It's Flying....

Almost every day, my girls pull out clothes that don't match and ask me to help put some mismatched outfit on.  Then they quickly ask (ahem scream) for me to change them.  Oh girls....I love the drama...yet I get overwhelmed sometimes!  I love you Audrey and Violet!

Things Have Changed

I can't believe how long it's been since I last wrote.  I have excuses....We've been through countless infections, illnesses and such.  Violet ( I haven't even announced her birth and she's almost 2) has had 16 infections and 3 surgeries in her short 22 months of life.  She's also had the stomach bug 3 times and I can't count the number of times she's woken me up with a bark-like cough (croup).   Oh...she also got the flue...We've been to countless doctors.  In fact, my most frequent contact was my primary physician when we moved here.

We're tired, but our hearts are full.

Audrey and Violet

Thankfully, after adenoid removal and ear tube insertions, the girls are doing better.  I can't say the same about the wrinkles that have crept up around my eyes or the grays that have started invading my once blonde hair.  :)  I love these girls and am so proud of them!  

Pictures, pictures...yeah, yeah, yeah!!!

Look, mom finally pulled out her camera and took some pictures!  I may not be smiling in most of them, but at least you can see my sweet little cheeks.

Here I am at Oma and Opas'!  (I think this is where the picture was taken)

Daddy and Uncle Josh like to dress alike these days...and sit very close to one another while watching football.  Tee hee:)

I'm a BIG girl wearing a maxi dress!

Hair all slicked back.

I love me some cheese while snuggling with my monkey blanket.

I make duck lips look good.

I don't know what mama means by duck lips....but I suppose I will in a about 10 years when I start taking selfies.

Look, we got our downstairs painted.  It looks SO.MUCH.BETTER.   Someday, we'll get curtains, too.  One thing at a time, right?  Can you find Maddie?  She's quite the sleeper these days.

9 DAYS UNTIL MY DUE DATE!  Here's how I'm feeling.

1).  I'm so thankful every time I feel uncomfortable or have a small cramp.  I immediately start thinking, "maybe it's time"!

2)  A store clerk pointed at me and said to a customer "Look how huge she is?!"  I'm not sure if she was talking about how large Audrey is for her age (she's in the 90th percentile) or if she was talking about my stomach.  

3)  Another lady questioned me all about my weight loss after my first pregnancy.  You mean I didn't lose it all in 2 weeks?!?  *Gasp*  I harbored a small amount of malice in my heart after that comment.  Sheesh...people.   I think I'm going to write a pregnancy etiquette  book.....It will be called, "What Not To Say to a Pregnant Lady."  

4)   I'm kind of freaking out about flu season.  If you are sick please don't touch my baby:)  I say that in the nicest way possible.

5)  Joel is almost settled on baby boos name.  I've been decided for months.  He has to have time to think it over.....which I think is weird, b/c if he doesn't settle on this "almost decided name"  he won't have time to mull another one over. Therefore, I think it's decided.

6) I forgot to update everyone about Audrey's big girl bed.  She's doing superbly.  Thank you for your prayers!!!  We were quite worried.  

37.5 Weeks

Yep.  I'm still pregnant.  Nope, I don't have any pictures to post.  I truly do try and take photos of my dear Audrey, but she is not a very willing photography subject these days.  I guess I can't blame her, because I stay as far away from camera lenses as possible. I feel no need to document what I look like during my third trimester.

So, what's new around here?

1)  Yesterday I was feeling pretty proud of myself.  I donned some makeup, curled my hair and picked out a cute outfit.  It wasn't until I was looking at myself in the mirror at the OB office that I realized I had only lined ONE eye.  What can I say.  It's hard to make yourself beautiful when your toddler is trying to eat all of your makeup supplies.

2)  People are already asking if we are going to have three kids.

3)  Everyone tells me how well I timed things when they learn that Audrey is turning 2 in October and that baby boo #2 is due in October also.  This makes me feel awkward.  I don't like discussing the timing of my children with strangers.  I just don't.

4).  We are almost settled on a name.

5).  I finally packed my hospital bag yesterday.  Joel has been telling me to do this for two weeks.  I only did it last night because I felt a bit funny.  Plus, it was Joel's turn to play with Audrey:)

6)  Yours truly is awake and screaming "mama."  So, I'd better sign off.

Second Pregnancy Musings

What's been on my mind lately?  Pregnancy.  Here's my list

1)  Yesterday I realized I was only 35 weeks pregnant...not 36.  That was a sad, sad realization.

2)  I was told that second pregnancies "go by in a flash."  I feel like I've been pregnant for years.  YEARS I tell you!

3)  My OB asked me if I felt smaller, bigger or the same as I did last pregnancy.  I answered, "I'm not sure.  I just know I feel HUGE and that the general public opinion is that I am very large."  He laughed and stated that he did not agree.  Good answer, doc.  Good answer.

