160 bpm, babycakes!

Today I went for my first prenatal doctor's visit. Everything checked out fine. We were able to hear the heartbeat (at 160 beats per minute). The doctor searched for a second heartbeat as well, but was unable to hear one. He was checking for two because of my advanced age (35!), and the fact that I have been having severe morning (all day, of course) sickness. He did, however, say that it is quite common not to be able to hear two heartbeats this early, even if there are two babies. God help me if it is twins! (Thankfully, I know he will!)
My due date is July 29, but it will likely be a C-section about 10-12 days earlier. My 2 year old's birthday is on July 25, so I am glad it will not fall then. I am 10 weeks along, but measuring at 14 weeks! No wonder things aren't fitting too well. . .

(The title for this post will likely only be understood by my parents and sister (and anyone else who lived in Indy in the 80s and quoted an hhgregg commercial as much as we did!))

Hair today, gone tomorrow

This morning at about 5:30, I was awakened by my 4 year old, who wanted to get in our bed. I helped him into the bed, settled in facing him, and closed my eyes to go back to sleep.
He looked at me and said, "Uh, can you pass the hair?"

Come again?

We were putting the decorations on our tree last week (well, my husband and children were - I was watching from the couch), and my husband asked one of the children about an ornament he was holding. It was a bunch of grapes, and he was asking the child what Bible story it was associated with.

The child said with exuberance, "It is because Jesus is King of the Juice?"

We interrupt this blog. . .

to bring you - morning sickness! Of course, whomever named it that was completely wrong - it should have been called: all-day-lay-on-the-couch-wonder-how-much-longer-this-will-last sickness. From my station on the couch, I am watching my house slowly get messier and messier, and the laundry pile up to toppling heights. Thankfully, my husband is wonderful and is doing so much to keep us afloat for the next few weeks until this passes. The kids are also pitching in, making their own dinner(!), snacks, etc. I am so glad they are so helpful!

I have been asked during the throes of "morning sickness" - "Is it really worth it?" The answer is a resounding, "YES!". I am a pretty big baby, and am not good at toughing things out, but the answer remains a solid yes. I'll be sick for awhile, but in a few months, God will give us a baby! A brand new person, a new member of our family, a new soul! Amidst all the nausea, I am thankful!!

One of my chief duties. . .

"Mommy!" My 4 year old yells from his post on the toilet.
"Where the heck are you? I need you to wipe my bottom!"

Make a joyful noise!

Last night was my 4 year old's Christmas program. He was beside himself with excitement beforehand. He got all decked out in his Christmas black and red, and even allowed me to wet his hair down a bit.
The church was packed, but if I sat up very tall, I could just barely see him. Thankfully, he is one of the tallest kids in preschool! He sang and sang his little songs. That is, he sang/shouted his songs. You know what I mean. In every school program, there is one kid you can hear above the rest. This kid is really into praising Jesus. Well, as we found out tonight, it turns out that is our child. We were in the back, and my husband and I exchanged several glances as we heard his voice quite clearly.
I think I could have heard him in the parking lot. I had tears in my eyes.

We give thanks!

We celebrated this Thanksgiving with almost all of our family. It was wonderful to share time with all of them. We laughed, played ridiculous games, and ate. A lot. We all enjoyed it!

The best part, however, of this Thanksgiving, was the news we received just beforehand. As if we don't have enough blessings already to be thankful for, we were given another. Yes, in 9 short months, we will add another baby to our family! Some may say we are crazy to add another member to our brood, but we say we are blessed. With each new child we are given, we are gifted with a treasure. We grow, we learn and we are joyful (most of the time!). We are so thankful for this new life growing inside me!

The kids are thrilled, and everyone seems to want a girl. My daughter has wanted a girl for awhile now, and I wonder if the boys think that having a brother is not all it is cracked up to be (sharing the toys, sharing the bedroom, fighting all the fights. . .the list goes on). I wonder if they think a little sister might be somehow easier.

Regardless of gender, we are thrilled. We look forward to meeting the newest member of our family in late July.