Finally, 4 Months

Eleanor turned 4 months old this past week. And finally, I feel adjusted to this new life with three. After all of those moments of saying, "This too shall pass." It has. I think I'm finally on the other side. For now. The ever-changing tides of parenthood seem to recede just when you are sure that you cannot take anymore.

One beautiful and random day last week, Eleanor decided that the Ergo is quite a cozy mode of transportation. It's completely changed my daily life. This is how I imagined life with three would be- a high-energy adventure with my two boys, just with a baby in the pouch. And four months in, that's what it's become. I'm really starting to love it.

I've enjoyed every minute of holding and snuggling this extra sweet baby girl. But now, my bathroom is swept, the dishes are washed, and the laundry is folded. And that makes life a lot easier to enjoy. Not perfect, but much better.

Homeschooling is going well. We read, we draw, we paint, we listen to music, we pretend. We play a lot - with friends, at the park, on the floor. And last week, after reading "The Complete Works of Peter Rabbit," we attended a "Peter Rabbit" puppet show at The Center for Puppetry Arts. I'm not sure who is having more fun - me or them.

Not only is life a bit easier now that Eleanor enjoys the Ergo, but she is fascinated by her constantly whirling brothers. This entertainment keeps her content long enough for me to run to the bathroom, take a bath, or grab something to eat. It's marvelous. And they think so too. They absolutely adore her. Experiencing the precious interactions between all three of them melts what's left of my horcrux-ed heart. We have our moments, but the happiness always outweighs the challenges.

And now, when all three little ones are fast asleep, I am whole-heartedly pursuing photography. Reading, learning, practicing, editing, website building, scheduling...I'm making it happen.


More to come soon.

Friday Links, Thoughts, and Reads.

 A shot from my friend's beautiful home that I got to photograph.

 Eleanor and I a few weeks ago.

folding laundry this past week - it makes me cry too.

Happy Friday! 

We have spent the last week and a half in the house, fighting off a little army of illnesses. We are left with lingering colds, but are mostly feeling much better.

Recent links, thoughts, and reads:

-How to Talk to Your Daughter About Her Body Really, everyone should read this.
-I am wrapping up this book, it might be my favorite parenting book yet. Truly life-changing.
-An ever-changing book list for the boys and I this fall: Pre-School Reading List. We are starting with the theme, "the earth" -dirt, rocks, insects, compost, earthworms... I am letting Dmitri's interests guide our informal pre-school: little hands-on projects and lots of books. Two things we both love.
-A couple of weeks ago, I shot the interior of a friend's home- the first time I've photographed someone else's house. They are getting ready to move to the UK and wanted to remember their first home. It was so much fun.
-I wish I had had Kelly William Brown's book (Adulting) 7 years ago, when I moved out of the house. I might still buy it for my husband (passive-aggressive, and I know it). I'm eating up her blog. Practical and funny. What's not to love.
-Massive de-cluttering is happening now. In theory, I am a minimalist. My house says otherwise.
-It's officially August, which means David and I re-evaluated our budget. We are instating the envelope-system. We also did a time budget...if only we could stick minutes in envelopes.
-August also means David starts his Ph. D in a week. I still have one more week to talk him out of it....but not really. Good luck, dear and cheers to the next 5 years!
-Those three little humans and I are off to play.

The Third Child that Broke the Mama's Back

I've missed writing on the blog regularly. I haven't figured out how to make the time to write, or make dinner for that matter.

Before Eleanor, I had frequently heard moms talk about how drastically having a baby had changed their lives - how they can't make dinner or get the housework done or take a shower. How they don't seem to have time for anything or for themselves. How they don't leave the house for weeks.

I would nod my head out of politeness, while wondering what they were talking about. Perhaps they exaggerated, or were pessimists. Maybe they didn't want to do these things. Or they had very challenging babies. I wondered, because that has not been my experience of motherhood. Of course I wouldn't imagine saying that I have never missed a shower in 4 years. Or that I've made a homemade dinner almost every single night since my babies were a week old. Or that rarely a day goes by that we don't go somewhere. Baby goes in the swing/Moby/Ergo/playmat, and they would generally be happy while I did what needed to be done. I've learned many single-handed maneuvers and I can breast-feed while walking around and cooking in the kitchen. Somehow, I have always gotten it done - whatever it is that I feel I want done. And I have not been able to relate to some of the common complaints of parenthood.

