Her Own Three Amigos

To kick off our month of birth/day themed stories, please welcome Shana from Utterances! Shana is one of my favorite bloggers, and someone I consider a friend. She makes me laugh and I'm always finding out new things we have in common! Don't forget to head over and check out her blog after you're done here, it's SO worth it!

***

I don't remember the day of my birth. It was a long time ago and I was pretty young.

I don't remember when my first brother (Bug) was born either. I was pretty young then too.

Barely two.

I've seen a few pictures.

Not of the births! Eww. Have you seen a baby being born?! It's not pretty.

I've seen pictures of my parents holding the cute little people that were myself and Bug.

So young, so innocent...my parents. Knowing so little about what they were doing to themselves...Having a brother so close in age, we got up to a lot of the same mischief. And having birthdays in the same month, we had a lot of joint birthday parties. What a pain. Birthday parties for one kid suck to put together...

I do remember my second brother's (Skeeter) birth. I remember wanting a sister. Badly. But no! Another brother...and he decides to be born when Mom was supposed to come with our Girl Scout troop and be in a parade!! That kid was just full of inconveniences from day one! I won't go into how my little heart melted when I went to the hospital and held him for the first time...I still hold that parade against him. Yes, he was a little cutie and I changed my first diapers with that kid. Okay, maybe having two little brothers would be okay.

Barely four years later, another baby on the way! Oh yeah, this time for sure I'm getting that sister! I can see it clearly. Putting her in dresses, giving her the finer points of Barbie ownership. And finally having things gender equal in the house!

Mom's water breaks. Woohoo! Off to Gramma and Grampa's house to await the arrival of my baby sister! I'm playing with some toys, occasionally giving a contemptuous glance to the two brothers. That's right. Soon, I will no longer be out numbered. You will be surrounded on both sides. One big sister to smack you up top and a little sister to get your ankles! Gramma gets the phone call. Here it comes! "You have a new baby...brother."

...

Things get a bit hazy. I think I went into a rage coma.

I do remember not being happy. At. All. Gramma tried to console me. Nope. Not having it. Dad showed up later to take us to the hospital and tried to console me. Nope. Not having it. I knew they were not going to have any more kids. Number four would be their last. Save your pity. I am alone...in a sea of urine. Because boys are icky and don't know how to aim those things!

I nurse my indignation...until I see the baby. He is so round (hence the nickname Charlie Brown) and beautiful and I love him DARNIT! My mom tells me that he will grow up and love me more than just a sister; I'll be like a second mommy. And with three younger brothers, it's like I have my own Three Amigos! Hey, I like that movie. And she was right. CB has told me more than once that he always considered me his second mom. I just love that kid.

Growing up with three younger brothers has been an unexpected blessing. I love them all very much and wouldn't trade them for anyone, not even a younger sister. At least I didn't have to share my makeup.

Although there was that one time...

I had to help him apply that lipstick.

Welcome to SNOTW's Birthdaypalooza!

In addition to having something in my belly, I have something up my sleeve!

There are things inside things everywhere up in this joint.

So, it's possible that being 9 months pregnant has made me a teeny bit crazy. Which is one good reason that I should probably stop trying to write blog posts.

Also, I am going to have a baby, and though I'd like to think he'll be a nice guy I don't think he'll be nice enough to sit down and let me write, or let me get enough sleep that what I wrote would be coherant.

Instead, I have something special for you all during the month of May!

Welcome to SNOTW's Birthdaypalooza!

Starting tomorrow, I have a full month of posts from my favorite people, all with a birth or birthday theme. I have been so excited as the posts have come in, and I know you will all enjoy them too!

Sit back, relax, and help me celebrate the birth of this new baby, as well as the birthdays of my first son AND husband, which both fall during the month of May.

I'm Reaaaaaaady

Well, Danny has now been cooking for 39 weeks. This afternoon, we'll celebrate Sam's 4th birthday with friends and family. This will be his last birthday before he becomes a big brother. The last 2 days I've been having some contractions and been feeling crampy and generally uncomfortable and not 100%. I think my body is getting ready.

The crib is put together. The basinet is in our bedroom next to the bed. The blankets and clothes are washed. The bag with mom & baby clothes for the birth center is sitting by the door. The video camera is charged. The diaper bag is packed prepared. There is an infant seat and base in each of our cars, and we have window shades ready to be put on. The diaper pail is in place and the changing table is set up and stocked downstairs.

