Real Snow Day!

I wrote a few weeks back about a "snow day" we had where snow was predicted but all we got was barely the slightest dusting on the cars... well, when we were least expecting it this weekend, we got a real snow day! I say least expecting because we were literally outside playing the day before in 60 something degree weather and the kids were in tshirts:

The next morning, Kenna burst into our room. "Mommy and Daddy! It's winter! There's snow!" And she was right- the biggest, most beautiful fat snowflakes I've seen in a long time were falling!

This is Mommy's preferred view of the snow- especially at 8 months pregnant! Even if I wanted to go out in the cold, I'm not sure I could have found anything warm enough that fit me. I did my duty to get my sweet ones bundled and out the door to play with Daddy and Papa, who just happened to have driven into town Friday evening to stay with us for a day or two while he got his NC car inspection done. Kenna begged all through breakfast to go put on her "hat and glubbies" (gloves) to go out.

Finn was super thrilled when we pulled out our winter hats (don't worry, he does at least have a diaper on too!). He ran around the house like this and it was so hilarious, but really hard to get a picture of.

 So we geared up!

And they headed out!

Neither kiddo wanted to keep on their gloves, but weren't too happy with chilly, red fingers:

They lasted about 45 minutes before it was time to come in, and everybody was happy to snuggle up with a cup of coffee and a movie with Papa. All the cold weather activities made for some worn out littles, and even Mommy got in a little nap!

The snow kept falling through the afternoon, but since it had been so warm the few days before, nothing stuck to the road (or even the ground) all that much. Later that night, Matt took the ESBC youth out to the Winterjam concert in Greensboro, but thankfully the snow didn't turn to icy roads like it usually does. It was actually pretty perfect- an awesome fun snow day that was here today, gone tomorrow!

My Funny Valentines!

Valentine's Day isn't something we've celebrated much in the past... often Matt and I have been out of town, working, or otherwise apart for whatever reason. My husband does an amazing job of treating and surprising me often enough that I never feel neglected by "just a card" on Valentine's, although he usually does more!

Fun fact: 2 years ago I was 37 weeks pregnant with Finn, and this year here I am 36 weeks pregnant this time with baby number 3, but we managed to pull together some Valentine fun anyway! We started a couple days ago when Kenna and I sat down in the afternoon to make some Valentines for her friends at church and back in Raleigh (and I made some to send to their mommies!). I had bought these little pre-made blank ones in the dollar section of Target, so it was super easy for Kenna to add her special touch to them.

 In fact, on the very first one she randomly wrote an "H" and an "I" on it... when I told her she had spelled "hi" she was so excited and wrote it on all of them! So proud of how much our little big girl is growing. She also has started learning to write her name!

Her Valentines were so cute I could hardly stand it. I wanted to keep all of them!

Finn, not to be left out, did some coloring as well!

The Target dollar section also provided the cute Valentines I sent to my grown up friends... love these! (I mailed Kenna's little ones tucked inside these big ones.)

This morning we woke up to beautiful roses Daddy picked out- a dozen for Mommy and one special one just for Kenna!

We made cinnamon buns for breakfast and then it was time for the little Valentine baskets I put together for them. I"ll have to be quicker on the uptake next year, I didn't get a single picture of them before they were enjoyed! Finn was the most excited about the candy. He ate two cinnamon buns, some fruit loops, a box of sweetheart candy, four peanut M&Ms, and a partridge in a pear tree... for breakfast!!!

I had a full-on real present from Matt and guess what was in it? Some of the nicest shoes I've ever owned, and just the ones I wanted! He did a little sleuthing and ordered them online in the perfect size. Thank you, babe! I absolutely love them!

Matt had gotten supplies to make chocolate-covered strawberries, so he and Kenna got right to work and made us some really delicious strawberries. They didn't last long and Kenna kept begging for more.

In the spirit of the time we made an all-pink Valentine lunch, Kenna's next cooking endeavor was to help me make her and Finn pinterest-inspired nutella and sprinkles heart shaped sandwiches. The difference this year was that I in no way attempted to make it nutritious- nutella sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries, and heart shaped marshmallows! 

 On a sidenote, you know Momma's 8 months pregnant when she's wearing a tank top in February:

 

 Finn on the other hand was not so sure about the chocolate covered strawberries- he has been known to hand chocolate covered items back to us saying "poop."