Until now. Now, I have this precious, beautiful, baby girl that I absolutely adore. This tiny little creature that I wanted so badly, and who is every bit as wonderful as I had hoped. And sweet little Ellie is so happy and content and smiley, except when things aren't exactly to her liking. And the growing list of dis-likings according to Eleanor include:

-That blasted swing that the cat thinks is it's bed- well, the cat can have it.
-Mama using the bathroom. Or bathing. Or ever leaving me for more than approximately 30 seconds. Which obviously might as well be forever. All alone. In a foreign land. And tigers might eat me. Wail!
-Sleeping, unless held by or in immediate proximity to mama. That's dangerous. Also, what if I get hungry?
-Baby carriers of any kind. Especially the Ergo (unless I'm asleep, and then she sneaks me in thinking I don't know. Oh, but I know, and will remind her of my displeasure as soon as I awake). Why does she keep trying to put me in those straight jackets?
-Mama sitting still while holding me. That's why she has two gliders and legs for that matter! That silly mama.
-That man that mama keeps handing me to...he smiles and seems quite nice. But I'd rather look at him while being held by mama.
-Head rubs. Squirm.
-The crib, which is really unnecessary when I have a mama.

Now I know. I know what all of these women are talking about. This crazy newborn phase where it seems like I can't do anything. Except sit (not still), holding Eleanor. And drinking coffee. And eating snacks (lots and lots of snacks.) And just being. We do leave the house quite a bit, because it's easier (and generally more fun) than staying home all day. But when we are home...

I do the very bare minimum as far as anything that isn't completely necessary. My withering garden causes tears to well up with disappointment when I pay it a rare visit. And my kitchen smells pretty funky most days. Sometimes I just want to pee alone. Or blog. The other night, after an especially exhausting day of keeping up with Dmitri and Damon with Eleanor in tow, I sat in my chair with slumped, aching, shoulders and cried to David. "I need more time alone. I need more time with friends. I need more time to clean the house. I need more time with you. I need more time to cook food. I need more one-on-one time with the boys. And I need more sleep....It's not just one area that's lacking, it's everything."

I do feel overwhelmed sometimes. Especially after a long day on little sleep. (And I do need to make sure taking care of myself is a priority.)

There is nothing wrong with feeling those feelings. I acknowledge them. I cry, or laugh, or meditate. And then, I let them go. I let go of my unrealistic ideals about having a perfect house with perfect meals and me dressed in perfectly coordinating outfits while completing a massive home renovation and then blogging about it all. And I feel such relief.

And then, once I let all of that go, I can do the maximum living and loving. I sit in my rocking chair, watching the boys play at my feet (sometimes I sit on the rug with them). Reading books together on the sofa. Singing songs with them. Being present. Intently listening. Having Eleanor has really changed how I live life. It hasn't been a new revelation. But it's been what's pushed me to take my hopes of connecting more with my children, living each day slowly, and it's allowed me to just be. Be with my children, and fully experience life while letting go of all of the distractions outside of meeting our basic needs.

I am doing what I want to be doing right now, even if it means eating a lot of pizza and Mexican. Because there will be time for big home-cooked meals, a perfectly clean and organized house, new house projects, beautiful gardens, and daily blog posts. But my three little ones? They will never be this little again. This day will go by, and it will never come back. How will they remember it, and how will I?

Today, I am going to sit in my rocking chair, smiling back at this... and feeling so thankful for this tiny little girl that's made me slow down and love more. Especially when it's overwhelming.

Life with Three Little Humans

 

On Friday, I went grocery shopping with the three little humans all by myself for the first time. From the moment I unloaded them out of the van, weaved through the parking lot like a "red rover chain", piled all of the groceries on top of my children in the cart, unburied them at the check-out, and returned back to the van victorious with groceries, people were staring, gawking, and trying to peel their eyes away. I overheard them whispering to each other.

I have entered a new territory - life with three (three and under, might I add). And evidently, I look as crazy as I'm feeling right now. We are beyond outnumbered, and have surpassed the average 2.3 children. And now people stare at us like we are the Duggars. Or maybe they were just staring at my childrens' heads, peeking out from the food that they were buried under, since the carts just aren't big enough.

I'm having to re-learn motherhood and life and everything, it seems. And it's been a challenge so far. I underestimated how "new" this would feel- like being an overwhelmed first-time mom all over again. I know that we are in an adjustment period, and I know things will get better (they have to, right?!) but right now, it's hard.