I just finished my playlist for the CD I'm going to bring with me to the birth center. Here's how it ended up:

Sway - Bic Runga
You're My Home - Billy Joel
When You Say Nothing At All - Alison Krauss & Union Station
Answer - Sarah McLachlan
Angel Eyes - Jim Brickman
Let It Be - The Beatles
Return to Pooh Corner - Kenny Loggins
Baby Mine - Alison Krauss
Soon Love Soon - Vienna Teng
Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
In China or a Woman's Heart - Kate Wolf
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Baby, Now That I've Found You - Alison Krauss & Union Station
Surrender - Various
Drifting - Sarah McLachlan
Lullaby - Dixie Chicks
Maybe In a Prayer - Solas

I have different reasons for all the songs. Some are just incredibly calming to me. Some have strong memories for me from my childhood and I find them very calming (The Kenny Loggins & Kate Bush). I'm also going to ask my Mom to bring her guitar to the birth center. And yes, that sort of makes me feel like some kind of giant hippie, but I thought it might be nice.

I probably won't be around much in the next few weeks, but I'll make sure to post when baby finally comes! In the meantime, I have something else up my sleeve starting tomorrow. If you want more updates or real-time info about this baby coming, make sure you are following me on Twitter or friends with me on Facebook. There are links over there in my lefthand sidebar!

Now, please... send me some good baby birthin' vibes! I'm ready to meet him.

Suddenly, you're four.

Dear Sam,

Although it's a little unusual for a kid your age, you ride a bus to preschool. Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we drive down to the bottom of the driveway (maybe once Danny's here we'll walk together instead) and wait for your bus. Back in November, when you first started school, you were very excited about the bus. Then, you went through a period where you were reluctant to get on. It's kind of a long ride, and we finally figured out that if we let you take a toy with you to play with during the ride it made things easier. This week though? You didn't take a toy every day. I park about 2 car lengths up the driveway so the bus can turn around after you get on. This week, you took your backpack and went to the bus yourself. You didn't need me to walk you to the door or pretend to race with you. You did it yourself, and you didn't look back. On Wednesday, after you got on the bus I cried. This watching you grow up? It's just not that easy sometimes.

On Sunday, you are going to be four years old.



For the last four years, you've been my baby. I've held you from the time you were small enough so snuggle against my chest, your head nestled under my chin and your toes just below my belly button.



I still hold you, but now, you stand more than 1/2 my height. When you crawl into my bed sometimes in the night, we snuggle, but now when we spoon your feet hit my legs.



When you stretch out, you fill that bathtub that used to seem like a pool, and the other day I saw you drink out of a water fountain without a boost or step. When did this happen?





Once upon a time, you were tiny. I spent all my time with you that first year, my first baby, and you stole my heart. I knew I would never get it back.

Then you turned one. And I couldn't believe how big you'd gotten.







In the second year, I watched you grow some more. You walked and ran and started to talk and learn and remember. Then you were two, suddenly. And I couldn't believe how big you'd gotten.





Times were crazy in the next year. You continued to become, to grow into yourself and discover who you were, and amazed me more and more every day. But you were still my only little love. Then you turned 3, and I couldn't believe how big you'd gotten.







Now you're turning four.

You love computer games. I can't believe it, because you're not even four. But you know how to work the touchpad mouse on my laptop and how to click and things I didn't learn until I was in middle school. I can only imagine that probably in the next year your computer knowledge will surpass mine. It blows my mind.

The other morning you called your Aunt Kira on the phone and talked to her just because you wanted to. We count and call it "racing" to get your jammies on or your diaper changed because it motivates you and gets you excited. We weren't careful enough with our language, and every once in a while you think it's funny to call someone an ass. Oops.

Sometimes, you get SO excited. You get an idea, something dawns on you and your eyes light up and get really big and your breath catches as you tell me... "we can do BOTH! We can eat breakfast AND play a computer game!" Or whatever. It doesn't even matter what you're talking about because the joy you feel lights up my world.

You know a lot of your letters, and a bunch of numbers between 1 and 10. You sing the alphabet song and lots of other ones - you love to sing and sometimes you make up your own songs. One night we heard you through the monitor in your room singing about "mommy on the potty." You sing along now to CDs or TV theme songs, and when we sing to you sometimes you join in.

Your favorite colors are yellow and orange, but mostly yellow. You love hummus and mac and cheese and you're always trying to steal a sip of soda from us when we have it around. You love puzzles and are quite good at them. You know how to spell your name, and you know how to work the shift key on the computer because you don't like small letters yet, only big ones. You love Legos, but you don't play with them without destroying them. It's frustrating when you pull the cars apart right after I've built them, but I keep building because it makes you happy and that makes me happy.

You've changed so much and more changes are coming. My belly is big and swollen with your little brother, and it won't be long now before he makes his appearance. I know that you've grown, and you are more independent now and you are going to be a great big brother. But there is something about the fact that you're not going to be my baby anymore that breaks my heart a little bit.