We spent the rest of the day running some errands and then playing with Daddy when he was done with work. The kiddos headed to bed early for Daddy and Mommy to cook a special dinner together... salmon, rice pilaf, chocolate strawberry cheesecake, and Mommy's attempt at stuffed mushrooms.

Matt's gift from me was not expensive, but made with lots of love... a mad lib style love note we filled out about/to each other, a handmade card, and a shovel full of his favorite candy that said "I dig you," -which was one of the first things he ever said to me to indicate he was interested in me as more than a friend! Sentimental, loving, and cheesy... just as a Valentine should be.

It was also fun to do a little Valentine decorating in our new house... although let's be real, this will probably all still be up after the baby comes sometime in March, at which point I will get embarrassed and redecorate! I tried to keep it simple (and cheap!) with glass jars, paper doilies, and a foam glitter heart half off at Hobby Lobby... my favorite!

 And a new verse for our chalkboard in the kitchen:

We love our sweet Valentines! Next year we'll celebrate Valentine's Day not only with 3 kiddos, but gearing up for 3 March birthdays in the family!

Baby Catch Up.

Well, I knew it was a bit to be expected that a third sweet baby would be a little left out of the constant and consistent chronological record I dutifully kept with Kenna and only slightly less so with Finn...  but little did I know that this poor little guy would also have to contend with a packing, moving, unpacking, a new job, and a new church along with the other demands on Mommy's time of pregnancy and two big siblings! This means that there's been not a single pregnancy post about him since we announced it back in September (at which point I was already past the first trimester) and no pregnancy baby book or photo albums so far! (Although to be fair, Finn doesn't have any photo albums yet either- I'm hoping the boys won't really care about this much when they get bigger and won't take it as a sign of Mommy having favorites or anything- Kenna, who probably will be the only one to really care, already has four.)

Maybe the fact that I've tried hard to keep the blog updated will suffice- at least that's what I'm telling myself!

So I thought I'd at least try to play catch up with some of the belly photos I did sneak in here and there through all the busy days. Almost all of them were taken with the fancy photo phone Matt picked out for me, even though he does fuss about how he'd be happy to take "real ones" for me. Somehow it just feels easier to snap a quick one with my phone on the way out the door after how long it takes to get everybody dressed and ready most days!

Baby number 3! 

13 weeks:

12 Weeks 6 days

1st ultrasound! Pregnancy confirmed and ready to announce!

14 weeks

16 weeks

Momma had just gotten herself a haircut.

17 weeks

I felt so large already in this picture!

Partly the denial, but partly that little man has been measuring big all along!

It's a boy!

A friend kept the kids while we went to the ultrasound.

Kenna was a little bummed, but got right on board with brother #2!

I think the cupcake with little blue shoes helped.

18 weeks

Packing up the whole house to move, crashing on the couch at night.

22 weeks

Walking out the door, ready for church.

(At our new house by now.)

29 weeks

Matt bought me this Shelly Moore Band t-shirt for Christmas.

He was purposely hoping it would fit my belly!

32 weeks

I finally broke down and bought a few new maternity pieces, but refused to spend much. 

This shirt was one of them, $10 at Old Navy.

33 weeks

Against my will, finally wearing maternity jeans, also from Old Navy.

I hate how badly they fall down! 

This shirt was consignment, it's super comfy.

I know I did the cute little "how are you feeling" surveys with the other two, but to be honest, this pregnancy has been harder on my body than the first two and I've been trying really hard not to spend the whole time complaining. While I'm thankful to have stayed really healthy, there's been lots more aches and pains than I remembered. Maybe I'm getting older, maybe my body is saying three is my limit, or maybe being pregnant while keeping up with two older babes is just hard work, but I've been struggling especially at night with lots of pain and discomfort, and my old friend severe indigestion. And the Braxton Hicks contractions have been no joke!

We're also having a harder time naming this one than we ever have before. Of course, because we are having a boy, all I can think of is a whole list of girl names I love and I'm really struggling with the boy ones. We've agreed not to go to the hospital without a name settled, so we'll at least have a 15-20 minute drive to decide!

Thankfully, little man moves frequently and reminds me that he is almost ready to join in the fun chaos around here. Kenna is beyond thrilled "two baby brothers," and likes to say hello to my belly and give the "brand new baby" lots of kisses. Finn has just recently gotten into taking care of Kenna's "babees," mostly kissing them and putting them "night night." It's really, really sweet and I can't wait to see what he thinks about the real deal- although we'll have to watch him like a hawk! He is quick and sneaky, and plays a little rough.