Three little people with three different sleep schedules makes for one tired mama. An almost-four-year-old with night terrors, a two-year-old who can't sleep without mama for more than 45 minutes at a time, both of whom still have the occasional night-time potty accident, and fight bedtime like there is no tomorrow, plus a newborn baby who needs diaper changes and feedings during the middle of the night...it leads to:

Three cups of coffee a day. Minimum. And by a cup, at least one of those is a venti. And headaches. Lots of headaches.

Three hungry bellies, one of which is always demanding food or water or milk. And I forget to eat amongst the shuffle, and then I wonder why I'm shaking and sweaty at noon and I force myself to sit down and eat.

Having a newborn baby is just like having a newborn baby. Eleanor is generally content as long as she is fed and diapered, and held when she is awake. Luckily, she sleeps quite a lot. Sometimes she sleeps at night. Sometimes she doesn't. And sure, I'm tired, as I mentioned above. What mom to a newborn isn't. But add taking care of a newborn baby while trying to keep up with my tasmanian devil children, and I'm pretty sure this must be some kind of extreme sport. Breaking up brawling toddlers while trying to breastfeed an infant takes some pretty crazy moves.

When we were trying to get pregnant, I remember running into a friend of mine at the Farmer's Market who had recently had her third child. I excitedly asked her what it was like having three, to which she cautiously whispered, "Stick with two!!!" Now, I am on the other side of that question. Several innocent and well-intentioned friends have asked me, "So, what's life like with three?" Depending on how much coffee I've had, I have either stared blankly at them or respond, "Ask me again in a couple months."

Although I speak of the challenges, transitions, and craziness of life with three these first few weeks, the little victories that I achieve each day are incredibly rewarding and empowering. Our first trip to the grocery store, our first trip to the park, our first trip to Target, actually finding time to sweep the floors, while exhausting and challenging also remind me that I CAN do this. The love that is showered on Eleanor by her proud big brothers absolutely melts my heart every day- it reminds me that our love is multiplied, not divided. And I love having a cuddly newborn so much. I am even more intent with this fleeting newborn phase on cherishing every moment. Could I put her in the crib when she sleeps? Sure, but why would I want to?! It just goes so fast. (I find a little comfort in that too when I'm having an especially challenging moment.)

And so it goes- we are surviving the ups and downs. And I'm trying to enjoy the wild ride. And the love x 3.

One of the challenges of 3 little ones - family photos. Hopefully we will get one one of these days. In the mean time, I'm just having to laugh at our attempts.

SHE is (finally) here!

 

Eleanor Blythe
Arrived May 14th, 2013 at 5:07 PM
7 lbs. 4 oz. and 20 inches

In love.

This Season.

My infrequent blog posts are becoming more of a normal thing than I would like. On the one hand, I miss blogging more. But on the other, the reason I've been more quiet is because of how full my life is right now. Mostly in a good way. Little thoughts that could be longer posts, but a look into life right now:

Dmitri and Damon have become even more rambunctious and demanding of my time and intervention. I think that I was quite lucky that they played so well together from the time Damon was 6 months until nearly 2 years old. Over the last couple months they have become increasingly more challenging. I am not sure if it's just their own developmental stages or less structure in our lives over the last couple months, but some days it just seems like the day is one constant fight. Navigating this has required us to make some lifestyle and schedule changes- honestly, just keeping ourselves more involved, busy, and playing with friends. They both love to "go." The last thing that Dmitri says before we say goodnight is "Let's talk about what we are going to do tomorrow." In the morning, Damon wakes up saying "Ready?!!!!! GO!!!!" I am eternally thankful that we had children when we did, even if it was younger than we originally planned. I am not sure that I would have the energy to keep up (and at full-term with baby # 3, I feel like my head is bobbing under the water rather frequently these days).

Friends. We have some wonderful old friends, and are continuing to make new ones. I feel so lucky to live in a place where there are kindred spirits to be found. I've really felt recently how important it is to invest in relationships and build community. I don't think it comes naturally, and I choose to make this a big priority for me and the little ones too.

Springtime is here, and is probably the busiest season for us. I think it's my favorite (although, I think I say this every time a new season comes!) There are so many fun things to do in Athens this time of year. Farmer's market, festivals, enjoying the outdoors before it's too buggy, muggy, and wretchedly hot.