4)  I dream of the day I can run again.  I'd also like to be able to buckle my sandals without exerting such great effort.

5)  I am HOT, HOT, HOT!  MN weather is sounding fabulous right now.

6)  My friend sent me $5 for third trimester ice cream cravings.  Isn't she the sweetest?  I probably should save that money for a gym membership...see number 3, Jessica :}

7)  I'm not sure how people spend years of their lives pregnant??  I've spent 17 months of my short life in this state and I'm not sure I ever want to try it again.

8)  That being said, I am so thankful that God has allowed me to experience carrying and birthing my children.  I don't take that blessing lightly.  It is TRULY a blessing that I'm thankful for every day and my heart aches for those who are unable to conceive or carry their children to full term.  I don't usually talk about my pregnancies much, b/c I know there are so many dealing with this difficult issue.

9)  This baby likes to STRETCH.  Sometimes I feel like my stomach is going to rupture b/c my little bambino is stretching every limb out as far as she possibly can.

10)  Audrey is in denial.  She does not want to talk about the baby.  According to her, she is not having a baby sister.  Oh dear.  There may be some rough weeks ahead.

11)  Apparently, I don't nest while pregnant.

12)  Audrey is moving to a big girl bed on Friday.  Pray for us.

13) I truly mean it when I said "Pray for us" in number 12.

Well, this stiff, prego lady needs to go do some yoga.  Thanks for listening to my musings:)

A Hodge Podge of Photos

Ain't I cute in my swim suit?

How 'bout in this church dress?

Shhhhh.....I'm putting my baby to sleep.

Here, let me get that runny nose, baby-boo.  Mama never climbed in the crib with me to get me to sleep, but she's DEFINITELY thought about it.

Here I am getting ready for church.  Some undies on my head and a Christmas bib should do the trick

How does one don a bib?

Forget the bib.  I look cute enough with these undies on my head.

Ha. ha. ha.  You don't want me to wear this to church, mama?

Notes from the author:
1)  I have not been feeling the greatest.  I think I ask Joel every day why I'm so tired.  He's sick of telling me that I'm pregnant.

2)  I have about 7 weeks of pregnancy left, but I still get startled every time a stranger asks me my due date.  What?  I look pregnant?  Ha ha....then I remember that I frequently feel nauseous,  and probably walk like a hippo.   The heartburn and the kicking bambino in my tummy remind me from time to time also.

3) I keep telling myself that my due date is a LONG way off.  Then I remind myself that I have to set up the nursery and move Audrey to a big girl bed and I panic a little...cause this baby is actually coming pretty quickly.

4) I have started nesting in my own little way.  The move gave me plenty o' chance to organize, so I think I'm investing my energy elsewhere.  I've decided to make bread.  We'll see how it goes.  Yeast kind of terrifies me.

5)  Last night Joel and I watched a movie.  In one of the scenes the parents were sending their daughter off to college.  I cried and cried and cried.  I have 16 more years....16 more years with AU.

6)  We got a table!  I feel like a real family now.  The table we had been using was bar height and Audrey couldn't sit with us.  Now she can.  It's wonderful.

It's a.....

I should be cleaning right now, but isn't that ALWAYS the truth?  I love our new home, but I'm not sure how I'm going to keep up with all this space?!?  Especially when baby #2 shows up.  Speaking of baby #2, we FINALLY found out what gender he/she is.  Here's the pic's from the party we had.

Audrey and CJ waiting to find out whether they will have a girl or boy play mate.

Josh and CJ....Josh won every game we played.  He took this gender party reveal seriously:)

My parents, Oma and Opa and all of Josh's family were there for the event.  We were also able to Skype the TX Ueckers and Paige's family.

My sweet girl is getting so big.

mmmmm.....southern barbecue.  This food makes the loss of NJ pizza seem less harsh.

Our happy little family.

Boy or Girl???

Joel was actually pretty nervous about cutting the cake.

A ha!! It's a.......

Girl!! (note the pink filling)

Audrey was more excited about the cake than she was about having a sister.  She still thinks the baby is a boy.

Poor CJ....the only boy cousin on the Uecker side! I'm sure he will get LOTS of attention from all his doting relatives that feel badly for him, though:)

Life as I know it:
1) I'm thrilled to have another girl.  I pray that she and Audrey grow to be close friends.
2) I'm soooooo tired.  I may have taken a nap during Audrey's nap time every day this week.
3) I'm  starting to swim.  Jogging just doesn't work so well during the third trimester.  Today I showed up at the kiddie pool (there is a place deep enough to do laps) donned in my goggles and maternity suit (w/o a kid).  I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but I got some exercise!
4) Audrey is starting to say so many funny things.  We love knowing what's going on in her little brain.
5)  It's definitely time to change our blog name again.  I'm not coming up with anything.  Any suggestions?