I have been sorting through baby girl clothes and boxing them up. Which is bittersweet and hard to do. I am so very sentimental. I have been washing Drew's clothing and blankets and sanitizing his bottles and pacifiers and just trying to get everything in a neat little place.


Drew's room is just off the girls' room but he will be sleeping with us for a while to start with (well, not with us, but in our room in a bassinet). So, I am trying to go ahead and get his room ready for his stuff but it is not going to well. Right now, it is stuffed with storage boxes and books. So, I am going through a little of that every day and trying to get it organized and cleared out of there so we can paint this weekend and move in the furniture for Drew. =)


Charlie painted the kitchen and some of the living room last week. He is also working on taking down wallpaper and painting the bathroom. I am helping of course, just not with the paint. He has also been doing a lot of work on our pool and everything outside. He is exhausted but happy.


Any ideas any of you have for organization would be very appreciated! Anything that helped you with a new baby coming? Most of all, I know that I am just going to have to get in there and throw a lot of stuff away!!!


Right now, Drew is kicking all of the time! He has the hickups almost every night at bedtime which Claire & Lily did not do, so it is a new thing and it is funny but I feel sorry for him! I HATE the hickups! I also have so much more fluid with him than I did with the girls. I feel so huge and unbalanced!



Also, any recommendations on a good (not too expensive) double stroller? I am definitely going to have to have one with a 3 & 1/2 yr. old, a 15month old and a baby!!!! =) That and A LOT of prayers!! lol. =) Anyway, if you do know of some good ones would you please let me know? Thanks!


Cravings so far: Fruit (any kind) especially watermelon and strawberries! Ice water with a whole glass of crushed ice to suck on and crunch. For some reason, it soothes me. I did that with Claire, too! Chinese food (sometimes) and Peanut Butter and chocolate. Italian sandwiches, olive salad and pepperoncini peppers. (all my husband's fave things). That's just a few of the cravings I have. But now, it is mostly just ice water and fruit. Which is good and fine by me. I have gained enough weight! =)



I try to talk to the baby every night with Charlie. Sometimes, I read out loud the verses in the Bible that speak of Andrew, the first disciple. I really do love that name. Charlie has always wanted to name his son Andrew and I think it is such a wonderful strong name. It really just fits this baby boy. And I love the shortened form of Drew. Charlie's dad's brother was named Andrew and that is why Charlie always liked it. It also has the exact same meaning as Charles, which is great!


The middle name choices that we have are going to be kept quiet until the birth. We just like for that to be a surprise and actually, we usually aren't entirely sure until we meet the baby. Claire was Claire Elisabeth Rene(Reen, not Renee) until we met her and then she was Claire Victoria Rose (her birth and Wilma's death the day of my baby shower in some ways influenced the change). Lily was Lily Sophia Elise for a while and then she was Lily Charlotte Ann and then Lily Sophia Rene and then we decided to name her after Charlie in case she was the last one, so she became Lily Charlotte or Lily Caroline and we were not sure about the 3rd name!!! But, when she was born, she was just Lily Charlotte Alise!!! (Lise after my Mom's names and Alise, short for Allison and Alise, short for Alisabeth/Elisabeth/Elizabeth (all family names).


So, all that rambling to say, that we don't positively know yet but we will when we see little Drew!!! =) And no, I don't mind people asking me what we are going to name the baby, it's just that as far as middle names go, we really don't exactly know for sure until we see him! Hope that explains it better than I have been! =)


If it happens to be a girl, we have a short name list:


*Audrey(has been a top pick with all 3 pregnancies; LOVE it)

*Savannah(Love this, don't really know why)

*Raegan(after my sister and my dad)

*Anna(after my mother-in-law& I just love the name)

*Ava (biblical; pretty)


middle names:


*Elisabeth(grandmothers)

*Caroline(form of Charles)

*Catherine(grandmothers)

*Cate(same)



Third name:



No clue!!!! Truthfully!!!



So, feel free to make a girl's name suggestion if you have one!!! I always believe in being prepared but I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what to name this one if it's a girl (which I doubt almost 100% that it is ) but still, I like to at least have some good combinations ready!!! =)


Anyway, I guess that about wraps up this novel of things I wanted to say! Thank you very much if you are still reading and I promise to get my belly pics posted as soon as I can get the scanner to do it! *Definitely have to get a new digital before Drew arrives!!! =)

Dr. update!

Well, I had my appointment with my new Dr. today. She is great! SO nice and very thorough and well informed. Claire loved her, too! I had to have some more blood work done and I have another ultrasound scheduled for August 5th! And we can schedule a 4-D one if we want at that time! =) WOW! We were not expecting to get another peek at this little one before the birth or such a great picture of him so this is pretty awesome! We are very excited! =)

Other than a little nausea today (I think it's the heat and the long car ride) I am feeling pretty good and it was a good dr.'s visit. I am going back in 2 weeks and then it is every week after that. I can not believe that I am this close! Whew, this pregnancy has just really flown by and I am panicking a little bit about everything I have to do! (See, if you know me, you already knew that, haha). But, I do know, of course, that it will all be done in God's perfect time and I am trying to relax and enjoy the baby's kicks. Probably the last ones that I will feel in my womb. =( But, we are definitely not thinking of going for a 4th one! We have already signed the papers and I think I am most definitely through with the pregnant thing (as much as I LOVE my babies).

Anyway, tonight for supper we had amazing Italian sandwiches with this SO GOOD olive salad I bought at the Italian town we were in today (family knows what I am referring to) Oh, they were delicious with the pepperoncini peppers on the side! YUM-YUM!!!! =) I had one of those, a HUGE glass of ICE water and some angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. Supper was amazing and I am stuffed. For some reason, I guess I thought I should tell you about my delicious supper! Must be the pregnancy thing. =)

Well, it's only 8 pm but the girls are in bed and we are going there too! I am so tired and sleepy and I just want to rest.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!

Love,
Julie

Cravings, I have some!

(This is not my picture! I do NOT like the tablecloth or the blue plate, for some reason I just felt like I had to clarify that! I could not get a good picture of what I really wanted to eat; coconut shrimp & won tons; yummy!)

Chinese Food & Zero Candy Bars !!! DON'T WORRY, I DON'T EAT THEM TOGETHER!!!!!!!YUCK!!!!!!!!!