With the fading of winter, I am ready to be done with all of the illness that we have been dealing with since last August. One (or all) of us has been sick every two weeks since August. I have been researching and reading, seeking any and all knowledge on the immune system. I have always been fairly health conscious, and we eat a whole foods diet, so it's not new to me. But something really needs to change for us. It's greatly effecting our quality of life. The first steps we are taking is extremely limiting all added sugar (pretty much no sugar with the exception of what occurs in fruit and a small amount of dark chocolate), making sure that we are getting a minimum of 30 minutes of direct sunlight every day, going to bed earlier, and eating less dairy (and switching to raw dairy) and less, but only, whole grains. All in all, we are just trying to eat more fruits and vegetables. We will see where this leads us and what we need to do next. Here's to hoping for well children this summer, and a well new baby!

And springtime means planting. My "planting day" yesterday is clearly becoming a planting week. As long as my garden is in before the baby arrives, I will be content. Hopefully sooner though. My belly gets in the way, my back aches, and the heat is already bothering me (It is in the upper 80's in the afternoon!) I've spent a couple hours each morning weeding, composting, and digging, and I have one bed fully planted. Just three more to go...my seedlings are looking happy and the only plants that I bought this year are a couple of tomato plants. I'm excited about re-arranging my garden layout and I'm going to give some pretty crazy trellising a try to maximize my garden space. I am also planting a bigger herb garden this year, which I am excited about. We will be growing 7 varieties of tomatoes, cucumber, yellow squash, okra, kale, brocolli, eggplant, melon, and watermelon (plus herbs). Not a huge variety, but they are all things that we eat a lot of! I would love to try to do some potatoes if I get around to it.

Aside from gardening, we are still busy pre-baby project-ing. Several building projects are close to finished, and we are installing a farm fence around our property this weekend. I am excited to have a contained space for the little ones to play. I'm hoping that it will put less stress on me, as I re-learn taking care of a newborn while chasing 2 other growing ones around. And hopefully I really will have some photos soon.

Speaking of photos. I have an SD card thief on the loose. I am suspecting that Damon has been taking my SD card out of my computer after I upload photos. I've lost two in the past two weeks this way....and so my photo taking has been limited. I need to find them so that I can 1. Post photos to the blog 2. Take a bunch of photos of my two boys while I only have two boys and 3. Be ready to take a gazillion photos of baby # 3 (I'm getting the photo props ready! Pom pom hats, hair bows (?))

For now, iPhone photo dump:

 35 weeks on Easter

Honeypops - our Saturday morning farmer's market ritual 

A little sneak of one of our building projects. This laundry basket organizer is seriously changing my life.

Mixed Emotions at 36 Weeks Pregnant.

David said to me last week, "Are you ready to not be pregnant anymore?"

I stopped and sighed. Yes, I am. In some ways, very ready. And yet, I'm not. And that simple question, which I think my husband thought would be so easy to answer and he probably meant as rhetorical, has led me down a long and winding self-analyzation this past week as I enter my 36th week of pregnancy.

Pregnancy and I - we have a love/hate relationship.


I hate...

...puking for weeks 5-18.
... the exhaustion, at first from the hormones, and later from hauling around the two of us.
...when my body fails to allow me to follow through with my to-do list.
...wanting to fall asleep at 11 AM after a full night's sleep.
... the constant weight fluctuations, changing sizes, and awkward in-between clothing moments.
...having three or four different sized wardrobes.
...being so exhausted, yet unable to sleep.
...the anxiety.
...being overly emotional.
...swollen feet.
...heart burn.
...dizziness.
...hot flashes.
...round ligament pain. (So severe that at times I physically can't walk).
...back aches.
...Braxton-Hicks.
...peeing. All. the. time. (And 4+ times a night).
...post-pregnancy body.

...and love...


...the excitement of looking forward to a new life, that grows mysteriously and wonderfully.
...the first butterfly flutters of a moving and growing baby.
...hearing the heart beat for the first time. And then every time.
...the motivation; getting things done makes me happy and an impending arrival is incredibly motivating for a goal-oriented person like me.
...that my body is able to create a human. That's crazy.
...that by my third pregnancy, I actually have maternity clothes that I like.
...the anticipation of labor starting.
...nesting.
...picking a name (or two.).
...the new appreciation I will have for my non-pregnant state. The littlest things will amaze me (like not having to pee every 5 minutes).
...(and this time) guessing whether it's a boy...or a girl....or a boy?
...the opportunity to write a new and different birth story that's my own.

But most of all, I absolutely love having a newborn- those first moments, days, weeks. The cuddles. Every single move and eye-lash twitch seeming somehow magical. Falling in love. And that's why I do all of this. All the loving and hating. The mixed emotions that leave me a mess (and probably annoy everyone around me. Although, I'm lucky enough to have a husband who knows better than to say anything-- except after the baby arrives I'm sure he will exclaim over and over how happy he is that I am not pregnant.)