I hope that I will be the best Mom, that you will always, always know how much we all love you and that I couldn't love anyone else more, even if I tried. I know that sometimes I will slip up, but I hope that you'll forgive me. One day, I hope you'll get the joy of being a Daddy if that's what you want, and then you'll know alllll about all this stuff. But for now, you just need to know that you are special, and you always will be.

Even though it makes me sad, I am also super excited to watch you be a big brother. I think you are going to be amazing. Danny is going to look up to you and love you so much.

Suddenly, you're four. And I can't believe how big you've gotten. Happy birthday to my baby little boy.

Love Always and Forever,
Your Mommy

Wordless Wednesday: Tootsies

Happy Feet.

To see more Wordless Wednesday photos, click here.

38 Weeks: GET OUT!

I am 38 weeks pregnant now. Also known as 9 months. Also known as comeonbabypleaseGETOUT. I am so ready. Seriously. Today someone told me that I didn't look like I was going to be able to make it 2 more weeks and I hugged them with gratitude. But... what if they're WRONG? I mean, it could be 3 or 4 more weeks before this guy decides to make an appearance. That is so not cool. Now only am I uncomfortable but I am ready to meet him.



Sam still likes Danny. How shocking will it be when he comes out? I dunno.



I am a Negative Nelly. I can't do anything and poor Justin comes home to Rachael everyday saying "hey do this do that can you please do..." I bet it's really awesome for him. I know it looks like I am smiling in those photos, but it's an illusion. He did a lot to help clean up the house this weekend AND mowed the lawns to get his Dad off his back about that. So, he deserves a break. I don't think either of us is ever going to get a break again though.

Danny's room is not finished yet. His crib is not put together. I am starting to think about putting car seat bases in our cars and packing my bag for the birth center. I am starting to nag Justin about getting the video camera battery charged. I need to make CDs of the music I want to have to listen to in labor. I need to figure out what the heck is going to happen with Sam when it's time for us to go to the birth center! Um... yeah.

I can't sleep very well. I am sore when I wake up. It hurts when I stand up. I went grocery shopping last night and pushing around a cart for an hour nearly killed me (although it didn't put me into labor stupid dang cart). Heartburn. Peeing every 10 minutes. GAH.

I have a midwife appointment on Wednesday. I wonder if she will check me for progress. Not that it means anything really. I still haven't been having any contractions, but none of it REALLY means anything. He could come tonight, or stay in there for 3 more weeks.

In other news, I learned from SELF magazine today that I have gained LESS weight in my pregnancy than Ellen Pompeo did. 26 lbs? Pshaw! I'm sitting pretty on the scale over here.

In closing, here is a cute picture of Justin and Sam helping me make cookies for my book club yesterday.

Friday Fragments

Friday Fragments are bits and pieces of your week that are usually brief; too short for a stand-alone post, but too good to discard. Collect humorous observations, "Heard" items, and other small gems and put them together in a Friday Fragments post. Friday Fragments are the brainchild of Mrs.4444 and you can find more at Half Past Kissin' Time.

*** I've been part of a book club for a little over 6 years, and love it. The ladies in it are now some of my best friends. We meet once a month in Seattle, but this weekend they are all coming up to my neck of the woods for the annual Bellingham meeting! I am so excited to see everyone, and can't wait to get to hold my friend Tara's baby for the first time. Maybe he can convince Danny to come the heck out.

*** Speaking of which, I will be 38 weeks pregnant tomorrow, and I am SOOOOOO ready for this baby to come out! We have pretty much everything ready around here (what do you really need at first anyhow other than clothes, diapers, a car seat and possibly some formula?) and I am starting to feel anxious to meet him. We had an ultrasound on Tuesday just to check position and saw some hair (yay!). Hopefully by Sunday Danny's room will be set up, although he'll be in our room for the first few months.

*** So, somehow Sam is really into Legos, and he wants them bad. But 5 minutes after I build anything he is destroying it. WHY do I bother? I don't know! He just likes them so much... Perhaps we need to bust out the superglue.

*** Justin's job is going really well. He is getting along great with his team, and I love it when he comes home and tells me about how they all went to lunch together and hung out. It's so nice seeing him in a job where he obviously really likes what he's doing and who he's working with again! Also, we signed up for all our benefits this week - in addition to health insurance, we finally have life insurance and a retirement account again. Yay!

*** I LOVE this post by Lindsay over at Suburban Turmoil about her experiences with worship, music, and most recently her daughter's first grown up church service. It moves me to tears every time I read it, and I think you should check it out!

*** Click here to see one of the coolest newborn photos I have ever seen. It makes me smile so big!

*** Also... we have been watching some stuff on Hulu on our Media Center TV and one of the things we realized while watching old Inspector Gadget episdoes with Sam?