Lady in Waiting

Fresh Mani/Pedi- CHECK
Hospital Bag Packed, Checked, Re-Packed- CHECK
Hair Trimmed- Negative, Ashli, what are you doing Thursday, do you have time for a quick clip?
Baby clothes washed, folded, organized- CHECK (as much as I can not knowing the gender)
Meals in Freezer- CHECK (as many as I had the energy to make and the room to store)
Names- Still working on those, but want to see baby first
Hypno Birth cued on IPOD- CHECK
Clean Sheets on Bed- CHECK
House Cleaned- CHECK (but each day it becomes messy again and I'm running out of steam to continue to clean it)
New P.J.s to lounge in post baby- CHECK
Children Prepared- CHECK CHECK CHECK (they are begging me to have the baby)

Am I missing anything? Because apparently the baby thinks so- why else would I be almost 5 days late? Luckily, my OB has been out of town these past few days and I really didn't want to have the baby without him. So, now, I will begin to entertain advice on how to naturally induce labor. Lets hear it! Otherwise I will be forced to continue my regiment of daily napping and sweets indulgence, which really has been quite relaxing and enjoyable.

Happy Cheers

Each time we prepare to bring a new baby into our family, I go through a period of mourning. Not mourning because I'm sad to have a baby, but mourning because I'll miss my youngest being "my baby". Max has been my little one for 3 1/2 years now, the longest of any of our children. How I've enjoyed him. I've relished in the time we've shared together, just Max and Mommy. He has been my back-seat buddy, my entertainment while running errands, my snuggle pal for afternoon naps, my excuse to buy soft serve ice cream and drinks from McDonald's and my right hand man who helps me with my day to day jobs with his "strong muscles". He has made me love parenting a little boy, I appreciate so much more as I pause to see things from his perspective. I admit that I dote on my little Max, and have done so intentionally. Will it change with baby #4? Perhaps. It will no longer be Max and Mommy, Mommy and Max. We will have a new addition to our club, Max seems completely fine with the idea, excited really. I know this baby will add nothing but love into our home; but just for a moment I want to focus on what was. I want to pause, remember, and feel thankful for the few years of Max and me. May they live forever in my memory.........in the words of our third child...."HAPPY CHEERS" for Mommy and Max!

Guess Who

Okay everyone, it's the post you have all been waiting for...... predictions for the gender of our baby. I thought this week, the week of my due date (wow!), I would dedicate some posts to our new baby, who ever he/she may be.

So, for your reading enjoyment and for my own entertainment, I have done a little research and have found it quite fascinating:

I'm carrying High- Girl

The baby's heartbeat is always around 130-135- Boy

Chinese Zodiac calendar- Boy

Craving Sweets- Girl (I call this baby my little cupcake, for good reason)

Needle on thread over tummy- Boy

My Nose hasn't doubled in size (I don't think at least)- Boy

Parents Magazine Gender Predictor Test- Boy

Childbirth.org Gender Predictor Test- Girl

Old Wives Tales Test- Girl

Asian Ladies at the Mani-Pedi salon- Boy

My Pregnancy compared to the other three- different, in someways like Max (the first 4 months especially) in other ways like Lizzy (these last few weeks for sure), with some elements of Rosie (throughout). So, you figure it out!

Rosie- Boy

Lizzy- Girl

Max- A brother, named Charlie Brown

So there it is. And now, I wish to poll the audience. What do you think? I'd love to read your predictions!

Great to Be 8, Part 2

I suppose we had a water themed birthday this year including a friend (and Nana, who really is a playmate) swim party, a mermaid cake and then a baptism. Hmmmmm, I didn't really plan it that way, but I'm liking the idea. I'm also liking the idea of the festivities being over and done with, so I can now put all of my focus on baby!

Yes, 8 really is Great!

On May 8, 2010, Elizabeth was Baptized. In was a momentous occasion:
Dear neighbors and close family friends were in attendance,

along with best of friends,

her school teacher,

all three of her Great-Grandma's,

and almost all of her extended family.

Her Father had the privilege of baptizing his first born,

while the rest of her family cheered her on, and was so delighted to do so.

Another event to note: Rosie and Max made their musical debut singing a duet for the Program. I'm certain you can expect to see great things from that duo. We enjoyed listening to our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers share their testimonies with Lizzy, they are such lovely Ladies, so lovely in fact that we pray Lizzy will grow to be just like them.

Now, it's on to new adventures for our Lizzy D, the first one being Activity Days. She may not get a uniform of sorts, like the cub scouts do, but I do believe that this outfit that she put together for her first activity will do! Happy Birthday Elizabeth, Congratulations and thank you for making your parents look so good.

Mother Earth

Fishing in Yellow Stone
Deep in a Forest Glade, Kauai

Spring in Monterey

"How very special are we

For just a moment to be

Part of life's eternal rhyme

How very special are we

To have on our family tree

Mother Earth and Father Time

He turns the seasons around

And so she changes her gown

But they always look in their prime

They go on dancing their dance

Of everlasting romance

Mother Earth and Father Time"

lyrics from Charlotte's Web

Celebrating Earth Day with just a few favorite spots in our beautiful world. We are so lucky!

Snow or Shine

With snow on the ground and Conference to watch, Easter was a little different. Thankfully there was still all the necessity's for success: "Twirly" Dresses, Chocolate, Big Meals, Chocolate, Easter Egg Hunts (where Max gave me all of his good chocolate) and time to relax. The Easter Bunny brought swim essentials among other things in the Easter Baskets this year; I think he was hoping the goggles and swim toys would last at least through June. That bunny seems to really enjoy thinking of the year's Easter Theme and shopping accordingly....my kind of bunny; and how did he know I had been craving Dove Chocolate eggs? Amazing.