I'm not quite ready yet. I'm still savoring more of the loves than the hates.

But, I will be soon.

I'm focused on finishing my to-do list - I think everything that was an "absolute necessity" has been accomplished. Now just tying up some other projects that would be put on the back burner post-baby(organizing the playroom, building, fencing).

A bunch of teeny tiny diapers arrived today, and I couldn't help but feel giddy to think of the little one who will be wearing them so soon.

I'm reading Birthing from Within. I'm finally making room to prepare mentally and emotionally for the birth - which after having done twice, is still overwhelming and intense.

We are organizing and decorating what will be "the birthing room". Building a new bed, re-arranging, building an awesome laundry basket organizer. Photos to come, I am sure.

I am so excited about my Blessingway this Friday.

And other things are growing, aside from my belly. Like my spring garden sprouts that I need to transplant this week. (But weeding, I'm not sure that the growing belly is going to allow for that. We will see. And at least try).

A belly photo soon.

Nesting

9 months is quickly approaching, and I have been satisfying my nesting urges with the little things that really make a difference in making my home feel a little bit more together. No stunning before and afters, just subtle changes that make me smile- when I hang up my towel or turn on the fan (even on these cool Spring days). And feeling just a little bit more together and organized is exactly what I crave when I'm carrying around an extra 40 lbs. and can barely bend over to pick up all of the toys scattered on the floor, and I'm slightly overwhelmed by throwing a third little one that is completely dependent on me for it's survival into the whirling dervish that is our daily life.

Snapshots of the small things:

New hooks in the bathroom 

 A hanging fruit basket to free up counter space.

I frosted our bathroom windows for privacy.

Musical light fixtures. We moved this fan from the playroom.

The fan that was previously in the sunroom. 

 But really, all of the switching was so this beauty can hang in our playroom.

Birthing supplies arrived today! 

It's getting closer!
We are still going to try to work in another big project or two (like fencing our yard!!) I am hoping to have a full playroom reveal soon. And I'm working on setting up my own photography website too. It's nice to have new things to get excited about and look forward to...I need that right now.

Right Now::

Right now, I am::

:: wishing my dear husband a very happy birthday.
:: thankful for the excuse to get a cake.
:: feeling more like 40 weeks pregnant than 34.
:: thinking that it's probably because I weigh the same as I did at 40 weeks with my last two pregnancies.
:: happy it's spring. (Our seeds have sprouted!)
:: still feeling quite down and at a loss. 
:: overwhelmed.
:: looking forward to Damon's 2nd birthday this weekend.
:: in denial that it's been 2 years already. He's still my baby.
:: frustrated that my little ones are still very out of whack since our unexpected events and travels.
:: grasping for a way to re-center them.
:: guessing that this baby is a girl. Just because.
:: already dreading David starting school in August.
:: trying not to think about it ^. Unsuccessfully.
:: praying for my body to stop aching.
:: looking forward to labor and birth. Already.
:: admitting that I love "The League." David and I watch an episode every, single, night.
:: taking an online Photography 101 & 102 class. 
:: super proud and excited of a photoshoot that I did with my little ones amongst the daffodils this weekend. (I will share soon, I promise).
:: popcorn. 
:: eager for more spring picnics.
:: continuing to organize our house. Spring cleaning + nesting. If only my body didn't give out on me.
:: anxious.
:: carrying on.

The Unexpected

I've been quiet here on the blog these past couple of weeks; life has been anything but quiet. I've sat down to write about the unexpected events of these past days, but I've struggled to find the words. I don't want to say too much. Or too little. I don't want to write little posts about hanging a picture frame or about how I've gone up two maternity sizes, when so many other bigger thoughts are in my head. And yet, I don't want to write about those thoughts. They are raw, and painful, yet sprinkled with thankfulness and smiles.

But here I am, sitting at the keyboard, trying to press on. Pressing on through the wordiness and wordlessness that are co-existing states in my mind right now. 

Two weeks ago, our home was broken into in the middle of the night, while we were there (sleeping). It was utterly terrifying for me to wake up to one of my numerous bathroom trips to find our home broken into. 

My phone, David's laptop, and bike were stolen. I am thankful that an acquaintance very kindly sent me a phone and case; even though I had insurance, my deductible was $200, and I have only had the phone 4 months, so an upgrade was not possible. But it makes me sad that David's new laptop was stolen. He had just gotten it for graduation in December; he has been a student for 5 years, and has never had his own computer. With his current job, and with starting graduate school, he really needed one, and I have not seen anyone as excited as he was that his parents and grandparents got him one for graduation. He also used his bike daily to ride to work (the university is a big campus and he can't park right where he works, so he bikes). I know how disappointed he is, and I hate that we don't have the money to replace them.

I told David that I know poverty leads people to desperate means, but I wish that they had stolen from someone who wasn't poor too. The emotional toil it has taken is just as frustrating. I am already a bit paranoid, and I hate being by myself. And this experience makes it so much worse. I just feel scared. A lot. And have terrible anxiety.

We were trying to pick up the pieces of our lives, when we received the shocking phone call the next day bearing the incredibly sad news that my sister-in-law, who married my brother last August, passed away in a freak accident that morning. She passed out at work and fell into a glass shelf, and an 8" piece of glass severed her aorta. We drove up to where my family lives, about 4.5 hours north of here, that evening to be with my family. The next week was somewhat a blur- making the arrangements, shopping for her burial clothes, the family viewing, the funeral, the visitation (which lasted for 5 hours), and finally, the burial. Such an emotional time of grieving our loss, and yet, holding tightly to the warm memories of her smile.

Of course, I took photos to capture the memories- happy and sad.

My brother playing two songs that he wrote at her funeral.

The line to get into the church where the service was. Many people had to leave and come back. It was so packed. Thousands of people came to say goodbye.


The beautiful casket and flowers. Her wedding colors were purple.


She is buried up on a hill with a beautiful view of the mountains next to this statue.

Remembering Carol ....

  

(left to right, top to bottom:

-I took this photo of Carol & Cooper at her graduation last May- they used it for their wedding invitation.

-Dmitri and Damon were their ring bearers at their wedding last August

-Carol & I at the beach last August)

My heart is so broken for my brother, for her parents, for our entire family. She will be so missed.

Despite the many many tears, it still feels very surreal and hard for me to grasp. I know it will take time.

And somehow, the days keep coming. Tomorrow marks two weeks since she died. Life continues for those of us left behind, although differently than before.

This week:
:: we started the seeds for our spring garden.
:: we planted 4 blueberry bushes.
:: I took Dmitri to his first play- Winnie the Pooh.

:: we created the biggest bed we have ever seen by adding a twin bed to our king bed.

:: Baby # 3 continues to grow. I will be 33 weeks this week- at my last appointment I was measuring 2 weeks ahead (I think this is the first time that has happened in any of my pregnancies) - which I think means I will probably have a big baby, not an early baby.
:: we are trying to get back into our rhythm. Sort of.

All of that to say, I am holding dearly to the many many things that I have to be thankful for. My children, our safety, my family, the incredible love and support that friends and family have poured out on us. I am thankful for Carol and her beautiful smile, and the joy that she brought to our family - albeit for a shorter time than any of us would ever hope for. I am thankful for this life.

23.

This past weekend we celebrated my 23rd birthday. The last few birthdays haven't really been all that great. Last year I had the flu for the entire week. The year before, I was 35 weeks pregnant and feeling really pregnant. And so this year, I just hoped that it was better than the last two.

It far exceeded my hopes and expectations. My entire birthday week was filled with my favorite things:

Good, local food. My grandparents came to visit from Memphis and even watched the littles so that David and I could go on a date (the first one we've had in 6 months!). Friends. Tiramisu. St. Germain. A new cookbook. A few new clothes for me (I hate buying maternity clothes. But it's nice to have a few shirts that fit.) And a couple new things for baby too. Feeling loved.

I really don't know that I could ask for more.

Most of the time, I feel much older than I am. On my birthday, I enjoy celebrating being young.

A few photos....

 One of two tiramisu's.

 Damon enjoyed it almost as much as I did.

 Birthday lunch. "Love on a Biscuit"

 With my grandparents

 The "five" of us. (I'm 28 weeks pregnant! Hello, third trimester).

I have so much to be thankful for. I think 23 is going to be a great year.

Pregnancy 3.0 - 26 weeks

26 weeks pregnant with bebe three.

-I am enjoying being pregnant right now.
-Which gives me more room to feel so very happy and excited about this little one.
-It's almost as if I woke up and suddenly remembered, I love newborn babies and birth. And I can't wait.
-When I'm feeling this good, I push back David's vasectomy appointment.
-We can have seven or eight kids, right?
-Just kidding.
-Happy + pregnant. I'm definitely reaching the end of my second trimester.

26 weeks pregnant with Damon.